If you have not seen the movie Soul Surfer, you should. It is an amazing, true story about faith and courage. It's stories like this that help me see life in a different light.
There is in Judaism a notion that one must descend in order to ascend. In Christianity, we say that one must die to live (John 12:24). Bethany Hamilton lost an arm to a shark attack--but in her own words:
I think that if I can help other people find hope in God, then that is worth losing my arm for.
How often do I get caught up in mediocrity of life and forget that we are made for a higher purpose? How often do I complain about my daily business because I do not have the courage to live--to really live? Chasing after the wind, seeking fulfillment in things that do not fulfill, never having the faith or the courage to give myself wholly to God.
Wholly to God? We who live in the mundane world have a hard time understanding this. I know I do. It is why I wander day to day asking, What is it you have for me to do, God? Maybe God's asking me, Why don't you have the faith to do what I've asked of you?
According to how the story was portrayed in the movie, when Bethany lost her arm, she lost her ability to surf. Her dream died within her. But it was during this hard time in her life that she learned there are things greater than surfing--like love and compassion. And she rose up out of it all a greater surfer and servant of Christ than ever before.
What is it that must die within me, so that I might live in Christ?
My prayer:
Father,
Take my comfort. Take my pride. Take my jealousy. Take my selfishness. Take my complacency. Take my dreams. Take my fears.
Take everything that stands between me and you--that would keep you from fulfilling your will in me.
And give me the strength to stand, the courage to fight, the compassion to love, and the faith to wait on you. For I know that though I lose all else, you will be there to carry me through.
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