joy, enthusiasm, olympics, faith (and the built-in joy filter):

Image credit: Andrew Winning/Reuters

There are many reasons I’m enjoying the 2012 Olympic Games. It’s so cool to see events taking place in the heart of historic downtown London and in the beautiful English countryside; I’ve been a fan of track and field ever since I realized I could run faster than anyone else in my school (then my town, and then southeast England); the performances this year have been spectacular and beyond; and the spirit of the athletes – especially the Americans – has been nothing short of inspirational.

FUN: I first noticed how much FUN the Americans were having during the early stages of the gymnastics, when it seemed so many of the teams were under such intense pressure that they were unable to enjoy the occasion. But the “Fab Five” (as they’ve been dubbed) smiled and laughed their way between routines.

Then the swim team, led by the effervescent Missy Franklin, have been nothing short of giddy. Obviously, there have been exceptions, but the general “Let’s have the time of our lives!” spirit is ubiquitous (Check out the team’s You-Tube video if you don’t believe me).

My point is that we always have this choice in front of us, each and every day. We can live as if joy and enthusiasm are a defining element in our lives, or we can allow the darker forces of the universe to creep in and take over our experience and our souls.

By William Haefili, The New Yorker Collection http://www.cartoonbank.com

CHURCH: Rebekah and I were talking about this yesterday, when she pulled out a cartoon she’d cut from an edition of The Christian Century and stuck in her purse. She sees the issue as specifically faith related, and I couldn’t agree more.

Sadly, many of America’s (and Europe’s) so-called “established” churches come with what I call a “built-in joy filter.” The Presbyterian Church is certainly no exception. By “built-in joy filter” I mean a tendency to act as if joy and enthusiasm are fundamentally incompatible with the Christian experience.

But that is so anti-Gospel!

Where is “the life-charged life” when church is deadly boring? when church leaders fail to offer any believable evidence of Christ’s ongoing invitation to “more and better life?” and when we (church members) fail to “Shine like stars in the sky as we hold out the word of life?” (Philippians 2)

Why should my neighbor… or your friend… or anyone else remotely consider becoming part of a faith-based community where joy and enthusiasm are systematically repressed because they are not “what we’re used to around here.”

In need of a little joy and enthusiasm…

DEATH BY STRANGULATION: Well here’s something to get used to: That kind of church is going to grow smaller by the year, and then eventually disappear, because no-one believes it is even remotely connected to the Bright Light who ignited the Universe, who created this world, who offered redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and who sent the Holy Spirit to animate Christ’s followers with such passion that this message of love, redemption and New Life will heal a broken world.

That is the quality of message we have been entrusted with. So, how about a little joy and enthusiasm to along with it?

Sure we’re crazy (see cartoon, above). Crazy about Jesus; crazy about the re-invention that’s possible once we catch hold of everything Christ’s love makes possible; crazy enough to show the joy and the enthusiasm that MUST animate the God-soaked life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4)

In love, and because of love – DEREK

Score! Touchdown! Home Run! GOOOAAAALLLLL!

My first look at my new book!

Athletes turn somersaults when they score a winning touchdown, fist pump after dropping a critical putt, pull shirts over their faces upon scoring a GOOOOOOOAA-AAAAALLLLLL!!!!, and disappear under a pile of bodies after hitting a walk-off home-run. They raise both hands in triumph, beat their chests, smile from ear to ear, and yell at the tops of their voices.

But how about writers? Do writers have glorious moments when they whoop, holler, do the victory dance or just run into the front yard with their hands in the air, yelling “YES!” “SWEET!”  and, “WOO-HOO!” Do writers pump their fists, look into the mirror, point at themselves and declare, “You are the man!”?

Well, and I’m not embarrassed to say this, “Yes, we do.” You bet. There are moments in the writing life not unlike home-runs, touchdowns and dropping 48-foot putts.

• First ever contract. OMG!
• First galley proof. Sweet.
• First cover design. Unbelievable!
• First box of books – my books. Out of the park!
• First royalty check. Not so much.
• Then, every time and for every new book, there’s the excitement, the thrill, the sense of anticipation and the big score when you see that copy for the first time.

Great moments in publishing. So it happened again. There I was, outside walking the dog, when the UPS truck pulls up and I just know with a certainty what’s coming. So I start tingling all over. I carry the brown box inside, tear it open like it’s Christmas morning and I’m ten years old, and commence to running around the house grinning from ear to ear like a crazy man. “Yes!” “SCORE!!!!” “Out of the park…” “Oh boy oh boy oh boy….”

Books. My books. 20 of them. And they look so, so good.

It never gets old. I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this before, but when I was a kid I had a very short “Bucket List.” At the top of the page were a group of “ties for first place.” They were:

• Walking in the athletes parade at the opening of the Olympic Games…
• Playing soccer at Wembley Stadium in London…
• Traveling to America…
• Walking into a bookstore and seeing a book with my name on the cover.

I think we can safely say I’m not getting to the Olympics (although I did run the track at The Crystal Palace). I passed up my opportunity to play professional soccer. I did make it to the U.S.A. (that certainly worked out). And the book thing seems to be going pretty well.

The front and back cover for my new book!

CHECK IT OUT: The new book is titled “Reaching Toward Easter.” The text is designed to help the reader (that would be you) negotiate the 49 days from the day before Ash Wednesday, through Lent, on to Holy Week and Easter Day, and then – most importantly – through the day after Easter. Reaching Toward Easter is structured – in essence – to addresses Rebekah’s famous “So what?” question.

The best way to describe the book comes right off the back cover:

These daily devotions are filled with hope and with an excellent mix of personal stories and in-depth exploration of the scriptures. Each day not only includes a comfortable life lesson but also probing questions that guide the reader to the next step, a step closer to the risen Christ. – Gilbert C. Hanke, General Secretary/CEO General Commission on United Methodist Men

This is DEREK, jumping up and down, fist-pumping and yelling “SCORE!” at the top of my voice…