Don't Sit Around Waiting

Preparation

How are you with riddles?

Try this one:

All the electricity was out in Aberdeen. None of the streetlights or traffic signals had power. A dark limousine was cruising down the newly paved blacktop, with its headlights off. A young boy dressed totally in black (with no reflectors) stepped out to cross the street. The moon wasn't out and the boy had no flashlight, yet the driver stopped to let the boy cross the street. How did the driver see the boy?

Ben Gates, in "National Treasure", found destiny in the riddle. "The legend writ, the stain affected, the key in Silence undetected. Fifty five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't offend." His life was driven by a riddle.

Does your life find destiny in a riddle? Are you looking for maps, clues, or answers? In the movies, Ben Gates, Harry Potter, Frodo, and Indiana Jones found their destinies, their "reason for living," in a driving quest.

What are you driven by? Too many of us have trouble here. Are you still searching to find your driving force? ... your destiny? Have you read the book, "Purpose Driven life," and still find yourself in search of purpose? Or, have you grown comfortable waiting around?

Waiting, or wasting time?

Not sure what you want to do?

Then, go make something up.

You have permission to take your abilities and dreams and make life happen.

Brandon asked:

I'm not sure what God wants me to do with my life, I haven't figured out the answers yet; in fact, I haven't found the clues yet. What if I decide to do something with my life that's not God's will for me ... not what I'm destined to do?

My response:

Then, He'll let you know; but just waiting around or wishing something would happen, is a waste. God opens doors all around us, most of them we never see, because we're waiting for something to happen, somewhere else.

It was the 1940's in America and Branch Rickey was about to do the impossible. It wouldn't be easy, but he was going to integrate professional baseball. Branch was the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers; but for this task he would need a partner, an extraordinary one.

To begin with, Branch realized that introducing a black player into the Dodger organization would put him at odds with generations of inbred racial attitudes; and it would for a while meet with intense opposition.

More than being a great player, this first black man in Baseball, would have to have strength of character, intestinal fortitude and personal tenacity. He would have to be a man willing to make history, not sit around waiting for it to happen. Branch picked Jackie Robinson.

In 1945, Branch made the offer to Jackie. "We can't fight our way through this, Robinson. We've got no army. There's virtually nobody on our side. No owners, no umpires, very few newspapermen. And I'm afraid that many fans will be hostile. We'll be in a tough position. We can win only if we can convince the world that I'm doing this because you're a great ballplayer and a fine gentleman."

In spite of what was thrown against them, they would both have to endure without reprisal.

Jackie looked at the general manager and asked, "Mr. Rickey, are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?"

"No, I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back," Branch replied.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier during the 1947 season with restraint and resolve. Early on players yelled at him to go back to the jungle, hurled racial epithets, and slung hate. And it got worse.

Jackie played with great skill and astonishing restraint. Everyday he had to fight the war inside, while playing the game he loved. Jackie Robinson didn't just wait around for clues.

He didn't waste his days dreaming of destiny, a future that might come his way; he took action, tough action and created his own destiny.

Motivation

Are you in-play? Or are you waiting on the bench, hoping something happens this week that changes everything.

What are you waiting for, really? Confidence? Company? Confirmation?

What about faith?

Faith forces us into action, sometimes impossible, dangerous, and unexpected action, but always action.