The Honu Challenge

There's something happening here June 2 called the Honu Triathlon.  Lance will be here and other great athletes trying to secure a spot in the Ironman race in October.  I think I'd like to do an Ironman triathlon.   (Even though I can't see you, I know there are two responses  happening right now.)  Some of you loving, encouraging friends are saying something like, "You go, Susie!  I know you can do it!"  Others of you are laughing your heads off because you know me too well....I'll give you a moment to catch your breath.....
I think I'd like the swimming portion, at least for part of it, unless the water's too cold.  The whole running a marathon thing?  Nope.  Biking?  Well, I can't seem to find the perfect bike seat, so I guess I shan't do that part either.  Okay, so I don't want to do an Ironman at all.  And anyway, I'd rather do a race that's called IronWoman...unless it has to do with ironing.  (Consider the rambling done, but there was a point, in a way.)

Have you ever heard a message that was really good, but the part that really stuck out for you was some wacky little detail that was said in passing?  That happened for me this past Sunday at church.  Pastor Tex was sharing about families and how to build up strong, healthy discipleship centers in our families so the next generation would be thrust out in confidence.  "Did you know," he said, "that the Honu (green sea turtle) cannot go backwards?  It can only go forwards."  Huh!?  He lost me for the rest of the sermon.  I had green sea turtles on my mind and wondered what the whole "no going backward" thing was all about.
Here's what came to me as I pondered (dare I say meditated?) on it for the last couple of days.

 We have little Tommy Turtle swimming around in the deep blue sea off the Big Island of Hawaii.  He is a beautiful animal created by God and has a purpose and reason for being who he is.  He decides to come ashore to rest and get warm.  He is a cold-blooded animal after all and the water can get chilly.  (See why I don't want to do the whole swimming portion?)  Tommy gets to the sandy beach and starts to crawl.  He...is....v e r y....s l o w....But, because God created him in such a way, Tommy cannot back up.  He can only go forward.  No retreat, no surrender is his motto.  Also, unlike other turtles, Tommy the Green Sea Turtle cannot retract his head, tail, or limbs into his shell.  He's all out there all the time.

 I think that's who we're supposed to be in the Kingdom, little Tommy and Tammy Turtles.  We are no retreat, no surrender folks who are so excited about who God is in our lives and how much he loves every one around us that we can't imagine heading backwards.  When we're weary, we rest, but we don't give up.  We are "all out there" people, sharing the love of Jesus by being who he created us to be in joy and transparency.  Are you retracting into your shell?  Are you trying to back down the beach getting all confused and mixed up because it's not going so well?  I know I've been there...and not "back in the old days," but fairly recently.  Sometimes retracting and retreating feels so good and safe, but we all know it isn't.  We vaguely remember a verse in Philippians 3 that says, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
  This week I'm committed to pressing on, to looking ahead and not back, to being "all out there" in peoples' lives as I live fully in each and every moment with them.  Come with me, won't you?  Maybe we won't win the Honu Ironman prize (It's $15,000 by the way, which doesn't seem anywhere near enough for all that work!), but what a grand life we'll live.  What a well-spent life we'll share.  I think the world, your world, the world in which God has placed each of us, needs Tommy and Tammy right about now.  Move forward, be all out there, rest and be who God created you to be and see what he does through you and in you!  Have a super week!