" And why do we fall, Bruce?....."

What a question. I mean seriously. Look at that question. Why do we fall? I hope everybody who is reading this knows where this quote comes from, but if you are not familiar with it I forgive you. Anywho, this quote was said by Mr. Thomas Wayne, father of Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman, in the movie called Batman Begins. It is a great movie, I would recommend that you watch it.....seriously though after you read this go watch it. So yea that is where it comes from, but it is such an interesting question to think about. Why do we fall?

What does falling mean to you? That was the first thing I asked myself when I first was analyzing this quote. Does he literally mean falling? Like tripping and falling or stumbling, or does he mean in life. The pitfalls, the lows, the valleys, the tough times, the times when we feel hopeless and insignificant. I believe that he is asking this question not just to Bruce, but to all of us. Why do we fall? We all fall. I mean, we are human. We can't just expect ourselves to run around in this life and not trip, stumble, or fall. It would be completely impossible for that to happen. So, think about all of the times that you have fallen. Think of that time that you fell into a depression, or gave in to that addiction, or said something hurtful to someone else, or have been hurt by someone else's words, or when you were heart-broken, or that time that you felt like you weren't loved or wanted by anyone, or when you look into that mirror and you are disgusted by what you see. You see ladies and gentlemen, that list could go on and on and on and on and on. We fall. That IS our nature. We are gonna mess up, get hurt, hurt others, have valleys, stumble, trip, veer off the path that is laid out for us. We fall.

There is another half to that quote though. It not only gives us a hope, but also gives us a way of application into our own lives. He continues and says, "So we can learn to pick ourselves up." Wow. Speak the truth on that one Big Bat Daddy. Mmmmmmm......I mean honestly. We stumble and every time that we stumble or falter or fall short. We are given an opportunity to grow. To build character, to strengthen ourselves, and to learn from it. So the next time that we come to that type of situation, or the next time that we fall that we can then pick ourselves up even faster than before.

Falling doesn't mean failing. It means learning. I have always believed in my heart that God uses everything to better me, and to give me opportunity to learn in this life. He doesn't want the fall to happen, but he allows it to for us to rely on Him to dust us off after we pick ourselves up again. He reminds me of that loving and amazing dad that I aspire to be when I am older. That guy you see playing with his toddler and when the toddler takes a tumble and is scared out of its whits because it is now face first on the ground the father is right there not necessarily just picking his kid up right away, but waits to see if the toddler can figure out how to get back up and watching the child very closely to make sure that if it outstretches its arms for daddy that he will swoop in and save the day. He lets the child learn how to get itself back up, and when the kid does then daddy is right there to brush the dust off and send him or her back out to run around and be a kid. That is God. The amazing and loving Daddy. Pretty amazing eh? Never thought I would connect Batman to God did you? haha me neither. Gotta love it.

"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." -Thomas Wayne from Batman Begins

What up Papa! Man, it really is amazing to be in your presence and to learn something about this life you have blessed me and everyone with. Lord, thank you for allowing us to make connections to your through all things from anything in nature to Batman it all leads back to you. I just pray tonight Father that we all can realize this during our falls that every time that we do fall there is an opportunity for learning to happen. Lord I love you so much, and praise your name on the highest of mountains. In your most amazing name I pray. Amen.


NA na Na Na na na Na na Na na na na na na NA NA BATMAN!

The Campfire

Ahhhh the campfire. A small little ring filled with wood, warmth, and light. There is something about a campfire that brings people together isn't there? I mean you throw any type of person: male or female, young or old around a campfire and magic usually happens. Walls of separation that normally keep people in their own little groups and cliques are broken down and a new sense of community, warmth, and comfort wash over the people staring at the light. I never noticed this until sitting around the fire up at the cabin and then again tonight at a friend's house. Let's dive deeper into this campfire concept and connect it to our everyday life.

What would happen if we took this concept of campfire living and applied to everyday living? Wouldn't that be something? Wouldn't life be so much cooler? We all could just be chill and loving and open to talking to anybody about anything. Think about the sense of community, the sense of worth, joy and acceptance would be amazing to experience.

Let's go a little bit deeper, and apply this to the church. Not just like within each denomination, but us as the church of Christ as a whole as Christians. Isn't the church supposed to be just like this campfire theory? Shouldn't going to church each week not seem like a chore, or something that we are supposed to do and turn into something that we actually love to be at and be apart of? I think yes! I mean if you combine church concepts of worship and learning about Christ and the community and loving feel of the campfire then that my friends would be an amazing church. The church shouldn't be excluding and closed off, but like Jesus says, "Come ALL who are tired and I will give you rest."

My challenge for you in this moment of revelation is to live each day as if you were by the campfire. Be inclusive, love on others and include them into conversations even if they aren't your favorite person, but remember that if we live each day with the "campfire theory" in mind and in practice then let that sense of community and acceptance fill each person you encounter with that warmth of the campfire. So if you didn't get anything out of this post then take away this little saying, "Be someone's campfire today." Be the source of light and warmth in another person's life. That is the campfire theory.

Hey Papa. I just thank you for being you and providing us with these awesome things called campfires. I mean seriously God. It is amazing to see you work through just a simple little thing as fire. The warmth, the glow, the light that spreads to all people who surround it really makes me inspired and encourages me to do the same in my everyday life. Lord, I pray that we all can be the campfire in someones life, and provide that warmth, that light into everyone we meet minus all the smelly smoke and just have that sense of community and acceptance through out our entire days on this Earth. I love you Papa, and pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.