"It's the most wonderful time of the yeaaarrrrrrrr!" Lord Stanley's Cup is once again up for grabs and this makes me tremendously happy. Few things are more exciting that playoff ice hockey. But it isn't just that. My birthday is also approaching, the approach of my birthday means the Kentucky Derby is simultaneously approaching, one of my favorite events. When the University of Louisville marching band plays "My Old Kentucky Home," I know where home is.
These events are fun and enjoyable, more importantly the events themselves represent good memories: past times where fun and enjoyment played prominent roles. One of the things that I've always enjoyed about ice hockey, and especially the playoffs is the amount of commitment that is necessary to win the Stanley Cup. Guys are expected to play injured, and they do unless they don't have movement in a limb or something equally serious. The playoff beard is also a wonderful tradition that I enjoy. If you don't know about playoff beards, many hockey players believe that it is bad luck to shave, and so they won't shave until their team is eliminated from the playoffs or wins the Stanley Cup.
Let's think about this playoff beard idea. Every morning, a player growing a playoff beard makes a decision not to shave. Every morning a decision has to be made to continue in something. Ladies might be unaware that the worst part of growing a beard is the first week or ten days. Your face itches constantly and there is an adjustment period to your changing face. But it gets easier to deal with. Growing a beard is a lot like christian life. Starting can be difficult, and there are times when it is easier, times when it is more difficult. Each requires a daily decision to continue in the activity.
This daily decision to continue, we call this faithfulness. Paul had this to say in 2 Timothy 2:11-13:
If we died with him, we will also live with him.
12 If we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we deny him, he will also deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.
God is faithful, even if we are not. This has been foremost in my thoughts recently. I go through times where I feel unfaithful because I worry about things that God has taken care of. Things where I've seen His faithfulness before. Even though I'm unfaithful, God is still growing his beard. And this is wonderful. I hope that I can understand this more and more deeply.
God is faithful: I've been home a few weeks and I've already seen so many wonderful people that I hadn't seen in a long time.
God is faithful: I've seen most of my family and friends.
God is faithful: I have a job.
God is faithful: I have a car to drive.
God is faithful: I keep hearing from people and churches that are excited to support me.
God is faithful: I have the opportunity to go to so many different churches to talk about the Philippines.
God is faithful: I get to visit Dairy Queen and have an Oreo blizzard as often as I want.
God is faithful: I've had a chance to visit all of my favorite restaurants.
God is faithful in many other ways, some more significant and some less, but the point is the same: God is still growing the beard, he's still faithful.
I miss my Filipino friends, but I'm having a great time here at home. It's been great spending time in Bracken County.
Nick
