A few weeks ago, some friends and I decided to try a new restaurant here in Fargo. None of us had ever tasted sushi, so we decided that Saturday was the day to do it. We all bundled up and met at the restaurant, fighting icy roads, irresponsible drivers, and increasing amounts of snow. You would think that during a blizzard in December you’d want to stay home and make soup, but no, not us Fargonians. A blizzard is like an invitation to go outside and play. (j/k) Anyway, we made it to the restaurant and ordered some tuna sushi, beef bagoki, and a little chicken teriyaki, in case we got faint of heart. We were ready to be indoctrinated into the Japanese culture with the help of a little food.
Our sushi came first, accompanied by a quarter size heap of something resembling a spoonful of guacamole. Having no idea what ‘the green stuff’ was or how to eat it, we decided to try it straight up. Taking about a pea sized amount each, we all stuck it on our tongues to see just what the mystery dish tasted like. After a few moments of letting the unknown substance hit our taste-buds, we all began to cough and reach for our waters or rice or whatever would calm the taste down. Wow!! Who knew such a little bit of an unknown food could pack such a punch? What a radical little dish!!
Sometimes the most radical things in life are initially unknown. And I would say, even the most radical people can get overlooked. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it takes to make a person radical. Is it a willingness to stand on a street corner and yell until all the veins in your neck pop out? Or is it the one who screams out prayers from the top of their lungs? Is a radical one who always, always stands out in a crowd? What does a radical heart look like to the Lord?
From the bottom of my heart, I have a deep desire to be radical for the Lord. Lately however, the Lord has been changing my definitions. He’s been showing me first how a radical one is so in love with Him that nothing else matters. Truly. A radical one has a heart that’s consumed. They are the ones that long for more time, whose hearts always cry ”just a little longer, Jesus!” They are the ones who don’t have anything to prove and who walk in peace because of it. Their eyes are fixed on the beautiful bridegroom.
A radical one also believes what God has said to them is true. They take the word of God, dwell on it, pray it through, and let it become so real to them that it’s deep within their bones. Especially now, during the Christmas season, I think about how an angel appeared to a virgin, teen-aged girl to let her know she would be the mother of the Messiah. And her response was simply “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” Radical! Even Elizabeth blessed and affirmed Mary’s heart saying “Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Mary was a teenager who believed God even when there was no way to wrap her mind around what God was about to do.
A radical believes the words of Lord more than the present circumstances. Take Noah. Who really builds an ark in a consistently dry land?? Just think, every morning he probably got up saying ‘Lord, I believe you more than what I see.’ And then he’d go and work tirelessly on the ark, his hands getting scraped and blistered, his resources running low, and his reputation going down the drain. He’d stare at the cracked ground and feel the dry heat and say to himself “my God keeps his word, my God does the impossible, my God will be faithful.”
My challenge today is to put yourself if Mary’s or Noah’s shoes. It’s easy for us because we know the whole story. But what radical story is God writing in your life today? Is there something impossible in your circumstances and God has called you to believe Him instead of what you see??
Be a radical: love Him fiercely and believe that what he said to you is true.
(Stay tuned…there’s more to come!)
WASABI! ( said with a ninja like roundhouse kick)