Like this moment. On a ride with some friends at Disneyland. The Tower of Terror. It drops you what seems like a million stories. Then it shoots you back up to the top story. Then plummets you back down. Then back up. You get the drift.
At some point during the near-death experience, they have the nerve to snap your picture. You never know when that picture's gonna happen. All you know is that you're going to look ridiculous in said picture, no matter when it's taken.
Lily Kate? She didn't know about the picture. All she knew was that she was going to love the ride. And she threw her hands in the air with NO FEAR. She threw caution to the wind. Literally. I was freaking out and nervously laughing at stun-volume (to hide my total freaked-outness), while she jumped into the moment with full force. Check her out:
That's Lily Kate. That's the way she lives. She's going to use that God-given tenacity to take in every moment. Sometimes that tenacity wears me out. But mostly it makes me love her so much it hurts.
I want to live like that. I want to trust God in every moment...and trust that He will keep me on track even when I feel like I'm going to go flying off of this ride. And trust that even when the force of my circumstances dare me to think that I might go plummeting down so hard that He can't catch me, He, in fact, will.
And when I look back at the snap shots of my life, I may be holding on tightly sometimes. A lot of times. And that will be ok. But I hope there will be a few moments frozen in time where I have thrown my hands into the sky, thrown my head back, and with a smile a mile wide on my face, said to the One I trust the most -
I TRUST YOU! BRING IT ON!
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
John 10:10 (The Message)
God is our refuge and strength. Our very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear.
Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV)
WE WILL NOT FEAR.
38 comments:
Thank you for this today. I am feeling like my circumstances are going to drown me. Husband in another state at a new job, trying to sell a house here by the end of school so we can join him, son in college in yet another state....It's refreshing to be reminded that God can and will catch me no matter where I am! So thanks again!
Wow! I would have had a panic attack on that ride...I so kid you not. She is hilarious!!
Dang, Travis! When you come back to the blog world you flat out come back! Very good word!!
Love Lily Kate and I have to quickly tell you my favorite story about her. Last April I ran into Beth at the Renaissance right before GMA week began. We talked for a few...mostly about how we had mutual friends...The Cottrells! :)
So the next night at church, I saw Ang and LK in the hallway at church and I said, "Angela, I ran into Beth last night before the Casting Crowns concert." LK jumped up and with eyes WIDE OPEN and as excited as could be she said, "You saw Beth?? You saw Beth?? Beth Moore?? You saw Beth??" Then as matter-of-factly as could be, she said very calmly, "You know...I had lunch with Beth Moore today." So cute!
Good to see you this morning! Have a great week and tell Angela I said hi!
Blessings,
Dori
well written, Travis!
and so true...
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Lily Kate reminds me of my Sammie. The only difference is the age. So if you want to know what Lily Kate will be like at 17, drop me a line. . . or maybe you'd be better off NOT knowing (lol). Seriously, I love my daugher, Sammie. She really embracing life to the fullest. My guess is she would love LK too.
Much love,
~Cheryl
That's a good word.
Love y'all.
We learn SO much from our children, don't we? They never cease to amaze me! Thanks for this one!
Great post...
What a joy she must be...love that about her!
I have a little firecracker girl like that too fearless and unmatched in joy for this life..and she's 4!
Don't 'cha love it how God uses our kiddos to teach us so many lessons about His character, His ways and His love?! Right there wrapped up in all their kidness...
I am SO wanting a copy of the Message! Loved the verses you shared..
No fear. :)
I just left a comment on the All Access blog last week about a woman in our church--late 70's--and her husband sliding down that giant slide in Estes Park. You know the one? Her arms are up high and she is thrilling to the ride. And her husband is the polar opposite in fear. I totally want to be more like her in this ride and less fearful... yes, I want to be like your Lily Kate.
Sounds like the beginning of a song.... Can you hear it? I hope you're working on that one, for her at least. ;)
LORD HAVE MERCY. If I would have known that this picture would be all over the internets, I would not have posed like such a goober.
Lily Kate is awesome.
I love this Travis. Very well put. You have just encouraged me in a major way. I'm going to think about this often.
And I LOVE that ride. My husband and I rode it 4 times in a row last year. I thought I was going to die. :-)
Yup. Kids! God's reminder to grown-ups that He still isn't finished with US yet.
My husband's grandfather (87) was put in the hospital today. Dr's said he had 24-36 hours to live.
I encouraged my 6 year old to make him a card and told her, "Great Granddaddy is getting really old, and he gets sick a lot now. He's so sick that God may choose to heal him this time by taking him on to heaven, so do your best on your card, because we may not be able to give him another one later."
Mary Beth looked at me like I'd lost my mind (the way only a 6 year old can)..."MOM! This is NOT!!!! the time to be making cards! THIS is the time to be PRAYING!!!!...God, please heal Great-Granddaddy, and please don't let him die today. I want to play with him some more. Amen."
And you know what? ...30 minutes later, my father-in-law called to say that Great-Granddaddy had just really perked up and was sitting up talking.
Thank You, God, for the faith of children! May we parents take a lesson!
Also one of my favorite rides ever!! As I'm reading back on your blog, wondering how your back is, and hoping the Tower didn't hurt it any!!
Children have the best lessons to teach us... sometimes I think we learn more from them than they learn from us.
Also praying for those hands-in-the-air-BRING-IT-ON moments.
~Bethany
Preach it, brother! I just want to please God in all I do. I SCREW UP A LOT, but thankfully He sees me through the blood of Jesus!!
God bless that Lily Kate!!
Leah
I want to live like that too.
That is so funny!
I showed my 9YO the pic and he said "oh my that ride is freaky!"
He rode it when he was 7YO and literally BIT my dad's arm b/c he was so scared - LOL
I love that Lily Kate goes after it without fear
We trust you God and we will have no fear!
Blessings
Kim
My hubby and I braved the TOT at Disney in fall of '07. After the first "drop", he said, "This isn't so bad." Then the "real drop" came...I was the one laughing hysterically and he was screaming like a little girl. I didn't even know his voice would do that.
Great lesson in your story about your daughter...thanks for sharing!!!
I'm glad I stayed in Bug's Land with Angela- I have a picture of me on that ride and I'm the opposite of Lily Kate- I'm actually weeping, and not with a happy look on my face. My brother in law next to me is turned towards me in the photo pointing and laughing...
That little gal...I can just feel her resolve and abandon in that picture! I love what your caption, too...indeed, bring it on!
By the way, that's my favorite Disney ride...for some reason, I laugh my head off through the whole thing! :o)
It looks like we're holding hands, fingers interlocked.
Great post!
My middle daughter is so much like that too. We call it her "zest for life".
"WE WILL NOT FEAR".....AMEN!
"Jesus take the wheel...... she's letting go!!!"
GREAT photo, cool kid, and impressive use of metaphor!
What a picture! I imagine someone could write a book of spiritual truths based on the snapshot taken during the Tower of Terror ride! My picture is so ridiculous! I have never been so scared on an amusement park ride as I was on that one! My left hand has a big handful of my cousin's capri pantleg and my right hand is being held, up in the air, by a young man who's hair, clothing, piercing and tattoo choices are vastly different from my own. Let's just say my only tattoo choice in life has been to not have one. The irony was not lost on me!
Anyway, great pic and that ride FREAKS ME OUT!
I love this and love your analogy. (our tower of tower pic has me nervously giggling and my dear hubby holding what appears to be a barf bag to his face!) Seize the Day and trust God to guide our every step!!!
I love that verse John 10:10.
I want to be the kind of women
that when my feet hit for floor each morning the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's away"!!!!!
Oh wow. I love it. Even though I hated that ride. It's the only ride I've ever ridden that truly made me knock-kneed. And afraid of the dips a plane takes in turbulence.
But I love your analogy. I wish I could get rid of my fears and live life with such abandon like that. Something to work towards.
Praying that I can "love the ride" even though I sometimes don't know where it will take me. Want to live with my hands raised knowing that He is in control.
By the way, my husband screamed like a little girl on that ride.
I love your Lily-Kate! She is my Kaylie Sue! Same ride, same reaction! No fear, hands in the air, shameless in her joy! This is how it looks to be "in-love" on the ride of your life with Him! Isn't He just the bomb? Really. He wants me like that, I'm learning. Glad to see it in your family too!
Lisa in Kirkland, WA
Sometimes I think that God gives us children to teach us lessons. Thanks for sharing this.
BTW, I am so looking forward to the Women of Joy Conference this weekend! Can't wait to see what God is going to do! I am really looking forward to the worship services.
Travis,
that picture of her blessed me so. i'm hoping to remember that it for a while! may i trust Him that much.
::Taylor
group of 30 from my church coming to WOJ, in Sevierville...looking so foward to it!
Hosea 6.3
Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
It was a pleasure meeting you at the Women of Joy Conference. I so enjoy your music. Thank you for sharing your gift with us!
Blessings,
Amy Beth
Travis, I read just this morning: "For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust."
This Thursday I check into the hospital at the wee hours of the morning and they will remove two kinds of cancer. I'm going to throw both arms up Travis! I don't have a clue how I'll do it but HE does. I can throw the hands high cause He will be with me! Loved your post. Love those Lily Kate live lessons.
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