Tags
CHRISTIANITY, FEAR, JESUS, John Eldredge, Matrix, RELIGION, Star Trek
Even if you’re not a Star Trek devotee of ALL the different series (well, not so much Deep Space Nine) like I am, you’ll probably recognize that tag line.
But as I realized this a.m. during the not-quite-awake phase, that as much as I love watching their adventures, even on rerun after rerun, I would not have been one to join the Star Fleet Academy to serve on the Federation’s Starship Enterprise. 
I’m just too chicken to have an adventure.
Knowing the kind of TV shows and movies I’ve always liked to watch (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, The Matrix, the TV show 24, The Walking Dead), you’d think I was quite the sword-wielding, laser-pointing, gun-toting, brave zombie killer, ready to sacrifice my life for the safety of humankind. Obviously, I like to live my hero life vicariously.
John Eldredge in his books, including Waking the Dead (not to be confused with the aforementioned zombie show), tell us that we are MEANT FOR ADVENTURE. We are AT WAR on this earth, and we are supposed to be WARRIORS, fighting a righteous battle. Jesus came to set the CAPTIVES free and will return on a mighty warhorse to finish the battle.
Last night my husband & I did a “values-based exercise” about money, investments, etc. Mine went something like this:
- What’s important about money to you ? Security
- What’s important about security to you ? So I can be in control
- What’s important about being in control to you ? I like to know what’s going on
- What’s important about knowing what’s going on to you ? So I’m not scared
- What’s important about not being scared to you? So I can be at peace
- What’s important about being at peace to you? So I can live the way God intends me to
My husband said something like “so being financially secure to you means you wouldn’t be distracted so you could feel free to be what God made you to be. OK, that makes sense…but there’s also that other thing – that He wants us to RELY on Him…” Then I said something so ridiculous that God probably laughed out loud.
Although I AM scared & worried about lack of funds, I seriously thought that there were OTHER things I needed to rely on God for – MORE than just dollars and cents.
Until the early morning hours.
Money = Control, Security, Peace?
Hmmmm…..goes way beyond money, huh? It’s that old trust thing again.
It was a far more valuable exercise than I originally thought it would be. Don’t you love how God uses such ordinary things as shows and questionnaires as “learning moments?”
Yes, my eyes were opened to yet another layer being peeled off, exposing things that aren’t pretty. Well, You did promise me that You were going to tell me great and unsearchable things this year. Not sure what I expected….
Jesus, Mighty Warrior, give me the courage and boldness for all the ADVENTURES designed for me. Forgive my lack of trust….again.
Learning to Be 
it is one of my biggest fears in life. i am divorced, so money is a huge issue as far as basic security. i should rely on god for all, not for other things besides money. he is watching over us in that area also, but i feel like i need to be in control of that, which is wrong of me
Surrendering is so hard, isn’t it?
If Star Trek were real and Starfleet was an option for me, I’ve wondered if I would go through with it. From the comfort of my couch, hidden behind my potato chips, I say, “For sure! I’ll be on the first starship to planet Vulcan!” But I ignore so many opportunities for adventure all the time. I even ignore adventures that would help build the Kingdom of God – which is a far more powerful motivation than any selfish ambition I might have of fighting aliens in space.
So the question shifts from the innocuous, “Would I join Starfleet?” to the stressful, “Why don’t I have any adventures?” And I land exactly where you landed – Maybe my trust in God needs a little work.
And I’ve noticed that when I focus on trusting God with little everyday things, like money, my life kind of does become an adventure!
Because what is adventure anyway? It’s a little guy/gal becoming a part of something bigger than themselves – and riding it. Indiana Jones is an adventurer because he’s just one man in dramas that have been going on for thousands of years. Star Trek heroes are just little groups of people riding the infinite highways of space. And Christians can be adventurers because they’re plugged into the Ultimate Power of the universe – the same power that built the universe!
I can get a little carried away on this topic…
Mickey, I LOVED your comment! It’s so true. And I laughed out loud at your 2nd! Thanks for brightening my day.
And by the way…I looked at your blog & saw that it was Shatner’s birthday yesterday!!! I had no idea. i actually wrote this post yesterday but just didn’t get around to “cleaning it up” and posting until this a.m. That’s so funny that God put Star Trek on my heart yesterday morning. Think He likes it, too?
Eldredge talks about stories, about myths (meaning “a story that brings you a glimpse of the eternal or any story that awakens your heart to the deep truths of life”) and our part in them. He references so many of them. Guess he’s a Geek for Christ, too!
Here’s to our adventures!
Excuse me. Geek OF Christ!
Paul said that he has learned to live with a little and with a lot. That is the where trust comes in. In our home we have had much and over the last few years have had very little but God has always come through. He has always provided for our needs and if He hasn’t provided it’s because we don’t need it:) It’s a humble, desperate place to be, but then again God loves to be needed! Loved this post!!
Thanks, Lori! Blessings!