I have a lightweight inflatable kayak that I decided might do a better job than my hard-shell kayak over the rocks of the rapids on the Catawba if it didn't puncture and drop to the bottom of the river. It also is so light, it would be much easier to cart behind my bike to the launch site. So, hubby agreed to accompany me on his bike and he would watch me as I went over the first set of rapids. If I survived, he could bike on and wait for me at the take-out point. He took a video of me going over the rapids. I am the speck in the middle of the screen.
It was a ton of fun. The inflatable kayak glides over the rocks better than my hard shell kayak. It didn't pop. I loved it. I stuffed my camera in my life jacket which I WAS wearing in case my inflatable kayak popped. With a less than ideal angle, I shot the video below as I went over a little rapids section.
I don't easily settle into complacency. That is a good and a bad thing. The good part is I am not satisfied unless I am stretched a little bit. The bad part is I am not satisfied unless I am stretched a little bit.
God talks about complacency. He would rather have us on fire for Him or in utter disdain. What God cannot stomach is lukewarm Christians. He says in Revelation 3: 15-16 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
That's a pretty chilling statement. If we are not CRAZY for Jesus, doing all things in His name in a radical, exciting manner, stretching always higher and higher...He will SPIT us out. I don't know about you, but I think that calls for looking for ways God can challenge us to follow Him in new, exciting, and maybe even dangerous ways. What does it mean to be "hot" for God?
I thought about that as my inflatable kayak splashed across the rapids.
My morning study by CS Lewis was surprisingly about the same subject, though I wrote the bulk of today’s blog last night. He seems to present a conflicting message. Since I adore CS Lewis, I considered this carefully.
The whole lesson of my life has been that no ‘methods of stimulation’ are of any lasting use. They are indeed like drugs—a stronger dose is needed each time and soon no possible dose is effective. We must not bother about thrills at all. Do the present duty—bear the present pain—enjoy the present pleasure—and leave emotions and ‘experiences’ to look after themselves. C.S. Lewis
Lewis is rightly saying that we should not live each moment wishing it were something else nor let strong emotions be our guide for contentment. As lovers of Christ, we should be satisfied in what He has brought us for the day. Lewis' point is proved by the fact that I was on the Class 2 rapids recognizing one day they would not be a sufficient thrill instead of living completely in the blessing of the moment God had given me. Lewis convicted me that no thrill will ever be enough....
With one exception....
The thrill of living each day longing to grow closer and closer to God and more and more Christlike...that thrill I do believe we are to vigorously pursue. The complacency to stay as we are before God instead of longing to be fully committed to Him in all He desires of us is being lukewarm, in danger of being spit out by God.
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Colossians 1:10
So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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