As
an author and film producer, Bill Myers’s work has won over 70 national and
international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His books and videos,
which include Eli and McGee and Me, have sold 8 million
copies. His most recent book, The Jesus Experience - Journey Deeper into the
Heart of God, explores how he went from a burned-out evangelical to
someone head-over-heels in love with his Creator. www.billmyers.com
THE
JOY OF DISCIPLINE
“God is treating you
as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If
you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not
legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover,
we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.
How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They
disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us
for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” HEBREWS
12:7-10
One time, my cameraman and I were
flying home from a shoot in Bolivia. We’d been in the jungles, traveled
mountain roads for weeks, and we were dead tired. We found a row on the plane
with three open seats and sat with the vacant seat between us so we could
spread out and relax. But the plane was getting more crowded by the second.
When people approached and asked us if the empty seat was taken, we pretended
like we didn’t understand them. If they spoke Spanish, we spoke English. If
they spoke English, we spoke French.
Bottom line, we were being jerks.
But it worked. The entire plane filled
up, except for the one and only vacant seat between us. Ah, sweet victory! We’d
gotten our way. But, even as the door shut, part of me felt bad. It wasn’t so much
guilt as it was disappointment. If God really loved us, why did He let His two
kids get off with such behavior?
The props revved up and the plane
started forward. But we had only taxied a dozen feet before the props died down
and the plane coasted to a stop. That’s when I looked out the window and saw—I
kid you not—a woman weighing at least 250 pounds, waddling out of the terminal.
In one hand was a giant grocery bag and in the other . . . a crying baby. She
climbed on board and, of course, there was only one place left to sit.
Though we were incredibly cramped
during the many hours of flight, I giggled to myself and felt pretty good. God
had not let me down. I was still His beloved son.
I loved this story....I've read the Jesus Experience and enjoyed it immensely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a hilarious experience, and good thoughts for the journey!
ReplyDelete