Do What You Are

 

You know the worst thing?  The worst thing is not knowing your place in this world.

 

-Mr. Glass, from the movie Unbreakable

 

Os Guinness is one of the world’s most renowned theologians.  His passion, so it seems, is the subject of “Calling”; as he describes:

 

A sense of calling should precede a choice of job and career, and the main way to discover calling is along the line of what we are each created and gifted to be.  Instead of, ‘You are what you do,’ calling says: ‘Do what you are.’”

 

In the last post I described the guile and strategies of “The Great Illusionist”.  One of his most favored ruses is the distraction he offers young men in the form of easily accessible erotic media or online games that produce addictive behaviors and corroded confidence.  As a result, a young man often buries his desires and dreams and abandons any hope of being “what he is.”

 

In the movie Unbreakable David, the hero played by Bruce Willis, has for many years denied his desires; he is uniquely gifted to defend and protect the helpless, yet a random accident in high school causes him to bury the memory of his abilities.  A stranger enters David’s life nicknamed Mr. Glass who suggests that the subdued security guard might be more than he is.  Soon David starts to wonder – Could Mr. Glass be right?  Can I know my place in this world?

More Black Swans (at least within the financial sector) have attacked during the past two weeks more than any time in recent history.  We are incredibly distracted as a nation – a stock market slump, corporate bailouts and restructures, bankruptcies, a volitile presidential election, ongoing war, threat of nuclear developments, etc. etc. etc.  Swarming swans are indeed the “new normal.”  The illusion of equilibrium is a “my precious” not easily released.  These are no random occurrences or coincidences.  As another of my comic book heroes (“V” from the movie “V for Vendetta”) states, “There are no coincidences, only the illusion of coincidences.” 

 

We must equip our young me to be prepared to lead in the new normal.  They are suffering, subdued, and becoming more inhibited with each passing year; but it need not be so.  We must rescue them and remind them of who they are – in Him.

 

Suggestion – watch Unbreakable together and ask your son, “How is your thought life?  Is there anything causing you to feel guilty?  If there is, you know I love you and we can work through it together.  I don’t want you to bury your dreams; I want you to be who you are in God’s calling for your life.”

900 Dream Builders

 

Over 900 men gathered on the floor of the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida last Tuesday night to hear what it means to be a Dream Builder – and how to become one.  Click on this link and check out the videos at the bottom of the page to get a glimpse of the amazing experience of the event:

 

www.dreambuildersnetwork.org

 

We will post Kennan Burch’s talk as well as some cool interviews with Dream Builders on the site soon.  Enjoy the incredible sequence entitled The Artist and the Audience and especially Tapestry of Dreams.  As my friend and hero Derric Johnson says in the video – “Every man needs a dream!”

The Imperious Illusionist

 

In the next post I’ll focus on the facts and functions of the “wounds” suffered by a large percentage of young men in our society.  Not physical damage, but injuries of the heart and mind that function as “spiritual cautery knives” – cutting deep into their confidence and searing their soul to stifle confidence, initiative, and performance.  

 

Today, however, I want to concentrate on the Imperious Illusionist – the one who wounds by diverting our attention from God’s invitations, and distorting reality to distract us with synthetic stories of current events.  I’m speaking obviously of the master deceiver and our arch Enemy – Satan.

 

Illusionists make a living by distracting our attention.  By definition they don’t perform magic or the supernatural; their goal is to deceive us and distract our attention from what is really happening…

I once attended a performance by one of the world’s premier Illusionists.  After a few acts I was convinced I knew how he was fooling the audience.  I described the idea to my companions as we walked to the car, all of whom immediately disagreed.   A few years later I sat next to a fascinating individual on a flight who served for ten years as personal assistant to another of the world’s great illusionists.  I told him about the show and asked him if Illusionists ever used “plants” in the audience; actors who appeared as random volunteers but were actually permanent members of the show.

 

The man’s jaw dropped as he looked around to determine who was listening to our conversation.  It was like I had violated national security.  He nodded and then described the role of what was known in the industry as “Confederates”.  He told me how all illusions are built on simple but brilliant distractions, trade secrets that if made public would end the career of most of the major performers.  It reminded me of something Sherlock Holmes would say to Dr. Watson after describing to a client how he ascertained his observations – then hearing the client laugh at the simplicity of the method.  Holmes would turn to Watson with disgust and state, “Omni ignotum pro magnifico,” a Latin phrase that means, “Everything is made common upon explanation”.

 

The key to watching Illusionists, of course, is to constantly remember that they are creating illusions – not reality.  The left side of our brains short circuit when we watch the improbable.  We think, “This can’t be happening, but it’s happening.”  The same holds true when we encounter circumstances orchestrated by THE Illusionist.  He wants us to see a lost job, a rejected college application, a distanced relationship, or a broken bone as an inconvenient hindrance to our objectives – something we need to control and overcome (or worse – escape, more later); when in fact it is God’s protection to point us in a different direction.  Satan wants us to see a dejected individual sitting next to us on a plane as a potential “ear bender” during a long flight, when in fact it’s God’s invitation to nudge someone a step closer to the Kingdom.  We will be fooled and our hearts distracted if our radar settings are anything less than Defcon 1. 

 

Our Enemy also uses Confederates as part of his brilliant illusions.  The Bible describes his army of demons who work behind the scenes to tempt and discourage us.  In Teknon and the CHAMPION Warriors, those Confederates (to Poneros, the master enemy) are represented by two villains, Magos and Scandalon:

Satan is the Imperious Illusionist who desires more than anything else to distract us from the truth of God’s word so that we distrust His provision and direction in our lives.  When we and our young men embrace Satan’s facades; when we allow ourselves to move away from God and buy in to the illusions of our Enemy’s temptations, we suffer wounds that only God through time can heal. 

 

Imagine that you are a member of the audience watching the Imperious Illusionist perform his tricks on stage.  Look carefully – do you see where he is distracting and deceiving you, members of your family, or your friends?

Dream Builders

 

Next Tuesday night, September 9, 2008, an event will occur in Orlando, Florida that could be the launch of one of the most significant “Black Swans” (good bird) in the foreseeable future.  It’s called Dream Builders:

 

www.dreambuildersnetwork.org

 

I’ve been involved with the first Dream Builders group for the past two years – it’s been an incredible experience seeing how God steps in when men share their dreams by answering two questions:

 

1. Who do you want to help?
2. How do you want to help them?

 

When a member verbalizes his dream, he gets one of three responses from the other members:

 

1. I don’t know how to help you, but I’ll encourage you and pray for you every step of the way.
2. I can’t help, but I know someone who can, let me connect you.
3. My strengths play directly into your dream, and I’m in!

 

In that context, God connects the dots in ways only He can accomplish.  It’s like the illustration I offered in a previous post:

 

 

 

In Dream Builders we see the highly improbable (Black Swan) combine with unlimited possibilities (The Mystery Box) on a regular basis.  We don’t even try to explain the results – we just know God is connecting the dots for His glory.

 

I encourage you to click on the link above and contact me if you have any questions about the Dream Builder movement.  I’m taking my two sons (Casey and Kyle) to the event next Tuesday.  Dreams are essential both to men and young men. 

 

We are filming the Orlando event and will post the footage to the Dream Builders site in the next few weeks.  Watch the video with your son and take him out for dessert to discuss the two Dream Builder questions.  If, after watching the video you want to start a Dream Builder group in your city, contact me (brentsapp@gmail.com).  You, and men you want to do life with, will see God work in ways and means beyond belief.  Here is my interpretation of what we have experienced:

 

The Heart of a Dreamer

 

An Artist paints behind the scenes;

With plans unknown, through ways and means,

Connecting dots in time and space;

He molds my dream and crafts my place.

 

Some see this life as random acts;

While others worship cold hard facts,

But He delights in child-like faith;

And blesses those who seek His grace.

 

I am most alive when I abide and live my dreams,

On Him alone I lean; I am never – so free.

 

A few throw in and join my work;

They share their prayers, their strengths, their turf.

And I in turn will join their team,

To cast my lot upon their dream.

 

He drives the dream deep in my heart;

With passion only He can start,

To help those who I’ve come to love,

A task that fits me like a glove.