On Monday night we ate at
Crabby Bill’s. Our waitress seated us at a table on the deck overlooking the
marina. The breeze was cool and the sun was descending in the sky. The same sun
had tinged our skin earlier in the day, and we were hungry.
It was a strange thing—we held
little alligators at Wild Willy’s, but we were eating alligator as our
appetizer that night. Something seemed a little wrong with that picture. The
evening was leisurely. Slow. Unhurried. (Are you picking up the theme of this
vacation yet?). No agenda. No plan. We walked along the dock of the marina
afterwards; perhaps we were hoping to see the alligators that we were warned
not to feed under any circumstances.
Afterwards Abby wanted a
Sonic drink: Route 44 Cherry Coke Zero. So,
off we went. Across the street was a frozen yogurt eatery, and I decided we
needed to go there. This is rare. I am not fond of ice cream. Rarely do I eat
it, and I don’t initiate getting it. But that night after the day on the water
and the seafood I suppose I wanted something cold and chocolate.
We were still talking about
Captain Dan and the day. Replaying and revisiting the adventure. The discussion
centered on how God shows up in the oddest of ways. We walked into this yogurt
place, filled our bowls and sat down to eat. And while we were shoveling our
cold concoctions into our mouths we read the flyers on the tables and began
looking around.
Apparently this was not an
ordinary frozen yogurt eatery.
The main wall held a ten foot
bulletin board covered with old photographs. The pattern was repetitive, but it
was obvious that these were photographs of a real family. The flyer on the
table explained that these were pictures of four generations of one family. One
family who decided to embrace life. A family who wanted to squeeze as much good
and adventure out of living as they could. They believed we should have High Five moments in our lives. And we
should celebrate them. Thus, this yogurt eatery was born and named HighFive your life Yogurt.
This place was birthed
because someone decided to embrace life for all its worth.
I thought the imagery was
remarkable. When we high five someone
it is often to acknowledge a job well done, an accomplishment, a joint endeavor
carried out well and a celebration. High fiving our lives—who wouldn’t want to
live that way?
A flat screen TV was mounted
above the counter. Scrolling and looping were images of customers who had
visited this place, who had experienced an adventure and wanted to share it.
Steve leaned over to me, “We
should upload our airboat photo to their website.” I agreed (we’ve yet to do
it, but that’s okay.)
I sat perched on the edge of
my chair, my elbows leaning on the table. I was eating my chocolate yogurt
(with chocolate chips, hot fudge and pecans). But my mind was not there.
Could I high five my life? Were there seasons or times when I could look
back and think: yes, that was a high five moment? Yes, that was a high five
season? Yes, I could.
But I was thinking of
something more. Connecting dots. Seems as if I am forever connecting dots.
Regardless of what many might
think rarely do high five moments
occur at random. They are most often the result of hard work, dedication and a diligent
pursuit in one focused direction.
During our trip Abby used her
phone to connect us to music. Now, I don’t enjoy music quite like my girls. I
like it, but I tend to not have it in the background at all times. But there
was a track that Abby played often while we were gone and I grew to love the
songs on that track a great deal. It was our trip soundtrack.
One of the songs was a cover
of The Lumineers’ Ho Hey by the Stella Sisters. These two young girls (14 and
9) seem to have gained world wide notice because of one video on Youtube. These
girls’ voices astounded me so much that I decided to do some research
concerning them. Over and Over I read and heard the phrase over night success. Sudden
rise to stardom. Yet, these young girls are the daughters of a husband and
wife duo who have been nominated for three CMA awards in 2012. Their parents’ (The Stellas) voices are incredible. Lennon and Maisy grew up in a house of music,
instruments and voices. They did not obtain overnight success because of one
song. No, the girls chose to play instruments and stretch their voices instead
of watching TV. Their parents sang to them even before they were born and ever
since. And every lullaby was an investment that has resulted in high five
dividends for the girls now.
In the spring of this year I attended
a simulcast that featured Priscilla Shirer. She told us that someone had asked
her how her bible studies and the Going Beyond Ministry became such successes
seemingly overnight. Priscilla laughed. Overnight? Priscilla is the daughter of
Tony Evans. Author. Speaker. Minister. Her mother is an author. Priscilla grew
up hearing the word of God taught and preached and written. For ten years
Priscilla and her husband worked to establish and build the Going Beyond ministry. It was after this
that Lifeway contacted her about doing a bible video series. Does that sound
like overnight success? Priscilla’s high five lifestyle is a result of the prayer
and investment of many people.
Bob Goff, author of Love Does, and his wife created a rite
of passage for his three children. The “ten year old adventure”. When each child
turned ten they were allowed and encouraged to choose a destination or event
with their dad. Any place. Anything. (The stories are amazing; you can read
them in chapter 20 of Love Does!) These rites of passages became monumental
high five moments in the children and their parents’ lives. But as much as they
appear to be spontaneous (there was little agenda and planning during the trip)
Bob and his Maria “made a pact early in [their] marriage”* for these adventures
to happen. They made choices that enabled them to set aside money and funds and
time.
Do you see a pattern?
High five moments and
lifestyles do NOT just happen.
They happen because someone
invested something.
Deep down inside we want to
live a high five life. We want adventure. We want excitement. We want
exhilaration. We want to feel alive.
I know I do.
I ate my yogurt, but while I
did I prayed.
And I am praying still.
I am finishing this post
while at my daughter’s house watching Elijah. And as I sat here at her kitchen
table typing I have cried. What’s new, right?
No, I have cried because I
want my children to experience life as God has intended—the abundant, good,
beyond-your-wildest-imaginations, high five kind of life. I want David, my son-in-law, to know that following after God is at times as crazy and wild as wakeboarding behind
a boat that’s moving at least 32 mph. I want all of them to be aware and
attuned to the marvelous synchronicities of this walk God has called us to—it’s
hard. It’s very hard, but it’s good.
Therefore, I am praying,
around and around, that God will show and enable me to make investments and
choices that will contribute to my own high five life, but even more to my
children, my grandchildren and my husband’s high five lives. I want them to
have incredible lives.
I want them to live the Grand
Adventure.
·
Goff, Bob. Love Does. Page 128
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