ISBC 8 - Hope is Not Future-Proofing
Chapter 8 of Hope: A User's Manual
Knowing all possible outcomes? Even the United States Marine Corps, not known for flying by the seat of their perfectly pressed pants, embraces the phrase “improvise, adapt, and overcome” as one of its many slogans.1
At one point during our engagement, Amy and I felt we needed to get a photo of the two of us for a Christmas card. At the time, I was visiting her during her final year of seminary and, while we had a camera, we didn’t have a tripod. (This was also pre-smart-phone-self-portraits). We knew where we wanted to do the photo but weren’t sure how we would set it up. Could we put the camera on the roof of the car for the photo and turn the self-timer on? That could work except for being able to frame the photo (this was also pre digital cameras with live-view screens). Hood of the car? Maybe but still somewhat of the same issue. Amy came up with the brilliant idea of bringing her ironing board and we would set the camera on the edge of it and it would be perfect! So we put the ironing board in her Chevy Blazer and we headed out. We got to the place we wanted to do the photo, set up the tripod, tried to frame the photo as best we could, and ended up doing I think a full roll of film (yes film) to be sure we had a decent photo. It was our version of “improvise, adapt, and overcome.” Improvise because of a lack of a tripod. Adapt by busting out the ironing board. Overcome - we got the photo!
As much as I would love to have life planned out perfectly, we all know that it isn’t like that. We can try to control every variable but there are an infinite amount out of our control. And of the ones that we think we can control, there’s an infinite amount of ways that each one goes out of control and reminds us that we are not in control. I can choose how I will respond and adapt when these surprises come. That’s one of the things that I love about the Jesus stories - there are so many times that it feels like Jesus is just like, “well, this happened, let’s try this.” “We don’t have enough food to feed these thousands? Well, how about doing something pretty amazing with these few loaves and fish?” “Here’s this woman at a well, let’s have a conversation.” “These followers of mine think that the boat is going to sink in this storm...I guess I should do something to ease their fears.” And the list can go on, but in each, Jesus is taking a hopeful action to engage these moments. So maybe one part of following the way of Jesus is this same willingness to improvise, adapt, and overcome.
What are areas that you find it easier to improvise, adapt, and overcome? What are areas in which you struggle to do these things?
Grace, Peace, Love, and Joy,
Ed
McKibben Dana, MaryAnn. Hope: A User's Manual (p. 45). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
I thought we would see the pictures of the two of you taken from the Ironing Board.