A few days ago a friend sent me a link to a recent video someone had made featuring 55 year old footage from the ‘village’ where we were raised. It brought back many memories seeing my old childhood friends and the fun events like the Primary School sports day that tended to make their way onto Percy’s screen. Back then Percy was held in awe as the one man who could afford the luxury of such a hobby………..changed times!
The clip above was the only one I found of myself! My friend, Paddy and I are going up to receive our medals. We had just won the three legged race!!!
I grew up in the Protestant/Loyalist community. The name “Paddy” represents the Catholic/Republican community. Little did I know at age 10 how prophetic this photo would prove to be 55 years later, as I reflected on my life’s calling to participate in the “repair of the breech” between these two factions in Northern Ireland (Is. 58:12).
God selected me to run with others I would not have chosen and who I would have to learn to ‘get along’ with in Christ, running as the “One new (three-legged) man” so that together we could win the race (Eph.2:14-18).
Jesus said “You did not choose me, I chose you …..and chose who you were to stand beside” (Jn: 15:16, 1 Cor:12:18).
We don’t get to choose. We just get to refuse when God calls or resist when we don’t like those we find ourselves placed alongside. We think romantically about dying a martyr’s death, but most of us are called to “martyrdom on the installment plan” as we die daily by laying down our lives for those He puts us alongside to run with in life. This practical loving in the “here and now” is the heart of the short song I shared last week. It’s worth repeating:
Audio PlayerOur life has been so enriched as we have sought to embrace and stick with the motley crew of friends God has given us over the years, all over the world, of every shade and slant and persuasion and perfusion, for it is only together that we will go in…and access our victory in the Victorious One who has been lifted up that ALL men might be drawn unto Him (Jn.12:22).