Are You a Tour Guide or a Local? Part 3

Running to the edge of the cliff, the roaring increased. Paul had jumped into the waterfall. The commercial was right: This is going to change my life forever. Shawn took a gander at the multitudes of people enjoying the waterfall. There were thousands of people all in the pool at the bottom of the falls. There were people laughing and playing in the water. There were people on the shore cooking up some steaks. There were people playing music and singing about the waterfall. It was almost cult-like, but there was something intriguing about it. Well, when in Rome! Shawn jumped. He free fell for about six seconds before hitting the water and being doused in the cool blue waves. He swam to the top and took a deep breath. This truly is the best water I have ever been in. Oh yeah! Taste and see! He took a big gulp. And another. "Good God Almighty! This is the best tasting water I have ever had!"

Shawn swam to the side and crawled out. He started talking with the people around the falls. Paul had disappeared, so he thought he would try to get to know some people while he was here for the week. Shawn made the rounds, got a steak, made some new friends, and laid down to take a nap. When he woke up, Paul was sitting next to him.

"Gorgeous ain't it?"

"Sure is", Shawn confirmed. "How often do you come here?"

"All's I do is git people to come here. It's my job." Paul replied as if he had the most important job in the world.

"What do you mean?"

"Every week I bring someone new out heres. People see the ads about the beauty of this place, and I bring 'em out."

"So you're a tour guide?"

"Nosir. I used to live here. I'm a local", Paul corrected gently.

"Are all of these people locals?"

"Nope. You can tell the ones who are tour guides. The locals have set up camp. They’re here for until that day. They are dedicated to this place above all else in life. They have tasted and seen. They ain't going nowheres." Paul went on, "The tour guides, they have all the right clothes on, they know the lingo, they bring all the right people here, but they never get in the water. They just sit around and talk to their friends about how great it is, but they have only experienced that first jump. They know all about the secret caves underneath the falls and the depth of the water. They can tell you how long it's been here and all of the interesting people that have come by to see 'em. It's almost creepy. If you just visit, you'd never be able to tell. If you stay here long enough though, you'll see 'em."

"Why would anyone ever leave this place? Or, and I'm going to one-up you with this one, why not get in and just stay in?" Shawn queried.

"Oh, everyone has their own excuse. No matter how much you tell them about the life these falls give, they just won't git in." Paul grew agitated. "I've tried persaudin' 'em many times, they just don't listen. Some of 'em do though. There are certain times when the man that created these falls comes down and changes them. That's when they git in and really taste and see.  On those days, we have a huge party.  Lots of dancing and singing.  We drink wine and eat bread and remember the day that these falls were created.  We also celebrate the day when we all get to go home.”

The End

So here's my question: Are you a tour guide or a local? Do you get in the water and taste and see that the Lord is good and gracious and mighty? Or are you content to sit on the side with your hamburger and reminisce about the one day you took the plunge? Are you content with only being able to describe Jesus? Why not really know him?

Gimme five minutes with Tom Cruise

There is only one Jesus Christ. You are not him, and you did not come to save humanity to science. My Jesus died on a cross for my sins and for yours. We have all blown it, and God sent him to reconcile the chasm and make things right.

How did I get here?

At this stage in life, I am working at MetLife just north of the DFW airport. I felt like God was sending me toward teaching and for the past year and a half I have been pursuing him to that end. It has been difficult, but alas here we are. After many closed doors and learning experiences, I found myself in training to become a mortgage company call center agent. It's a pretty sweet gig I must say. The pay is great. The people are great. I have an awesome co-worker who also goes to The V and is able to converse with me on any topic at hand. I have been working through what the Lord has for in the near future, and I think I have some ideas but no definite answers as of yet.

China seems to be the main goal for my life's ministry. I still have no clue what God wants me to do over there, but the drive to be there still emanates from my soul. It is way bigger than I could have ever imagined, and I'm excited to see what He has planned. My goal for this summer is to figure out which career path is going to prepare me the best for my mission in China.

Are You a Tour Guide or a Local? Part 2

Shawn woke up much earlier than expected for his 8am chauffeur ride to the airport. In fact, he didn't get much sleep at all. He tossed and turned all night. Finally able to crawl out of bed at an hour close enough to his departure, he got his suitcase out and made a final shake down of his list of worldly possessions to take. He took a shower and ate some breakfast while waiting for the door bell to ring. He flicked on the TV while eating his breakfast and listened to the talking heads praise the new president for stupid decisions he had made in the last week. He quickly turned it off knowing he would become more upset by watching. He finished his cereal and coffee and waited patiently. The door bell ring just as he was about to doze off from his lack of sleep the night before. 8:00 sharp the clock told him. Man, these guys are good! He walked to the door, opened it, and greeted the man standing at his door. It was not what he was expecting. Shawn was squaring off with a what appeared to be a homeless man. He had on some ragged jeans, shoes with holes in the soles, a navy blue t-shirt with some sort of church camp logo on it, as well as a John Deere hat. "Howdy!", the man said in a southern draw. "I'm Paul, and I'm the limo driver. C'mon and we'll get moving." Still confused, Shawn attempted to ask where the real driver was. "I'm it!" Paul proclaimed proudly. "Been working here for about thirty five years", he continued. There is no freaking way I'm getting into that limo without some ID from this guy. "Could I see your ID please?" Paul pulled out his driver's license and produced a company card as well indicating that he was in fact the limo driver. Oh well, let's get this over with. Shawn grabbed his suitcase from the foyer and started to walk to the limo with Paul. "Best be leaving that behind, Son. Where we're going, you can't take anything with you", Paul told him. This is getting weirder by the minute. Homeless guy shows up at my door, and now I can't take my suitcase with me on vacation. WTF?! "Why can't I bring it it?" "You won't need it" Paul informed him. "I'll make sure you have everything you need to be successful."

Shawn reluctantly left his suitcase behind, locked the door behind him, climbed inside the limo. They made the thirty minute drive to the airport where Paul gave the keys to the valet and walked Shawn to security. It seemed that Paul really had been doing this for thirty five years. Shawn cruised through security without the slightest hiccup and expected Paul to bid him farewell. Instead Paul got onto the plane with Shawn and accompanied him all the way to Africa. Shawn slept for most of the trip while Paul attempted to talk to him during his every waking moment about the glories of the waterfall. In and out of sleep for the whole trip, they finally landed. Paul once again guided them effortlessly through the airport, customs, and arranged for a taxi to take them into the wilderness that is Africa. Without any luggage making their way through the airport and into a taxi was a fairly easy task. Sitting in the back of the taxi, Paul and Shawn had quite the engaging conversation about where they each grew up and how they got to what they were doing today. Shawn learned that Paul had actually been living near the waterfall for a number of years. This would explain his raggedy-andy style clothing, and why it seemed that he appeared to float through everything that he did. The taxi broke down at least nine times during their trip. Each time the taxi driver made Shawn get out of the taxi and fix the car. This seemed an odd request since Shawn was hardly the mechanic and on vacation. Paul always got out and assisted him and showed him exactly what to do. They fixed the radiator when it started leaking. They fixed the battery when it stopped charging. They fixed the transmission when the ride got jerky. They fixed the exhaust when it wasn't being expelled properly. Anything and everything that could go wrong on a car they fixed, but the car still did not run on all cylinders. There was always something underlying that never allowed the car to run properly. Something was always broken. Nearly ten hours later on a drive that should have only taken two in a better condition vehicle, they stopped. Paul excitedly got out of the car and ran towards the edge of a cliff and jumped off. Shawn chased after him to keep him from jumping but it was too late. Paul was gone. Shawn was out in the middle of the desert with no guide and a taxi driver that spoke no English and could not repair his own car. What am I going to do now?

Stay tuned for the conclusion.