Do Hard Things... like hop.

This weekend, our fun outing was to go see the new animated movie, Hop, which is about the Easter bunny. It was cute and funny and oh-so-cheesey. But in analyzing the two main characters (which I promise, my brain does automatically and I don't even realize it most of the time), I saw that they iconicize the American teen/20-something (how sad that those two generations look so much a like now?). E.B. is a young, cool, teen bunny who is expected to take over the family business and who really just wants to be a drummer in a band. Fred is a 20-something guy who is expected to get (and keep) a job that pays money and live in his own place (not his parents'), and he really just wants to wait for the perfect job and become something great like he was always told he could be. I could relate in some ways... probably because I'm part of this generation... the generation that wants to believe we are special and meant to do important, meaningful things and not get stuck in a job that will slowly kill our dreams...

"What is a real job, anyway?" That was the philosophical discussion Kelsey and I were having yesterday after sitting in the sun too long and eating too much squishy chocolate. "There's no such thing," Kelsey said. I wanted to argue, wanted to make a good point about being special, but just couldn't formulate it at that time...

I'm reading this excellent book that Hannah gave me, called Do Hard Things. It's by Alex and Brett Harris... yes, if the name "Harris" rings a bell for you, they are the twin younger brothers of the infamous Joshua Harris of I Kissed Dating Good-bye. "Not another Harris book!" I thought, but two things about the cover convinced me to read it anyway: 1) The subtitle is "A teenage rebellion against low expectations," which I strongly believe is a message that not only teenagers need to hear, but also 20-30 somethings... as made obvious by Hop, and 2) The forward is by Chuck Norris. 'Nough said. I'm about halfway through the book now...

"Ok, no really," I said between bites of the mac 'n' cheese and tuna Kelsey made for me today, "what is a real job?" Is it based on money and stability and society-defined responsibility, or usefulness and purpose? "I just have been thinking so much about the movie and this book and our culture, and I feel like I'm on the edge of something profound and brilliant, but... this tuna keeps cramping my philosophy..."

Because see, the Harris' are talking about how to take good risks, do more than is expected, do things bigger than yourself, etc., and that sort of talk brings out the Supergirl in me, and I start to feel mighty... and then I remember that there are people I know who have big dreams and who feel stuck... saving the world (or even just trying to help it a little) does not often come with a salary and good benefits. In the belief that we are special, in the persuit of greatness, we get smacked with box-lunch expectations that make us feel like we need to settle or else we are losers with impossible dreams.

"Ok, well... while you work through all that, here's what I think..." Kelsey said after she finished her bite of easy mac. "What if it's different for Christians... 'Cause... when I look at the Bible, I see that the people who did great things weren't looking for greatness. Like... Moses was taking care of sheep in the middle of nowhere... and God found him and decided to do something great in him. Our society tells us to persue greatness, but... maybe we should just obey and follow God, and let him do the great things."

Wow. There it is. My focus had been so much on what I do or don't do to achieve great things, that I missed the point that it is God who wants to do and act according to his good purpose in us. Because it's true - we are special, and are destined for greatness, and we should never settle or compromise what we are called to do. And Kelsey and I agree that we still need to have goals and dreams, we still need to take chances and be smart, resourceful, and responsible, we still need to do the hard things... and in all that - in living our lives out with our focus and devotion on God, we will see the great things he will do in us.