Own, Jerry, Own
I have been thoughtful about the last year and there were a couple of things on the radio that were particularly encouraging in my own experience and current phase of trying to listen to God and let Him tell me who He made me to be instead of either going my own way or listening to the sirens and lies of the culture and age. I think many of us are re-evaluating our own lives and that of society and the world.
I just happened to catch an interview with Gene Simmons. He was lamenting that singers are so political at one point says, “Shut your pie hole and just sing. We are entertainers!”
That struck such a hilarious chord in me—Gene Simmons, you got it, bro. I enjoyed the whole image of KISS, the cult of rock, the aging rock star phenomenon and the unlikely wisdom and philosophy coming from Gene—no offense to his fans, trust me, we had all those albums, my brother was a bona fide KISS fan!! Thank you for simple wisdom, Papa Gene.
A few days later, I heard a guy who is a regular on NPR. He sounds like an older man from the north who always gives great stories and history on sports topics. I enjoy a good narrative and so I always listen, even though I am not a sports person. That day he was talking about the mistake Jerry Jones made when he went from owning the Cowboys to managing them. The team seemed to go down and they lost money, etc. At the end of a really good story, he closes by saying, “Owners should own, managers should manage and players should play. Own, Jerry, own.” That really struck a nerve with me as I try to continue to figure out my place in this world. How should I live that out… what am I involved in that I have no business being involved in?
In my own journey, I have spent many years living others expectations, living the false expectations of American society and living in dreams that I had, good or bad. Of course, these experiences are not wasted and it is all part of the process of living life, but I really enjoy these days. It seems that God is shifting and moving in such delightful ways. I have begun to listen to Him more and more and wondering about the many things I thought were a coincidence or failures are in fact part of stepping into how He has made me and what He has called me to do.
I think I appreciated the thoughts from these older guys about a simple approach and the idea of doing what you are made and called to do and don’t try to do someone else’s job, it just doesn’t work.
Lord, I am not you and I don’t know everything. Help me to listen, to stay humble and soft. Help me to hear your voice the loudest and to have courage to follow you and believe you the most. Lead me to contribute how you intended! Amen.
