Gideon Part 2: The Fleece

Gideon’s fleece may be one of the more colloquially quoted stories that Christians use. You see, Gideon was called out by the angel of God as a mighty warrior—one who would lead Israel against the Midianites (the ones stealing all of their food). But like you or me, Gideon was afraid.

Afraid he might not have what it takes to lead a country in battle. He was a man of faith, but even the mighty warriors feel inadequate when God calls.

It’s what makes us human.

But the good news is that God knows this.

GideonNathan WestwickApril 9, 2024Faith, My Own Shortcomings, Playing It Safe, QuestionsComment

Why Now is NOT the Time to Play it Safe

I’ve been chewing on this since March of 2020…

Clearly, I don’t need to go into any details about the recent span of human history we’re living in, so let’s hop right in, shall we?

In a world where everything is about safety, about protection, about playing the odds and having them fall in our favor, I believe now, more than ever, is the time to throw caution to the wind and stop playing it safe.

The Journey of Healing

I hopped on my road bike yesterday for the first time in about a year.

The last time I rode it was shortly before I ruptured my Achilles – an injury that is nearly a year in the recovery process, and still not where I would like it to be.

Now, full disclosure, the picture shown above was taken during my glory days on that bike. She and I (the bike, that is) would travel all over the local roads together, climbing mountains, enjoying views, speeding down descents. That bike and I have enjoyed thousands and thousands of miles of blissful togetherness.

And then, with one loud snap of the Achilles, it all came to a screeching halt.

About That Time When My Family and I Exposed Ourselves in the Forest...

My family and I are vacationing in Colorado at the moment. Being from Southern California, where we intimately know entertainment, we have been enjoying the slower pace of life at 8700 feet. Enjoying the outdoors, we have been in awe of the abundant groves of aspens, the high and craggy mountain peaks, and the sheer grandeur of nature.

A natural response to this sheer beauty, at least for us, is to want to get out in it—for our experience is that once we venture off the confines of the roads, Nature shines forth in all her glory; we hear the songs of birds, the soothing sounds of running water, and the smells of forest. While it certainly can be experienced from the car, when we step out of the insulation, we experience beauty in all kinds of new depths.

Of course, with the removal of that insulation, we leave ourselves vulnerable to things outside of our control.

The JourneyNathan WestwickJuly 15, 2015Playing It Safe, VulnerabilityComment

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