Who invented bumper cars? They are likely the worst invention of the entertainment world imaginable. On second thought, The Bachelor comes to mind (sorry). Here’s how it goes:
- Get into the tiny car.
- Drive about 3 feet or until you ram into someone or someone rams into you.
- Repeat step 2 incessantly until the amusement park employee tells you to get out.
The worst part is you paid to do the above.
Life lately has seemed a bit like a endless spin in a bumper car rink (if that’s what they’re called??). It’s been a rough couple of weeks. I’m enjoying a little escape time at my favorite coffee place right now. I’ve needed some away time from the last few days. There have been real, tangible circumstances in the last few weeks that have seemed impossible to overcome. There have also been spiritual battles raging inside that are eating away at me, against what I know to be the Truth.
A few weeks ago I picked up a copy of Bruce Wilkinson’s The Dream Giver at the library (I’ve committed to controlling my spending by trying to not buy any more books where possible between now and the race; the library is my new friend!) Anyway, I thought I had heard of the book before, and I checked it out thinking it was something entirely other than what it was. It ended up being exactly the book I needed at the time. I guess God knew that. 
It was amazing how much this book spoke to me exactly where I was. I highly recommend this book to all fellow World Racers or anyone who is in the process of or considering doing something radical or outside their comfort zone. I will try to briefly describe it here without giving too much away to those of you who, like me, will jump at a great book recommendation.
The author presents the book in two parts: the first tells a parable of a man named Ordinary who one day decides to leave the Land of Familiar and go out in search of his Big Dream that he believes was given to him by the Dream Giver (God). The story follows Ordinary through his journey and describes the various highs and lows of his search and eventual discovery of his Big Dream. In the second half of the book, Wilkinson parallels the plights of Ordinary to our own searches for what the Dream Giver wants from us.
In the story, Ordinary encounters several “places” in his search – the BorderLand, the Wasteland, the Sanctuary, the Valley of the Giants, and the Land of Promise. Each location challenges Ordinary to become something new and stronger and teaches him valuable lessons about the Dream Giver’s promises. He encounters obstacles and learns to trust the Dream Giver’s promises against all odds. I’d like to share a brief excerpt from the chapter called “Ordinary Reaches the Valley of Giants.”
In the morning, Ordinary entered a broad valley that seemed to lead up the Land of Promise. But soon he came upon a sign that read:
Beware, Dreamer!
Valley of the Giants
Ordinary stared at the sign. So the returning Dreamers were right. Giants were real.
What should he do? He had no weapons. He had no plan. But his Big Dream was bigger than ever. And he trusted the Dream Giver.
So he decided to press on.
Ordinary hadn’t gone far up the Valley when he met his first Giant. It was enormous all right! And it completely blocked the path to his Dream.
When it noticed Ordinary, the Giant yawned in his direction. “Where do you think you’re going, little Nobody?”
Ordinary recognized the Giant towering over him. It was Moneyless. [I laughed out loud here!]
“I need to get past,” said Ordinary.
“Sure you do. Everybody does,” the Giant said.
Ordinary tried to think of a plan, but none came to mind. “So. . . I need you to get out of my way,” he said.
“I’m not moving,” said the Giant. “I guess you’ll have to move me yourself.”
For a moment, Ordinary hesitated. Then he cried out, “Dream Giver, help me! Please give me your power!”
And the Dream Giver did. Then he told Ordinary what to do and what to say.
Ordinary looked up at the Giant called Moneyless and shouted, “I challenge you in the name of the Dream Giver!” Then he attacked the Giant with all his weapons and armor.
At first the Giant didn’t move. But Ordinary kept reaching for the Truths he had learned. He took courage. He believed that the Dream Giver would provide. He relied on Wisdom. He fought on. He endured.
And with every advance, he felt the Dream Giver’s pleasure.
Finally, the day came when Moneyless did retreat. Ordinary’s cries of victory rang through the Valley. “Great and good is the Dream Giver!” he cried.
After that victory, Ordinary never doubted again that he was a Warrior.
As Ordinary traveled up the Valley, he met more Giants. Some, like Moneyless, were obstacles that he had to get around. Some, like Corruption, opposed his Dream and fought him fiercely. Some, like Rejection, attacked him personally and left him deeply wounded.
But Ordinary met other Dreamers, too. During seasons of rest, they gathered to tell stories about the Dream Giver and encourage each other.
From other Dreamers, Ordinary learned to see a bigger picture: Every Giant was another opportunity for the Dream Giver to receive honor.
I’m feeling a little like Ordinary in the Valley.
The author, in the second half of the book, suggests some of the many forms that Giants can take:
- lack of resources
- an immovable system (bureaucracy)
- an opposing group or individual
- an intimidating circumstance
- a physical or spiritual burden (such as an illness or addiction)
And while, thankfully, I am not dealing with all of the above, I can certainly relate to more than half. To that list, I would add the following Giants from my own journey.
- lack of confidence – Who are you to be doing this?
- doubt – How can you go tell people about Jesus when __________? (fill in the blank with any number of shortcomings and self-perceived inadequacies!)
- worry and fear – I am so thankful for the financial support I have received, but can I really raise the money I need? I feel like that Giant is in my face.
Fortunately, I serve a God who has gone before me. And notice, too, what Ordinary learned from the Valley: that “every Giant was an opportunity for the Dream Giver to receive honor!” I know that this journey will reveal more of God to me than ever, and I know that He is with me.
‘No one will be able to stand up against you
all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;
I will never leave you nor forsake you.’
Joshua 1:5
* * *
Okay, on other happier notes, I am more EXCITED than ever about this trip! Last weekend, I drove to Charlotte and went to an REI attic sale. I got my sleeping bag, sleeping pad, laptop case, and a great pair of Keens for under 100 bucks! The best part, though, was meeting a fellow January racer, Julie Malament. She rocks, and we’re going to be great friends. Remember that Ordinary met “other Dreamers” along his journey and they met to encourage one another. The communication that is happening among my squad is exciting and encouraging. I am pumped to meet them all in October!
Oh yeah, I have roughly 24.4% of my support raised! Yay! $10,800 to go! Keep on prayin’. Keep on givin.’ Keep on lovin.’
And buy a t-shirt.
