Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 7/22/2008
The World Race is over, but life isn't… The cornucopia of thoughts and emotions that I'm experiencing can at times be overwhelming. The thought of leaving my team/family seems surreal. I sometimes think… "Wonder where we will go next?" Of course, I know that the answer is the US, but somehow I continue to hope that going back home will be just for a short time and then we will reunite to start another part of our walk of faith.
As I've reflected upon this year, looking back at moments and monuments, I've realized that it is difficult for me to do this. For some reason, I'm wired in a different way. Instead of remembering events, I remember people.
The pictures in my mind are always of people, not of places or moments in time. I see the people of this year. I see the orphans, the widows, the sick, the prostitutes, the hungry, the poor, the uneducated, the abused, the broken, the gringos, the pastors, the leaders, the bus drivers, the passengers, the street vendors, the children, the inebriated, the team, the…
Most of my time this year has been trying to understand or change these people. Why people are the way they are? Why people are in certain circumstances? Why they do what they do? Why the act the way they act? I'm sure if the tables were turned they may be thinking the same things. However, I've come to a stalemate with these thoughts and questions.
I've realized that I spend much of my time trying to understand or change people rather than enjoying them. I justify my actions that by understanding them I will be able to provide for their needs, communicate effectively, and appreciate their personalities. It seems that the amount of time that I spend thinking about them and how they are wired provokes me to dehumanize them and view them as a machine.
A machine… That's right… Unconsciously, I associate behaviors as something that can be changed with the right actions, reactions, or interactions.
So… If little Sam is crying, I want his behavior to change. My goal is that he will stop crying. I check my database of understanding… Out comes the answer: give him a sucker… Change the behavior! No more crying… As the sweet sensation of the sucker replaces the behavior, little Sam is not changed. He is conditioned… He is a product! Why do I look at the behaviors, when the issue is of the heart and mind?
Sometimes in such an industrialized world, our view of human life has depreciated with modern technologies. By no means am I saying that modern technology is evil, yet much like weapons it has the potential to destroy. Not only our physical bodies but also our minds… Inadvertently driving us to a belief or a view that is skewed or distorted.
Distorted enough to unconsciously believe that my friends are on the same level of worth and appreciation as my posessions. They become something to have, use, manipulate, format, and manage. But we are not machines. We have thoughts, feelings, and rationality. We are different. As humans, we are much more that a product. We are people, who have a uniqueness about us that is more than style, status, and stimulus.
So here I am a year later, realizing the worth of human kind. This year has given me an understanding of my understanding. No longer am I ignorant of my ignorance. Many of us have persevered our whole lives trying to understand or change each other. We see something that is unhealthy, evil, annoying, deviant, destructive, unfair, inconsiderate, or merely inconvenient and decide that something needs to change. Some may immediately take action and say, "Don't do that…" or "When you say/do that, it makes me feel _______..." Some may require more time and try to understand the behaviors by asking questions and observing stimuli that seem to cause the (re)actions. Hence (in my opinion), we have a destructive system because its origin is not found in love. It is found in understanding.
Most of my life, I look at myself and people and look for understanding.
I ask…
Why? How? What?
Very seldom am I.
Sounds weird… am I.
Meaning…
to be that which I am or meant to be.
A creature of love first and with love understanding comes not just of the head but also of the heart. An understanding from love that "protects, trusts, hopes, and preserves…"
As weird and as unclear as all this may be, my mind and heart are in agreement that understanding comes through love. Not love through understanding… With this new love and understanding, I'm challenged in my relations with man and God. I'm challenged to bring love to the table of life and with love understanding will come.
I'm challenged to be patient and kind…
and not to be envious, boastful, prideful, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, keeping record of wrongs, delighting in evil but rejoicing with the truth.
Love brings understanding.
Because when I look at the person and potential, I see myself. A creation of God… Blemishes and Beauty… Made of the same things, but shaped in a different way…
Some of you have been reading this for the last five minutes and are thinking what does this have to do with the World Race? Well… it is not about the World Race… It is about love in life and relationships (with others and God).
Some of you may be like me and spend a lot of your time trying to understand people. Yet trying to sympathize or empathize with a person does not show love. It shows you want to understand or maybe even care. But I've found that we as humans spend too much time trying to understand rather than loving.
I'm not a biblical scholar but I am not able to recall a time where the bible calls us to understand people or God. However, we are called to love them and Him. We are called to BE WITH them and love not understand them and then love them. So if you are like me trying to work on a relationship with man or God, stop trying to understand and begin loving and with love comes not only understanding but also intimacy a genuine intimacy that desires and is content in being with a person or God and not looking to understand, receive, or change anything.
So may I continue in this life of love that I have been given and see and enjoy man and God for who they are and not merely for what they do.
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Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 7/15/2008
I'm 'round the corner from anything that's real
I'm across the road from hope
I'm under a bridge in a rip tide
That's taken everything I call my own
One step closer to knowing
One step closer to knowing
I'm on an island at a busy intersection
I can't go forward, I can't turn back
Can't see the future
It's getting away from me
I just watch the taillights glowing
One step closer to knowing
One step closer to knowing
One step closer to knowing
Knowing, knowing
I'm hanging out to dry
With my old clothes
Finger still red with the prick of an old rose
Well the heart that hurts
Is a heart that beats
Can you hear the drummer slowing?
One step closer to knowing
One step closer to knowing
One step closer to knowing
To knowing, to knowing, to knowing
Song by: U2
How to Dismantle a Bomb
“One Step Closer”
Pam Perry is one step closer to knowing. She is a bright shooting star amongst the night sky. Beaming with joy in the midst of darkness and blazing a trail of His glory for all of creation to see. Throughout this year, it would seem that the darkness would want to overcome her, but the passion within her would not settle. With her eyes always fixed on the cross of Christ, she follows. The path on which she walks is narrow and can only be taken if accompanied by a guide (Holy Spirit). So she follows close, not wanting to miss a moment for fear of missing Him.
Pam your walk and desire for our Lord is inspiring and breathe taking. I long to see you with your crowns one day.
Singing praises to the King.
“YOU ARE MY JOY… YOU ARE MY JOY… YOU ARE MY JOYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
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Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 7/9/2008
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say,
“Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
(Proverbs 30:8b-9)
Superheroes….
If I were to take a survey (Name three super-heroes), my hypothesis would be that the top three renowned superheroes are…
Batman....
Superman…
Spider-Man…
According to a survey conducted this morning (with my team), my hypothesis proved to be true. And I’m sure that most of you would agree that in our western world (dare I say the world…) that these three are the most familiar.
My question is how did they become so popular? The concept of men/women running around in tights would be considered rather absurd... Despite their wardrobe, their super human strength, agility, endurance, and healing ability put them above “the normal” citizens. Quite often as a child (and I must admit as an adult) I would wonder what it would be like to have a super power or at least a high-tech gadget… But in reality, as far as I know, no on has them (ok… we do have gadgets) … I know some people may have higher IQ’s, larger muscles, or even an ability to hear or see more acute than most, yet these are not super-human…
If there were super-heroes on earth, they would look more like the verses in Proverbs 30… They would consume enough not to be full and waste little so as not to be led to steal. These are not super-human qualities (hence all the glory to HUMAN)… But a superhero is someone who has super-natural powers… Something divine… Abilities from the heavens not from some freak cataclysmic incident. All the glory to GOD and His appointment…
In our ever-increasing consuming world, the fight to indulge and be satisfied in US never diminishes. Yet “being content with a lot or a little” is rarely found and rarely understood by those of US that are consumed in consuming.
However, believe it or not, I have met a super-hero. I know a super-hero. I’ve been in the midst of him in action. Fighting this world of broken families and insatiable consumers, he denies himself… takes up his cross… and follows… Not the trend or new hype… but Jesus…
Mark Newland… you are a superhero to me… During this year, I’ve witnessed your desire to live amongst people as Jesus lived… I’ve seen you die to the pressures of this world and enjoy the life that you have been given… You are my brother and my example. I honor you and am proud to be called your teammate…brother… and side-kick (Robin)…
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Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 7/2/2008
And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn’t hit
And I don’t know
What to do with a love like that
And I don’t know
How to be a love like that
When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do
Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something
And the problem it seems
Is with you and me
Not the Love who came
To repair everything
Oh, the world’s about to change
The whole world’s about to change
David Crowder Band
Remedy (2007)
"Surely We Can Change"
Haley Gordon is a new creature created in Christ. This year, she knows and believes that her God is “BIG” and He will be the change in her life and in the world. Her desire is to walk/talk/give/wait/listen with those in need, so they can share in the joy that she has in her Heavenly Father.
Even in the darkest times, she sees The Light. She knows that her God is faithful and will He will be the change. Thank you Haley, for unveiling The Light in you and in those that surround you.
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Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 6/25/2008
As the ambiance drifts from the curtains to the stage, a moment becomes a monument. For so long, she had waited to be here. The slow hands of time had kept her backstage. It wasn’t her time. She wasn’t ready. But now in this moment, she knew that she was prepared.
Throughout her life the spirit of acquiescence seemed to be one step ahead of her. “Not now…Wait…” She often wondered why she spent so much time backstage.
Always watching!
She delighted in watching them shine and always grimaced when one cue or cut was missed.
But no longer waiting in the shadow of the curtains, she acquiesced to the moment. It was her time to shine. She surrendered to the moment and no longer watched but was. She was on stage.
Cameron Cary is on stage. This year has been a divine process watching her watch. As this year has progressed, she has become more assured that God has prepared her. Prepared her to be a one to display His glory on stage. Not to merely entertain, but to express
His holy character. His love…joy…peace…patience…kindness…goodness…faithfulness…gentleness…and self-control…
 
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Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 6/15/2008
Surrounded by circumstances appearances fade. Lost to the notion of stability, she watches
the tide of emotions unravel her heart.
As the tide approaches, she leans forward for a breathe of fresh
air. The air is stale with a bleak
residue of tomorrow. With the evidence
of uncertainty, she packages the debris of today for a reflection of hope.
Why?
A mere glance at the past reveals the unseen, yet a luminous
gaze into the future stifles her next stroke. With each breath, she knows that her time is waning. She knows that the ocean in which she is
swimming is faith. The water no longer
comforts her as it once did. The color
blue fades with each moment and the notion of “not yet” horizons nauseate her
into desperation. Yet this desperation
is to be uninhibited. She reaches ahead
to grasp the next moment into the present. She wonders why she continues, but never questions the water. The water has always been there. The
desperation she has does not find its origin in a lack of stimulation, but a
desire of more! She wants more! She wants more of the waves, the water, and
the wonder. Her desperation is her fuel and forever…
Sarah Lapp is a woman of passion. She claims to “know” less that she knows
about”, but actually, “knows” more than she “knows about”. For her, this year has been a year of
confrontation. Weathered and worn from
this year, she stands…firm! I’m reminded
of Jesus’ words, “Blessed is the man who hungers and thirsts for
righteousness.” She hungers! She thirsts! The faith in which she swims many will question and even consider it
madness. Yet when seeing her heart, one
will realize that it is the ocean of faith poured out from the abundance of God
grace.
The day before yesterday, she left our sea and journeyed to
the deeper waters of faith to return to her family. Through faith, she believes that God is the
ultimate healer of her mother. She
believes that it will only be by His divine touch and intervention that she (her mother)
will be cured of Melanoma. Sarah, you
are loved and your firm faith is an example to us all to run to the end. Not alone… but hand in hand with those
surrounding us…
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Posted in Thoughts by Brandon Headrick on 6/8/2008
Gazes of grandeur and substance drift with the winds of time. As she inhales the atmosphere, one thing resonates. "Where do we go from here?" Assessing the known with the goal on the horizon, the journey is covered in the haze of the uncertain. Her intuitions and perceptions calculate and predict the unknown with the end in mind. A slight gaze to "what was" requires a slight adjustment to arrive at "what will come". Her insights are more than passion. They are gifts. Within her, the divine hands that created her formed them. This touch of divinity illuminates this individual into an essence that surrenders the destination for the moment which is now of most importance. The next step will effect eternity. Satisfied in the process, she abandons all doubt with a leap onto trust. The comfort provided leaves her unscathed. Now fixed with eyes of certainty not to the end, but in the sanctuary of the moment, she believes. She not only knows, but she believes. As tears of adoration swell and cloud her vision, she no longer can focus on the unknown, but she can see Him and with Him she runs… to the horizon.
 
Christie Albaugh is a teammate that will not be easily forgotten. This year she has brought many situations into light with her gifts of organization and processing. She's a delight to be around and genuinely loves life (even in the hard times). The dependability and endurance she presents go beyond a circumstance and focus on the relationship. Her insights and compassion bring life to our team in times of transition.
 
Going far deeper than the surface, she loves God. In everything, she desires to honor Him. Sometimes, she's a little zealous. Maybe proof of this spiritual fire is not easily displayed on the outside, but God sees her heart and sees the flame that He has placed within her. She's a true friend and her faith, love, and dedication are qualities that are cherished and valued. Christie you are awesome! Your light is bright! Keep shining!
 
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