Good News Tucson - A Family Values Magazine

Biblical Living with Mike Hoppe

Fragile Life

Once in awhile I get a glimpse of reality as to how delicate the balance of life is. December was to be the month long sabbatical that I had been attempting to take for 2 years. Three previous attempts had failed for all kinds of reasons, and now we sat at the airport, just moments before coming to the conclusion that Cindy's sinus condition was just to severe to risk the flight to Hawaii. Something so simple had just set the course of the next 3 weeks, and ultimately our lives, on a different course.

Most of us do a great job of self-deception. We so often walk though our day really believing we have some sort of control, and are somewhat prepared for almost anything. One friend of mine broke a small bone in each of his hands in an accident, rendering his hands immobile for 6 weeks. His world was dramatically reduced to a very limited existence, all the things he loved to do best (including eating out at restaurants) evaporated. It wasn't long before it altogether impacted his outlook on life.

We often acknowledge the impact of traumatic events, but upon closer examination, many of the "little" things have a disproportionately large impact on us. A conversation with a close friend yesterday morning found us both confessing how our faith and the promises of God can be instantly removed from our consciousness. He spoke of waking up in the morning, being particular inspired by a passage of scripture, having a great workout, and then having it evaporate in an instant after a brief conversation with his (very dysfunctional) boss.

It is so easy to loose the perspective of the Kingdom of God in our everyday lives! A few years ago, I had a minor revelation. I didn't think much of it at the time, but it seems to be becoming a major force in my life. It is just a simple thing really, but proving to be very powerful in helping me keep a Kingdom perspective. Sometimes I get to meet somebody new that has a very strong relationship with Jesus Christ. At the end of our very first conversation (as we have just met) I ask if I can share a perspective on the Kingdom with them that is simply "This is the first conversation, of an infinite number of conversations, that you and I will have throughout eternity…may I always remember that and start to build a relational foundation KNOWING it is forever."

Mike is one of the Associate Pastors at Casas Church, is a graduate business school instructor, and still actively works with companies to develop their organizations after 15 years in management with a Fortune 100 company. Mike can be reached at mikeh@casaschurch.org or www.casastv.com.