Scales & Reps

This weekend, my wife and I went to see cellist Amit Peled and his students—The Peabody Cello Gang—perform. We were reminded that great musicians are great because they can perform without concentrating on the fundamentals. And the reason they can play with such freedom is that they practice those fundamentals over and over, all the time.

Also this weekend, I heard that my college football team practiced 600 reps of live tackling during summer camp. The theory goes that practice frees the players from dwelling on the mechanics of tackling so they can focus on the flow of each play. (May it be so!)

It makes me think—where am I most likely to stumble spiritually in the course of regular life? Where is it that I have to hunker down and focus on the mechanics of a Christian walk?

Then, how can I back up and find ways to practice those fundamentals—over and over—so I can live more freely and successfully on the stage, on the field?

Living with fictitious names

When we surrender our life to Christ, we're given a new name. Like Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel, we're handed a new identity and a new vision.

But we still live in a world far from God—among people who can't comprehend this new identity. So we use fictitious names. We present ourselves in ways people can understand. These fictitious names fall into two categories: 'also known as' (aka) names and 'doing business as' (dba) names.

'Also known as' names are meant to conceal one's real identity. Christians use aka names to hide their new identity in Christ, fearing rejection. Some use an aka name hoping no one will ever discover their true identity. Others use an aka name with the secret hope they can one day spring their real identity on people and 'win 'em to Jesus'.

'Doing business as' names are meant to present one’s true identity in engaging ways. Christians using dba names know that people won't fully understand their real identity until there's a relationship. Their hope is that understanding will come progressively over time.

Aka's are used to obscure. Dba's are used to relate. So we can all ask ourselves:

Am I able to connect with people far from God?

If so, is it by concealment? Or by making my true self more accessible?

A big step across a small stream

I learn so much about God through others' stories. All the time I know of several people navigating valleys. Deep dark gorges really. The way down is blind. No way to know where bottom is—or even what the next step will bring. Just an unfamiliar wilderness. "Will I stumble? What was that noise?"

Eventually they come to a small stream.

They step across.

And everything changes.

Still just as deep in the valley, the way forward is up and out. There's a hint of light at the rim that draws them. Fear and exhaustion give way to hope.

Lord, when I face my next valley, let me remember that there is a bottom—that you are the Stream found there just as you are the Light at the rim. And let me be an encouragement to others when they face their own valleys. You've been through each one before and you're there now. I know because I've been through some valleys too.