Song of the Month: “Let it go” Frozen soundtrack

Ok so maybe not EVERYTHING…but a lot.

It’s the beginning of 2014, I’m on my second day of being forty-one years old and I’m realizing that who I am is really so connected to who I was as a silly little eight year old running around in my….wait for it… not superwoman…but Incredible Hulk Underroos. Yes, I was a freaky little blond girl who loved her some Incredible Hulk. Still do as a matter of fact and I’m not ashamed to admit it…anymore.

It wasn’t the cartoon that drew me in, but the highly emotive opening seen of the made for T.V. show with our Bill Bixby, sadly sauntering around a long lonely bend in the road with his tiny (for now) thumb sticking out. So sad, so hopeless, so misunderstood! I wanted to jump through the screen and make him laugh, lighten the load.

We are who we are. We are who God made us to be. Sure over the years, hopefully we take a few steps closer to heaven, learning a bit along the way about forgiveness, love, and grace. But our essence, the soul that was born into this world is one specially designed freakazoid that God sent like an astroid into His wold. Boom! And you created your pothole.

One question I get asked a lot by young women heading into the ministry is, “How do you…do it?” Whatever the IT  is that they are seeking to do…be a pastor’s wife, church planter, preacher, evangelist, teacher, lead children’s ministry,  juggle it all with kids, stand up against the scrutiny of others, put up with gossip, betrayal, etc. all while dealing with their own issues? Real life, everyday, human issues like depression, infertility, un-forgiveness, trials with grown children, death of loved ones, cancer, financial crisis…   Many (all?) church planters don’t feel they have what it takes. And to be frank, they don’t.  I didn’t, don’t.  I just have what I have. The raw material that God gave me, much like Bill Bixby. But gosh darn it, once the Hulk came around, Bill had what it took to knock the bad guy to the moon and back!

I’ll never forget the day I learned through a very important issue of The Making of the Incredible Hulk, that Lou Ferrigno was deaf. The Incredible Hulk, MY Incredible Hulk, was Deaf! The magazine showed in detail the hours of make up Lou had to endure to become the Hulk ( I learned a lot of make up tips there girls:), the struggles he faced as a deaf kid and all that the Incredible Hulk had to overcome to be so Incredible to me.

Anyone who knows great literature, knows every hero must have a flaw. In fact, their flaw is a part of their story, without it there would be no story. Without the Hulk, there would be no sad Bill Bixby to tune in to every week. Will he overcome?  Will he ever find love? If he can keep going, so can I! And on come those powerful Underoos.

So it is with us. Could it be that our very brokenness, or the thing we see as such a flaw in ourselves, or our biggest heart ache, is the thing God wants to use in us to rescue others? Perhaps the very dent our butt makes in the earth, is where the rain will fill to water someone else’s garden? Give us humility as His Church? Bring restoration for someone who feels hopeless?  I mean he did choose to put the equivalent of the Incredible Hulk in jars clay right? Last time I checked 2 Corith. 4:7, I’m sure it said he put the treasure of his Holy Spirit (ie. Incredible Hulk) in jars of clay…us. Me?

So next time you hear the lie in your ear that you just can’t do it, or no one wants to see your dirty Underoos, remember He chose you as you. Flaws and all.   People can’t relate to “Perfect” pastors, leaders, ministry workers. It’s not real, nor is it even right to set ourselves up to crash all over their pedestals. “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God?” (Mark 10:8) So why pretend? Why play act?  Whew! Pressure off, Underoos on! Let’s go.

Define Underoos someone asks? …It’s what American kids wore in the early 80’s to feel invincible!