I am on vacation this week. (See here) I have asked some friends to guest post for me. Floyd has become a special friend over the past two years or so that we have been following each other. He blogs here. His unique storytelling ability should not be missed. Here’s Floyd.
I didn’t even realize it, but the song was more than just a catchy tune, it was an anthem. It represented freedom, excitement, and all the things a seven year old boy held dear in his unspoken dreams and aspirations. I heard the song again and contemplated the history I shared with the old tune. Right about that time, Bill shared a video here with the background song being the anthem of my youth.
Like most kids, I longed to live the dream I’d built around the perspective learned in that song. “Get your motor running…” When my time came I did indeed get my motor running, “Head out on the highway – lookin’ for adventure and whatever comes our way.”
Every time I took to the highway, or any street really, it was all about the adventure; the kind that comes from risking an undervalued life with an immortal attitude. The hard driving music and the lyrics that pumped adrenaline through my veins addicted me to the freedom the song was selling. Somehow I knew that I, like the writer of that song, was Born To Be Wild.
Fear and dread filled my mind, throat, and belly, while falling toward the water from forbidden heights. That same taste of poison bit at my tongue as I slid down the pavement, fighting to control thousands of pounds of muscle car. Butterflies produced the drug within as I graduated to the fight game while living out the anthem of reckless and wild.
Being reckless is just one aspect of human tendencies, and we all fall under the category of “fallen.” We’re deceived by the enemy to believe we’re a little different, a little smarter, maybe stronger, a lot luckier. It is the lie of foolishness. We’re not born to be wild – animals are wild – we were Born To Be Wise. We’re called to protect others and ourselves – not throw our lives into a lottery jar of chance.
The scars from surgeries as well as the wisdom gained the hard way due to living that lie of “Born To Be Wild” remind me that we were born with the meekness to tackle fear as it manifests itself in different ways across our lives. Healthy reverence for the One who causes or allows all things, including our free will, is the beginning of wisdom and courage. Chasing after fear for some type of fulfillment is “chasing the wind.”
In the end it doesn’t bring about gratification – it brings about regret… with a good dose of pain for measure…
Did anyone else buy into a distorted world view sold by our society as a kid?
Here is the video Floyd made reference to at the beginning.
I lived that lie for several years, starting in college. I hope I’m growing wiser each year now.
I’m with you, Larry. I also think God lets us keep the courage and gritty edge along with the wisdom… and your title proves it. I’ve always like it, brother.
Great post. It makes me think that some view having faith in God as prattle for the weak-minded. Those who are too timid to embrace what is possible in this life. That our God is a kill joy, looking to intimidate and “thou shalt not” us into meek subservience. This too is a distorted world view.
I agree with that call, Daniel. It seems to me that God really calls the strongest of people or challenges them… this path isn’t for the weak… it is our weakness that gets us here and then we are lifted up on wings like eagles. Excellent thoughts.
The greater my level of surrender, the greater my freedom – it doesn’t feel like being a servant (it just *is*).
Nowadays, mine is the theme song of Les Nessman (WKRP) – Born to be mild.
Great bunch of guest posters here Bill – this Floyd guy, now – he’s a funny fellow. Makes me want to ride a Harley or something 😀
That’s a good one, Rick! I forgot about that episode! Love that line of freedom and surrender. You’ve got a firm grasp on that handle of wisdom, Rick. My days of riding bikes are behind me now… but hopefully not being funny! Thanks, Rick.
Good post, Floyd… Born to be wise… Heh.
I was always torn between being a good girl (whom everyone expected me to be since I am a pastor’s kid) and a rebel (because I kept thinking that being a good girl is extremely boring and way too much responsibility)…
I still at times wonder what could’ve happened if I followed those urges to be “someone more than I am at the moment” by doing something utterly crazy, by going wild… There’s a certain allure in it…
Yet, like Daniel said above, the view of Christianity as a religion for weaklings is wrong. If anything, you actually need much more strength to restrain yourself than just do whatever makes you feel “wild.”
I guess that’s my point, Zee. The allure is a lie… All it does is entice the senses and in the end ruins it like a Hollywood movie. Our enemy uses our flesh, our urges, against us in an attempt to destroy us and all things around us.
For the ones who’ve lived above the flesh their is hope and a witness for the next generation, for those of us that “chased the wind” we are the scarred that are proof of our Father’s redemption.
I can’t tell you how encouraged I am when I get to communicate with the ones that have stayed the course and walked the narrow path. It encourages me more than you know! Thanks for your obedience and sharing your gift through words, Zee. See ya soon.
Ah, a “true Nature’s’ Child” eh? Although we do need to grow wiser…I really don’t think Jesus came to tame us… rather He came to set us free. With that freedom we can “get our motor running” and ride the life of obedience to Him!
Good words bro’!
Well said, Jay. The true freedom isn’t seeking the danger in our flesh, it’s seeking to honor the One who lives within us.
My guess is that this song will be rolling through your head all day, Jay!
Yep…
Oh yeah, I had my time chasing “dreams”. At the time I thought it was great…it’s only looking back that I can see how God protected the foolish things I did. He really is a kind God, I didn’t deserve His mercy or protection but He graciously gave it anyway.
The older I get, the more I realize that the same gifts and passions God has placed in us, Satan wants to distort. He knows what buttons to push, he knows us well and he uses all his tricks to deceive us- to keep us from functioning the the gifts God has blessed each of us with.
another great post, Floyd!
So true, TC. He uses our weaknesses, the places where our nail bends, to lure us into the trap that brings pain and sorrow with a great deal of regret. I also agree that we can all live by the old adage, “But by the grace of God there go i…” Hey! That’s kinda catchy, I may be on to something! (can’t resist humor… to weak…!)
Thanks, TC. The verse you quoted from Romans about the “wild olive branch” was beyond timely today!
Good day, Floyd, and good post! Yes, I sometimes think back on a certain time in my life where I like to say I lived 10 years in 12 months! Sharing an apartment with a girl ‘friend’ I hardly knew, living reckless and “stupid”. “Risking my undervalued life with an immortal attitude”! Only now do I see God’s gracious and merciful hand upon me during that year. By all counts, I should be dead right now. I still think I have that “born to be wild” thing goin’ on inside me, even at my age, but He’s tempered me down, which is a good thing.
It’s funny, but whenever my husband and I are out in the CRV, and we see a band of wild motorcycle brothers, I always burst into chorus…”Born To Be Wi-i-i-i-ld!”
Good day to you as well, Jillie! I like the proper greeting… makes me feel regal!
It doesn’t matter the type of day I’m in; an interaction with you has a way of turning a bad day north!
For those of us that have lived through the days of ignorance and have been redeemed, we have the sweet savor of God’s redemption in our souls and on our tongues.
I have to confess, like you, I still have a bit of that “born to be wild” attitude going on and the blasted song still brings an excitement that should have long been buried.
After commenting this morning, I sang to my dogs, “I like smoke and lightning…. heavy metal thunder!.. Racin’ with the wind… and the feeling that I’m under!” Larry was not impressed…
Thanks a bunch, Jillie.
I’m not near as wild as I used to be, but I have to make sure that I don’t overstep my boundaries. Now I want to use that wild streak for God, so that I can channel that ability to be wild down the right path.
That is a great definition of “meek,” Lincoln. To have our power harnessed by our Father for His purpose. When we’re in His will the world can miraculously change before us by His power in us… We just gotta get the flesh out of the way. Very, very, well said. Lincoln.
I think people see wisdom as boring or lack of adventure, but that’s definitely not what Jesus invited us to. I’ve been on many adventures in my life (about to embark on another) and it wasn’t initiated or planned by me, it’s all Him. We are meant for more than simply existing, but how we fulfill that is in Him. Great post, Floyd! Thank you.
The best plans are the ones that our Father leads us into. I wonder how many great blessings we forfeit by going our own way? More than we might suspect would be my guess.
How can a life designed and directed by the Father be anything but exciting? I believe your obedience is going to set Oklahoma on fire for Him, Jason.
Thanks for being obedient even when you can’t see the next step in front of you, it’s gonna be a good one. May God bless our path and the plans He has for you.
Just the sound of motorcycles makes my heart race even to this day. If Ace and I were both physically able we would ride again but we would ride for Jesus instead of ourselves. There is no ride on earth as exciting as what Jesus can take a person on. I love the born to be wise phrase…going to use that one. Great post Floyd
I hear you, Betty. I haven’t straddle a bike since before our youngest one was born. I knew that I’d tempted fate or God too many times and my lack of self control with power at my fingertips gave me the motivation to sell my bike and I’ve not ridden since. But I still miss the feel and pull of the horsepower. I’m with you, as exciting as that ride is, it pales in comparison to the ride our Father takes us on when we’re obedient to His will. And sister, I know that you were definitely born to be wise! Thanks, Betty.
i think my parents beat and uprooted the seed before it took ground Floyd 🙂
Reading this post and the comments remind me how our perspective changes as we get older. As a child and teen, i thought i had the worst of parents..they were the strictest most disciplined people after an army general.
yet as an adult I realize now that i’d rather carry the “scars” of discipline than the scars of wanderings and un-enforced boundaries.
I love this “We’re not born to be wild – we were Born To Be Wise.”
It takes a while for some of us to start appreciating that..to start appreciating the wisdom of our parents. But when we do, it makes all the difference.
The scars of discipline, done in love, leave a legacy of strength. While I had strict and physical punishment, I was just a little more stubborn I guess. In general, it seems to me that the people that lacked discipline as children are usually the ones who lack self discipline as adults.
Your parents gave you the roots of wisdom and love to be sure, Ngina. Thanks for sharing that insight.
We did some crazy things as teenagers, but God did protect us.
I was reminded of another song, “Born To Raise Hell” I had not heard the song, but our Bible teacher mentioned the song and told us that we as Christians were born to “RAZE HELL.”
I like that! Twisting the words of the enemy for a change! I know that your youth wasn’t perfect, Hazel! But I sure enjoyed reading about it in your book! Thanks, Hazel.
Dear Floyd
I think we all want to be someone and special when we grow up. But before we come to Jesus, we only have the world and our peers as a yardstick as to what iy takes to be part of the in crowd. We soon realize we don’t have what it takes and then so many of us rebel and try to find freedom in wildness! But this poses no problem for our Pappa. As soon as we come to Him, He patiently teaches us that we have been reborn to be free in Jesus. And that freedom to live in Him and love Him while we are loved by Him, is a treassure we won’t give up for anything.
Great post, thanks!
Mia
Agreed, Mia. “We have been reborn to be free in Jesus.” That is way more exciting than all things done in the flesh can add up to! He is our treasure. His love is beyond measure and the wisdom of that brings more to us than anything we can do in the flesh. Thanks, Mia. I always appreciate that heart!
I was a wild one, but a little less crazy than most of my friends who loved to bridge jump. I do remember a time when we drove too fast in a car down a hill after drinking at a party and would up nose in the ditch straight up and down. I told the driver he was driving too fast. “No I’m not,” he said. “Then why is the gas pedal all the way to the floor,” I asked as we hit gravel. I was in the back. My two friends in the front were more hurt than me, but not seriously. We walked the rest of the way home. I was the baby-sitter because they both had concussions. We got them to the hospital. Everyone survived, but looking back, it’s a wonder we did.
Those are the type of things that makes me believe that we most certainly do have angels, Dan! I was one of the dumb ones, I believed that I was invincible and insecure enough to risk my life to prove it. Not much peace in that type of existence. I think that’s why the world has no rest or peace… they don’t know the truth from our Father as we do.
Thanks for sharing that story, Dan. That’s exactly the point.
The distorted view I had as a kid came from the books I read and what I watched on TV. No one ever told me they could program my mind, and I didn’t discover that until I was almost 30. Today, I am very mindful of what I read, and I watch very little TV (1-2 hours a week, maybe, unless we watch a movie as a family). Your post reminded me of the Highway to Holiness reference in Isaiah 35. Our culture presents us with lots of paths to follow, but we need to make sure we’re choosing the one path that Jesus created for us to perfect and direct us toward holiness.
Wow. Holiness Highway. That is perfect, Kari! That is the way of wisdom that the fools of the lost world can’t travel. That highway is the polar opposite of the one the lost ride in their lust to be wild.
I respect that you limit your TV, there’s not much worth wasting our precious time on for sure. Thanks for adding that avalanche of wisdom from our Father, Kari. Nice…
One day, I just couldn’t shake the growing weight of how I felt like I wasted time and found no value in what was on TV. I limited it before, but about a month ago I decided to go extreme. For the most part, I don’t even miss it. Though, I have to admit, I do feel the addiction tug at me at times. I have to quickly occupy my mind before it grabs hold though. Am feeling so much more fulfilled in my time now.
I pretty much stick to sports or a movie, but I indulge more than I should. You’ve encouraged me to do less of it for sure. Like all things it is addicting. Thanks, Kari.
It amazes me how different people are. My mom can’t live without TV on (she claims she gets her sermon stories from there… I just trust her on that), but I haven’t watched actual TV in over two years (except when I am over at Mom’s which is once a month or rarer…)… I do watch TV shows on my lappy every once in a while, but only when I am bored or eating… And it’s not like I consciously decided to give up TV… There’s just not a lot of good stuff there (with a possible exception of Discovery Science… That is my one weakness – I can watch science stuff all day long…)
Science stuff? Oh man… My eyes cross when I watch that kind of stuff! That’s for you smart people! (seriously…)
People’s TV habit are definitely varied. My mom has hers on all day “for noise.” I will say, though, that I get a lot of illustrations for writing & teaching from movies. Not so much from TV though. I like some of the special report kind of stuff, but it has to be a topic that really interests me. Doesn’t happen often. Also, my oldest son loves to talk about movies & relate them to spiritual truths. How can I pass that kind of stuff up?
Kari – I love movies for the same reason – looking for something that can teach me something important.
I liked science when I was a kid, but due to various reasons didn’t study it at school (had the classes, but learned nothing). So two years ago my friends and I started a study group where we studied physics, quantum physics, astronomy, biology, anthropology, geology, and a bunch of other things. This year we sort of drifted apart, studies-wise, but I am still hooked on all things science, especially quantum physics…
It all depends on the teacher.
We do a bit more during football season and special sports events (finals, Olympics) too. Glad you are encouraged! Any little bit is an improvement.
ha – born to be wise. That’s good. Maybe I should send this to my 22 year old. 🙂 He’s very athletically daring – a white water raft guide to boot. But he loves God and has a strong faith so I won’t complain!
In my younger years, I was definitely reckless – as a single college girl, I would pick up hitchhikers and once hitchhiked myself out in the boonies on a backroad.
One of those times I asked the guy if he was a rapist before I picked him up (he said no) and another time it was in the middle of a blizzard so I figured it was too cold to rape someone – that guy turned out to be a college kid (under his down eskimo coat) whose dad lectured me on picking up hitchhikers when I dropped him off.
God protected me, though, and I always hoped my kids would be smarter (they aren’t – wait a minute, I think the girls are).
Kids just think they’re invincible until a few things happen to them. I saw it in myself growing up and I see it in my kids.
It’s interesting how God wires some of us to be naturally daring. (Notice I didn’t say dumb!) Young men are the worst, but it sounds like yours came by it naturally!
I did more than my fair share of hitchhiking and picked up a ton of others knowing what it was like to stand there with a thumb out…
God does watch over us… What a blessing. Thanks, Barb.
I did much the same – grateful to be able to return the favor after I had wheels of my own. When I think of all the different things God has saved me by – and from – I just have to smile (only because you can’t hear me laughing from there)!
I have to smile too… and I think I hear a faint echo of laughter… sounds like it’s coming from the midwest!
I think we do a lot of this to get that high – that feeling that we’re truly alive. I know I did my fair share of reckless things, although fortunately I never was too badly injured.
Now that I know Christ, there are much better ways of feeling alive.
Great point, Loren. The feeling alive on the outside doesn’t begin to comare to the knowing the Truth on the inside. I think that’s what drives many to seek danger to feel alive to couter act the dead on the inside. Thanks, Loren.