In the Wizard of Oz, the cowardly lion has a problem: he’s afraid. Of noises. Of other animals and people. Of the world around him. When’s the last time you heard of a scaredy-cat lion? Humfph. Lions aren’t afraid. Lions rule. Lions dominate.
Which is why lions – aside from our friend in the famous story – can’t have courage. Because in order to be courageous, you have to first have fear.
Life can be awkward. Some of us don’t achieve certain milestones – be they physical, emotional, or spiritual – at the same time as others. We can be over or under-shaped. We can be slow in achievement, whether that be in ability, insight, or character. We can feel impoverished from the perspective of vocation, identity, or purpose.
If you have experienced a sense of tardiness in life, a feeling that somehow you either didn’t receive or have lost an invitation to some or most of life’s opportunities and wonders, don’t worry – there are many seasonal cycles for arrival. In fact, not only can blooming occur later in life, sometimes the most striking blossoms happen well past expected ages and phases. Take, for example, my Aunt Daisy.
She’s still blooming twenty years after her death.
Think of someone you admire. Don’t take a lot of time with the exercise. Just let your mind wander over some names, sort of like flipping through a Rolodex. Now pick someone and, in your mind, form an image of that person. Say a few words, silently, about why you admire the person you selected.
I bet you selected someone you know.
I’m not much of a professional football fan. But, as someone who grew up in the Philadelphia area, I couldn’t pass up the chance to watch the Super Bowl this past weekend. I’m glad I tuned in. It was fun to see Eagles win. It was even more fun to see how they did it – including a wild fourth down play called the “Philly Special”. The quarterback becomes a pretend blocker becomes a receiver, catching a pass for a touchdown from a tight end who was tossed the ball from a running back who received the initial snap as a suddenly pretend quarterback.
Did you follow all that?
“The camel is home.”
My wife made the announcement, nonchalantly, while I was finishing my morning tea. I almost looked around the living room to see what I’d missed while asleep. Then I remembered that some friends in our town are adopting a camel. So I casually asked if he’d had a good trip, as if it’s typical to talk about camels in our house over morning tea.
It’s not. I cannot recall ever talking about camels over tea, breakfast, or any other meal or beverage.
