” . . . you may think your savings account is your safety net. But it may be the very thing keeping you from flying. Or you may be safeguarding your time instead of volunteering it. Perhaps it’s time to let go of your time, talent, and treasure in greater measure and see what God can do.”- Mark Batterson
In Chapter 14 (“Kingdom Calculus”) of Double Blessing, Mark Batterson begins with the story of Jules Leotard. On November 12, 1859, the French acrobat performed the very first flying trapeze act in Paris. Leotard’s new act wowed circus audiences. Above all, Jules used no safety net. But his close-fitting outfit, known today as the leotard, also caught the crowd’s attention.
Miguel Vargas, a fifth-generation circus performer, works as a trainer for Cirque du Soleil. A trapeze artist since the age of seven, Vargas states that the mental block provides the greatest challenge when trying a new trick. Because it’s hard to let go of the fly bar when you’re about to attempt something you’ve never done before. Forty feet in the air! Thus, Pastor Batterson applies this concept to living generously:
“Letting go of the fly bar goes against every natural instinct, and the same is true of living generously. Our natural inclination is to hold on to what we have with tightly clenched fists. The mental block? Again, enough is never enough! You’ve got to overcome that mental block if you’re going to let go of the fly bar and flip the blessing.”
Furthermore, Mark compares faith to a two-sided coin. Heads – faith hangs on, white knuckling God’s promises and refusing to let go. Tails – faith lets go. Finally, Martin Luther succinctly captured this concept:
“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
Today’s question: What safety net appears to hold you back? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Takers take credit – givers give credit”
