In the late sixties the US propaganda service produced a movie with a group called the 5th Dimension doing all the music. It was a can-do, three cheers to America movie that tried to capture all the extraordinary accomplishments that the wide range of people who have moved to a new country had accomplished. The starting and ending point was the Golden Gate Bridge but others accomplishments included the Trans-Continental Railroad, a wide range of inventions, the realization of the modern manufacturing capability with the Model T and other automobiles, and of course the different buildings across the country. Regardless of the emotions you thought you had when the movie started, at the end you believed you could do anything!
After the first experience the movies was in high demand before every basketball game. We want to make those moves to the basket! We wanted to score the final point as time expired on the clock! We wanted to win. We wanted to do everything! This movie told us, convinced us that we could. It was as if we now had permission to be everything that we were before the movie started and then some.
I have often wondered why the best teamwork as well as individual basketball was played at that time. I also wonder if I would have a similar experience today if I watched the movie. Nothing is ever the same but the role attitude plays in our experience is, I believe, even more critical than ever.
Do you believe you can win? How?
Do you believe you are priceless? Why?
Do you carry hope with you in confidence? Really?
Divinity is looking to you and me as individuals and partners. The invitation is wide open, God is at war. We are on one side of the battle. The call and charge are clear. “Turn your shovels into swords, turn your hoes into spears. Let the weak one throw out his chest and say, ‘I'm tough, I'm a fighter.’” (Joel 3.10)
Confident? I am.
Engaged? I want to be.
Ready? With God, absolutely.
