Hail Mary passes, When and Why?
There are a lot of “Hail Mary” passes thrown every football season. And I suspect quite a few in life in general. There are times when life just simply calls for one. There are times when you just can’t stand there and be brought down. You have to step back, breathe deeply, and do something. Probably one of the most famous “Hail Mary” passes in my life happened in the 1970s. The Dallas Cowboys were taking on the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys were behind with only seconds to play. The quarterback was the famous and feared Roger Staubuch. He took the snap stepped back and hurled a long pass in the air to no one in particular. Drew Pearson, the Cowboy’s renowned receiver, reached up and took the ball into the end zone. One woman wrote the Minnesota paper the next week saying she knew why the Vikings had lost. They were playing on the Sabbath she said and the Lord was judging them. Others noted the Cowboys were playing then, too, and won. A researcher named Rolf Smith says children ask 125 probing questions per day. He says adults on the other hand ask only six probing questions a day. The inference I have heard in application is that children have a superior MO in life. I know it preaches well. But to me it is more likely that adults learn to ask better questions hence don”t need to ask so many. It also suggests that if you only have six questions a day to ask you better make them good ones. I like to ask questions. A friend of mine says your personal development will never exceed the caliber of your challenges to life. He means you can’t get any better than your questions. Why is it there are times when you just can’t think of anything to do but throw a “Hail Mary?” Why don’t you always get a clear answer from God? Could it be because we have run out of good questions? I keep a daily journal. I take Frank Labauch’s instructions and record what percentage of each day I was aware of God’s presence. I also record one major good idea I had for the day. And now I have been recording my best question for the day. I also record what I have believed God for each day (but that is a whole other topic). I honestly think that answers to rigorous questions are the essence of discerning God’s will. Computer pioneer Alan Kay said, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Kay was speaking of the power of new inventions to change history. And also if you wanted to have a great future go invent it. John Wimber, a famous church leader and consultant, once said, “a leader writes their history in advance.” I agree. I may have to throw an aimless pass this week. But I hope I don’t. I will if I need to rather than get run over. But I am hoping, seeking answers to questions before the clock runs out will lead me to invent the future rather than be a victim.