Today's Scripture Reading (November 5, 2025): Psalm 63
Actor Crispin Glover is known
for playing eccentric characters on the big screen. If you listen to Michael J.
Fox, who shared the screen with Glover in the classic film "Back to the
Future," maybe that shouldn't be a surprise. Fox says Glover caused significant
stress behind the scenes on the movie set due to his eccentric behavior. Glover
seemed to have a fairly defined idea about what the character, in this case,
Michael J. Fox's on-screen father, George McFly, should be doing. However, when
it came to filming, Glover seemed unable to play a scene the same way twice. Every
time Glover did a scene, he seemed to have a different approach to playing it.
As I read Fox's thoughts
about Glover, I have to admit my immediate reaction was that I think I am a lot
like Crispin Glover. If I am acting, or even playing guitar with a band, I
think I evolve. I am not sure that I play a scene or a song the same way twice.
I would call it a solid independent streak, but I am sure that it must be
frustrating.
However, I admit I am better
with a defined role than in real-life circumstances. If I have a role, I can
understand how to play it, whereas in real life, I am not always so clear about
what I am supposed to do. I remember volunteering with a youth organization
early in my career. My first night with the group was a combined event with several
other youth groups. As a result, I didn't know any of the teens or the leaders.
On this night, my only responsibility was to interact with the teens. I
wandered around the event, interacting with several of the youth in attendance.
At least until one of the teens felt that I was clinging a little too close, she
got angry and told me to get lost. Oops. So, I gave her a little more space and
paid a little more attention to the kids who appreciated my presence. That
night remains one of my most uncomfortable evenings as a youth worker.
David is in the wilderness,
on the run. It is not a comfortable moment. David usually understands his role
as King and protector of the nation. However, in this moment, he is not sure
exactly what he is supposed to be doing. It was an unusual moment for Israel's
Poet King. But David understands that when he doesn't understand how to meet
his reality, he can cling to the hand of his God. There is no way that God
would force his presence on David, but David could choose to run to him.
Whenever I come up against
reality in my wilderness, I need to learn to cling to God's hand. The truth is,
I should do it more often than I do, but I know God is always there. He was there
for David, and he is present for any of us who want to swallow our pride and simply
cling to his hand in the midst of our wildernesses.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 17
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