the Mouse.

I admit it. I love Mickey Mouse. I love Walt Disney World. I love all things (mostly) Disney. As a 27-nearly-28-year-old guy, I don't make it too evident that I am a big fan. I don't wear my Mickey Mouse shirt out in public (yes, I have one), I don't flaunt the fact that I have over 61 songs from Walt Disney World on my iPod (I'm talking about area music from Frontier Land, and the "Listen to the Land" song from EPCOT). I don't even let most people know that I've been to Walt Disney World over 4 times since I was 20 and not with anyone under the age of 24. I LOVE Walt Disney World...I love the characters, I love the rides, I love the parades, I love the fireworks, I love feeling like I am 10 years old when I'm there. I just love it!
So, I am about to go again in mid-October, and it got me thinking about the way I feel about my faith. The way I feel about Walt Disney World isn't something I can explain to my friends, or to certain people in my family. I can't convey the wonder, and excitement I feel about getting to go back. But, there is something I hold even more dear than Walt Disney World, something I hold even more dear than my beautiful wife: my relationship with Jesus.
What I feel for Jesus is something that transcends all excitement, trumps all joy, and beats any amount of happiness. And yet, there are people that I love who don't have this in their lives. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CONVEY THIS LOVE? I would give away all I own for these people to know Jesus the way I do. I would give up my future for these people to love him the way I do.
Which brings me to another point: perhaps the reason is me. Perhaps I don't reflect this love. Perhaps the way I conduct my life doesn't bring people to a crossroads where a decision is made..."do I follow the God that Austin has, or do I live my life the way I want to?"
Honestly, my heart burns sometimes. It hurts. It bleeds. It is filled with pain because I know there is no way for me to genuinely portray Jesus to people. All I can do is talk to the Lord for these people. Most of what people see about Jesus or other forms of Christianity is negative and false. They see hypocrisy. They see fake. They see ministers molesting children. They see ridiculous TV evangelists. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COUNTERACT THIS ASSAULT? So, do you see the dilemma?
What I can do is just go on loving Jesus and TRYING to show people how wonderful He is and how much love He has to offer.
Walt Disney World is full of loud, exciting, triumphant music, lights, parades, and rides. So, getting enthused is easy...very easy. But, most of the time, Jesus is calm, gentle and sweet...nothing to yell and scream about, but SO MUCH MORE SATISFYING!