I tell people all the time that when Mrs. Stone, my 3rd grade teacher asked me, “So, Randy what do you want to be when you grow up?” I looked at her and without hesitation directly stated, “The Hulk.”
My lunchbox even had the Hulk all over it with a big green The Hulk thermos.
I did not say, “Someday I am going to be gay and then not gay and then talk to people about it all the time!” I promise … that thought never (not once) crossed my third grade mind.
Even so, life has its twists and turns. God knew exactly the path of my life and how he was going to bring me to the place and position that I am in. And after days like today, I couldn’t be happier.
Today, we started our yearly management retreat. I had asked my facebook friends to pray for us and … wow. We had an *incredible* … let me say that again … INCREDIBLE day. I won’t get all into it but just know, we heard from the Lord and each other in very clear, powerful, practical, faith inspiring and INCREDIBLY uniting ways.
2010 is going to be amazing.
And we are only halfway through the retreat!
So, I gave up wanting to be the Hulk after I figured out that he was a metaphor for a self-loathing, false masculine, guilt-ridden, slightly ambivalent misogynist rageaholic.
::: just kidding ::: I gave up The Hulk when I had to get glasses later that same year and I actually got Superman glasses. They were actual eyeglasses with the Superman emblem on them. Superman glasses = Awesomeness.
My life didn’t turn out the way I expected but interestingly enough, I am surrounded by real life authentic heroes who inspire me to do great things every day.
I love my job. I love being on this team.
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Sidenote: Because of the retreat, blogging on current news items *might* happen tomorrow and Friday depending on if and how I can get the time to do so. Please leave suggestions on news stories or topics to blog about in the comments section.
Cross-posted on randythomas.info
About Randy Thomas
I always related more to the X-men because they were outcasts because of their gifts and that they had a community of outcasts that they could relate too and find support from.
Hebrews 13:12-13 shows us the greatest Outsider of all and how we are to "go to Him outside the camp."
That is very interesting Duncan. I think the X-Men embody that more than the other Super heroes but even they had to live double lives.
but, as you point out, once you get past the magical thinking and into reality, there is only one super Man who paved the way for the rest of us, Jesus Himself.
Nightcrawler, the X-Man who looked like a western depiction of the devil, forked tail and horns included, and he's a Christian. Fab!
yeah, at the TfT conf (the celibate org over here in the UK), Phil spoke a few years ago on valuing our 'difference' as SSA people to help us understand more what it is to be 'an alien and stranger in this land…' We are residents of Heaven and for a time here on Earth. So we are different, we do stick out, and we should in a good way, cos we should be thinking differently, we should be acting and looking different, by not flashing our assetts, keeping it ethical and fairtrade when possible, intervening when it's safe for us to do so in violent crime in the street, or calling for the emergency services. In my ever-so-humble opinion! Being a superhero is an everyday thing for us who know Jesus, calling angels into battle (praying) and changing the course of history (again, praying, or showing hospitality to people who aren't doing too good). And we're not expected to wear spandex… Randy…