In Tim McCanlies’ 2003 screenplay “Secondhand Lions” (set in the late 1950’s) young Walter gets dropped by his deadbeat mom at the dusty old, run-down, isolated farmhouse of his two eccentric great-uncles whom he has never met and who, for their part, want nothing to do with him. Garth & Hub McCann, played by Michael Caine & Robert DuVall, have lived most of their seventy-some years as independent bachelors and they have no desire to baby-sit some twelve year-old wienie (their description, not mine).
On his first night, the two tough old codgers inform Walter that he is to bed down up in the creepy, old tower at the top of the stairs. And if he needs anything – well, just get it himself. Or, better yet, he should learn to do without. Not exactly Talking Points from the Welcome Wagon. However, as the summer wears on, the boy grows on the two curmudgeons and he begins to catch glimpses of the adventurous lives these two septuagenarians have lived. But it seems that those days are gone now – much to the chagrin of the uncles.
Then, one day, on their return trip to the farm, they stop at an seemingly forgotten general store & diner. The three slump at the counter, and while waiting for their food, Garth works to get to the bottom of his brother’s bitter & angry disposition of late.
“All your life, you’ve never been frightened of anything.” Garth says, “So what’s eating at you now? Getting old? Dying?”
“Hell, no.”
“What, then?”
“Being useless.” Hub snaps. “When we were young there was always a reason. There was a point. Things made sense. Now there’s no point to anything. What do we do? We garden. We outlived our time, brother.”
Then, Hub gets a providential reminder. Watch & listen to someone who knows, once again, who he is:
You see, Hub McCann knew who he was. And as long as he lived with an awareness of that identity, life had a purpose, a point, a reason. And when he lived with a purpose – he had an impact.
You see, one reason we so often feel dead & defeated in life is because we rarely live up to who we are. Disease attacks, friends desert, parents abandon, careers collapse, those we love betray us – all of them jabbing their fingers in your face demanding: Who do you think you are? And we either don't know or we've forgotten.
So who are we? Who are you?
Listen to who God says you are:
1. You are an Intentional Creation of an Omniscient God
-Not a cosmic-chemical roll of the dice
(See Psalm 139:13)
2. You are a Beloved Son or Daughter
-It isn’t all up to you
(See Galatians 4:6-8)
3. You are a Brother or Sister
-You’re not on this ship alone
(See Hebrews 2:10-12)
4. You are an Heir
-There’s plenty more to come – and it’s more than you’d imagine
(See Matthew 19:29)
5. You are a Leader
-Lead by Example
(See 1 Timothy 4:12)
6. You are a Trusted Steward
-God Trusts You & He knows what He's doing
(See 1 Peter 4:10)
7. You are a Protector
-Take Care of Those Around You
(See Matthew 5:13)
8. You are a Warrior
-There is a very real Battle Raging & You are in it
(See 1 Timothy 6:11-13)
9. You are a Priest
-Talk to God on behalf of those He brings across your daily path
(See 1 Peter 2:5)
These comprise but a short list of who you are in Christ. Memorize a few that seem to hit home. Then, next time the Enemy tries to take what isn't his, asking, "Just who do you think you are?" - - take a stand, tell him just who you are, and fight the good fight!
Semper Fi.
Doug
