Sharing Is Caring

Good things should be shared. Bad things like the swine flu or dirty underwear or those millions of pictures that you took of yourself, each one looking exactly the same, except maybe with a different head cock or head twist, should not. (You know what I'm talking about, don't act like you don't have a folder of those stored somewhere in your computer) But good things should.

I really really dig This American Life with Ira Glass. Whenever I can, I bring it up in conversations. Don't even tell me if you don't know what it is because after I pick up my heart that has shattered into a million pieces, I will then proceed to go into this long, somewhat confuddling explanation of the show. Basically, it's a radio show which tells stories, interviews, songs, poems, etc. etc. based on a theme they choose each week. Doesn't sound too exciting, huh? Even the This American Life website noted this problem. Really, the only way that I will get you to realize the awesomeness of the show is if you listen to it. Try with these stories first.

This American Life has infiltrated my own life in America in so many ways. It's helped me understand a lot of complex issues like the U.S. health care problems or the cause for the financial crisis, it's kept me entertained for hours of otherwise mundane car rides, and most importantly, it's shown me the power of a good story and the impact it can have on its audience. That fact alone has kept me motivated in my own endeavors as a storyteller.

It's also motivated me to know that I can share the gospel with people.

In case you didn't know, I've recently become a Christian and, yes, it most definitely has been life-changing and is really quite all that jazz. I can see what the fuss is about and if I had known the happiness and peace of mind I'd feel, I'd have hopped on the bandwagon earlier! I will officially be getting baptized November 15 (come! come!).

Though I can't be happier about my faith and "seeing the light," honestly, I'm still a little hesitant about the whole thing. It still makes me a tad uncomfortable when I listen to sermons while driving with my windows down and I still stutter and mumble when describing just how I got "saved." (See, I'm still uncomfortable with using these religious words that I have to put quotes around them.) I might have to give my testimonial come Nov. 15 and I'm scared of not knowing really what to say.

And don't even get me started on spreading the gospel to other people. Sometimes I wonder, what right does it give me to tell other people about Him when I still have some doubts and questions myself? When I still can't fully believe everything the Bible says even though I fully believe in Him? And religion is complicated! And takes a long time to explain! And it's controversial!

But This American Life has made me realize that when you love something so much and understand and appreciate how good it is to you and for you, you want to share it with the world, no matter how complicated it is to explain. Pastor Ed once asked, "what good is it when you have all this food and can only eat it by yourself? Of course you'd want to call everyone over to enjoy the meal with you." I don't want to just go to Heaven by myself. I'd want all my loved ones and then some to join me. The more the merrier. There should be room up there. Extra pillows and everything.

Case in point: a year ago, I bought my cousin Cissy How I Met Your Mother boxsets. Cissy lives in Hong Kong and had no clue what the show was. Cissy is also a die-hard Friends fan, having watched every single episode at least ten times. The entire time I was in Hong Kong, the Mother DVDs just sat in their DVD collection, collecting dust. Every time I'd try to bust it out, they would make some excuses not to watch. I wasn't frustrated. I was confident that all in due time...

Now, a year later, Cissy's sister, Wrini, tells me that Cissy loves the show! She says it might even be funnier than Friends!

So after reading my post, maybe you'll head on over to the This American Life website. Maybe you'll click on one of the shows. Maybe you'll get into it, maybe you won't. Maybe some other day, you'll hear someone else talk about it and you'll give it another try. Maybe then you'll get hooked. Maybe you won't.

Maybe you'll go check out a church with a friend this coming Sunday. Maybe the sermon will speak to you. Maybe it won't. Maybe the people at the church will be so bright and full of this innate...happiness and good cheer that you'll wonder where it comes from and where you can get in on the action as well. Maybe they'll share with you the gospel which is basically this: 1) God created this Universe to enjoy it and man in his likeness to glorify Him. 2) Man became a sinner (Adam, Eve, apples) and is banished away from His kingdom. 3) Jesus Christ came along and saved us by dying on the cross for our sins. He was then reborn in 3 days. 4) If we have faith in all this and seek His grace and redemption, we will be saved.

Maybe you'll hear this and something will come over you. Maybe you'll still be hesitant and will want to know more. Or maybe you won't and that's that. I hope you do, though. As you know, when I have something good on my hands, I like to share it. And nothing is better to share than the Good News.