The Lion and the Donkey?

I think the Shrek movies are hysterical, lets be honest, they are not for kids with their adult humor, language and violent scenes. What always cracks me up is how movies (scenes) pop into my mind. I searched for a clip of the specific scene from Shrek, but could not find it... sorry to all the visual people out there!

This scene was playing over and over in my mind as I read chapters 8-11. I also got this image during the summer as God was walking me across a old rickety bridge, I'm walking backwards and all I want to do is look down. He says to me, "You must focus on me (look in my eyes) to get across the bridge," All I want to do is look down. He then says. "I'm not telling you a list of don'ts... Look left, look right, look down... All I say is keep your eyes on me and we'll get to the other side, Look right into my eyes! Have I ever let you down? Eyes on my eyes, now lets keep walking!"

SHREK: You can't tell me you're afraid of heights.

DONKEY: No, I'm just a little uncomfortable about being on a rickety bridge over a boiling like of lava!

SHREK: Come on, Donkey. I'm right here beside ya, okay? For emotional support., we'll just tackle this thing together one little baby step at a time.

DONKEY: Really?

SHREK: Really, really.

DONKEY: Okay, that makes me feel so much better.

SHREK: Just keep moving. And don't look down.

DONKEY: Okay, don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down. Keep on moving. Don't look down. (he steps through a rotting board and ends up looking straight down into the lava) Shrek! I'm lookin' down! Oh, God, I can't do this! Just let me off, please!

SHREK: But you're already halfway.

DONKEY: But I know that half is safe!

SHREK: Okay, fine. I don't have time for this. You go back.

DONKEY: Shrek, no! Wait!

SHREK: Just, Donkey - - Let's have a dance then, shall me? (bounces and sways the bridge)

DONKEY: Don't do that!

SHREK: Oh, I'm sorry. Do what? Oh, this? (bounces the bridge again)

DONKEY: Yes, that!

SHREK: Yes? Yes, do it. Okay. (continues to bounce and sway as he backs Donkey across the bridge)

DONKEY: No, Shrek! No! Stop it!

SHREK: You said do it! I'm doin' it.

DONKEY: I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. Shrek, I'm gonna die. (steps onto solid ground) Oh!

SHREK: That'll do, Donkey. That'll do. (walks towards the castle)

This scene reminds me so much of my life... especially right here...

SHREK: Just keep moving. And don't look down.

DONKEY: Okay, don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down. Keep on moving. Don't look down. (he steps through a rotting board and ends up looking straight down into the lava) Shrek! I'm lookin' down! Oh, God, I can't do this! Just let me off, please!

SHREK: But you're already halfway.

DONKEY: But I know that half is safe!

So God says ... Don't look down... I trip or stub my toe and I LOOK DOWN! And I'm shocked at what I see when I look down (boiling lava, duh)! I can't do this... and he then says "I've already taken you this far! Lets go the rest of the way" and I say, "I know what my old life was like, I know that half is safe... the unknown and unseen is scary." RGGG... I then have the Homer Simpson "Doh!" moment. Yes He has taken me this far, yes I know where I have been, I know I need to trust... but walking backward on a rickety bridge only looking into His eyes, nor right, left down or behind!? Madness!

D to the E pg 199-

"Can you hear it? it is being screamed from every corner from the globe. 'Something is wrong: something is off. you are ignoring made and my ways. You are headed for destruction. Turn around.' The tragedy of this scene, of the sounding of the seven trumpets, is that not everyone repents. According to John there are two other responses. One is to want to die but not be able to do so: 'And in those days men will seek death and not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them' (9:6). Death flees because God is seeking Repentance. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. The worst thing is living unrepentant, missing out on life with the living God. So death is kept at bay making more opportunity for repentance. This sheer grace."

This is incredible! In my mind I see God as an Ogre sometimes, big scary and here we have been talking about the last few weeks that He is the LAMB! Like the Ogre, He has layers :) He is the LAMB! Things are not as they seem!

In the midst of my looking down, and thinking I'm putting up a fight against Jesus getting me across the bridge, He says, "I'm bigger, I'm walking you through this. Trust me! I love you. You are at the other side."

...

Wait...beside my fight and standoff with God, He pushes me, and then I look and I'm across the scary lake of LAVA! Jeesh God, YOU ARE BIGGER, I get in the way, and You get me through it! Being on the other side I realize, as Shrek and donkey did, they have work to do (save the princess of course).

In my pushing back at God, He proves why He is God, and I am not!

Father, may I be a good steward of the work you have set before (looking into your eyes, walking backward) me. My strength is not my own, You are the giver of my strength! Thanks God, you know what is best! You are not a scary Ogre, you are the Lamb!

Things are not as they seem! AND I LOVE IT!