…Opening To…

Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world — except for a nice MLT — mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They’re so perky, I love that. (Miracle Max, The Princess Bride)

…Listening In…

Buttercup: We’ll never survive.
Westley: Nonsense. You’re only saying that because no one ever has.

…Filling Up…

Devo180 returns after a two-hiatus, and you might have noticed that the trappings have changed. Devo180 is now a section of WheretheWind.com rather than its own website. You can check the final post on Devo180.com if you want to know why, but to suffice it say I wanted to get all my chickens in one coop.

One of the youth at my church has been bugging me for months to do a week of Devos about the film The Princess Bride (1987), which is one of my favorite movies. So here we go. Perhaps this will be the first in a series of Devos using movies as a reference. We’ll see. I’ve preached several times using The Princess Bride, so I’ve got some ammunition here. If you haven’t seen the film, I highly recommend it.

The quotation above comes as Buttercup and Westley are fleeing into the fire swamp as Prince Humperdinck and his soldiers close in. The fire swamp is legendary for its three dangers: the flame spurts, the lightning sand, and the R.O.U.S’s (Rodents of Unusual Size, which may or may not exist). No one has ever made it out of the fire swamp alive, hence Buttercup’s concern.

Westley’s response is the sort of thing that I think God hopes we will say when confronted with situations that appear overwhelming. “Nonsense,” says Westley. Just because no one has ever survived the fire swamp doesn’t mean we won’t, he tells Buttercup. Likewise, just because the situation you are facing is overwhelming you doesn’t mean you won’t survive. Just because you can’t see your way out right now doesn’t mean that no way out exists.

The bottom line is this: God says, “Nonsense,” whenever we say, “Impossible.”

…Praying For…

Dear God, thank you for believing in me even when I don’t believe in myself. Help me to trust that you are with me when I am overwhelmed. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

…Sending Out…

I leave this moment with you, God, knowing that yours is the truest love in the world and that not even death can stop true love.