14 Dec 2011
We Leak What We Love
I’m taking the surgeon who repaired the damage done by a witch doctor to a brave little Ugandan boy out flying in a seaplane I have up the Pacific Northwest today. This doctor did what seemed impossible to me. He made new body parts out of old ones for this little boy. This trip is a small thank you for what he did. He loves to fly, and I’m delighted that I can help make that happen.
The plane is called a DeHavilland Beaver and it takes off and lands on the water. I can’t lie, this plane is tough, it’s rugged, it’s all guy. There’s no sound quite like the one it makes when it’s huge radial engine starts and a cloud of oil soaked blue smoke explodes out of it. Because it was built over fifty years ago, the engine leaks oil. Not a little oil; lots of it. There’s nothing wrong with the plane, it’s just what Beavers were designed in the factory to do; they leak. The oil gets on the windows, on the wings, on the passengers, on everything. It’s just great! People who own Beavers say with tongue in cheek, that you know when they’ve run out of oil, because they stop leaking.
I understand more about my faith when I think about that Beaver. We were made to leak as well; we were made to leak Jesus. We’re the ones who are supposed to love each other extravagantly, spontaneously, not just on Wednesday nights or Sunday mornings. And when we do, people might look at us a little funny, like there’s something wrong with us. But there isn’t. It’s what we were made to do. When we love each other extravagantly, our love gets on everybody and everything.
I know when I’m fearful, stressed out, distracted or hedging too. In those times, it feels like I’ve run out of love and what I notice always happens first, is that I stop leaking. My love isn’t as messy or spontaneous anymore. It doesn’t get on anything. It comes across as painfully polite, merely pleasant, barely tolerant, it’s somewhere in the mid-range rather that an explosion from a big engine and lots of blue smoke. When I stop leaking, I’m reminded that I’m not living the way I was designed to from the factory.
I’ve seen new parts made out of old ones by this surgeon. I’ve seen God do the same impossible thing with entire people. People like me. He takes the old version of us and whispers to us that we were made to leak our love. He tells us to do it with extravagance; to let it get on everything and everybody. What I like about the way God extravagantly loves us, is that He doesn’t make us love Him or anyone else either. Instead, He lets us decide every day whether we’ll play it safe or leak what we love.
When I get out of that plane this afternoon it will have oil all over it; I’ll have oil all over me and I’ll smile hoping that everyone who’s been near you will have evidence of what you love all over them too.
Great post Bob! It seems like I find myself always trying to stop or control leaks. Guess it’s time for me to see how much I’m leaking and see about increasing the flow.
Justin Salters
December 14th, 2011 at 3:39 pmpermalink
such a good word! Praying that I will leak more of Jesus instead of playing it safe!
Anissa
December 14th, 2011 at 4:11 pmpermalink
Bob,
What a great post! I love that you got to go up in the air with the doctor. What an amazing story you all are a part of. That precious boy is destined for something more than any of us can imagine!
Am I right to remember that it was your plane where the two of you met in the first place, you and the doc? You were leaking even then. And apparently he was, too.
Thanks for spraying some of your oil onto me—the oil of gladness. Keep the engine full. Keep the leaks coming.
You are loved,
Gail
Gail Hyatt
December 14th, 2011 at 5:55 pmpermalink
Love leaking. Love which cannot be contained. The extravagant love from The One who First loved us!
Cyndi
December 14th, 2011 at 7:37 pmpermalink
Bob,
I sent this post of to some twenty individuals this morning. It’s amazing how contagious a “good leak” is. thanks for sharing your heart.
Larry Galley
Larry Galley
December 15th, 2011 at 10:18 ampermalink
Bob, I first “met” you through Don’s book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, and it was a treat to see you on the stage at Willow this past weekend. From a distance, I see that you “leak” in your life, and it is contageous.
What I love about the analogy in your post is that you talk about leaking oil–not holy water. Oil is so messy, and it coats things, and if you have an encounter with it, you can’t just ignore it–it won’t evaporate on its own. What a great picture for how I want my love to leak onto others!
I’m glad to see some posts from you. If I could be so bold, I’d like to challenge you to post more frequently. The world needs more of what you so authentically model–I need it.
Matt Lossau
December 15th, 2011 at 12:29 pmpermalink
Thanks for sharing with us what is in your heart! Your thoughts and tweets are great encouragements for me!
Greetings from Romania!
Calin
December 17th, 2011 at 4:24 ampermalink
Thank you for this wonderful reminder!! I attend Mariners Church in Irvine and had missed the service you lead…so tonight I watched the podcast…and I am blown away!! Thank you for sharing your love for Jesus!!
His handprints are everywhere!!!
Thank you,
Stacey
Stacey Bonderer
December 21st, 2011 at 12:54 ampermalink
Thanks Bob. Just thanks.
Danny L. Smithe
December 24th, 2011 at 1:08 pmpermalink
Bob,
This is such an amazing message! I first saw you while at Eastlake a few weekends ago and was moved by your stories and wisdom. I’m about to buy your book now, and cant wait to dive in! I only hope to leak love as you do.
Thank you,
Ashley
Ashley Barrett
August 21st, 2012 at 10:21 pmpermalink