Radical Faith Precedes Radial Evidence: If You Build it, He Will Come

My favorite movie is becoming my life. I find myself transformed into the character of a corn farmer from Iowa–Ray Kinsella. And while I haven’t been called to cut down a cornfield to build a baseball diamond, my version, my calling, is this blog; this book.

Here I sit, tears uncontrollably streaming down my face, explaining to my wife why I am a wreck. Thank goodness the kids are napping. When she first walked in, she was startled, assuming by my tears that something was wrong. I assured her that I was fine; I was just watching my favorite movie.

But this time, it’s different.

The characters are with me and the imagery is real. I hear myself repeating Ray’s words:

“I’ve done everything I’ve been asked to do. I didn’t understand it, but I’ve done it and I haven’t once asked, ‘What’s in it for me?’”

“What are you saying, Matt?”

“I’m saying… What’s in it for me?”

“Is that why you did this, for you?”

“Well then, why?”

“If you build it, He will come.”

Still from Field of Dreams by Universal Pictures

Radical Faith, Radical Evidence

The movie, Field of Dreams, represents an innocence and hope that often seems lost in our world today; an innocence and hope, that I dare say, have been such a consistent part of this journey for me. It’s what philosopher Blaise Pascal called precursive faith: “faith that runs ahead of the evidence.”

All too often, we want the evidence to come before our faith shows up, but that’s not how this movie plays out, and that’s not how life turns out. It often takes radical, illogical faith to live your passion. It’s woken me up on more than one occasion at all hours of the night. I tell you this because, above all things, I hope it moves you to do the same.

And, I’m here to help, because I know what it takes.

There are times when I’ve wanted to quit, when exhaustion skewed the vision, when the passion became corrupt as it conflicted with my ultimate purpose; that of husband and father.

Regardless, I haven’t quit.

Suffice to say, this time, when I watched Field of Dreams, it reminded me that sometimes, radical faith precedes radical evidence.

The Radical Evidence — Redefine Rich Will Be Published

This week, I finalized conversations with a publisher, an opportunity to bring this book, Redefine Rich, to life. For those of you wondering if the title has changed, it has. One of the many decisions and details that I’ve wrestled with, tirelessly, to bring a whisper to life.

Life(n) Books takes their name from John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Over the next few weeks, I will be busily putting together the finishing touches and coordinating with them to move toward final publishing.

As the excitement buzzed around this news, I was gently nudged by doubt.

You’ve got a publisher, but you still have to sell books. Who’s going to buy it?

That’s when I went back to the movie. In a climactic scene, Ray’s brother-in-law demands that he sell the farm, calling the vision stupid, childish, and immature. I was there.

Then I heard the voice, the words, that changed everything. The iconic James Earl Jones delivered these lines:

“Ray, people will come, Ray…for it is money they have, and peace they like…it will be as if they’ve dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces…Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.”

I pray these words are uttered among those who have embraced this movement and not in the slightest reason why you might think. My deepest desire for you being here, for listening, for reading, for caring, for sharing, and, most importantly, for choosing to join me would be shown by your choice to live a rich life.

Nothing would bring greater joy to my efforts than seeing thousands, boldly I say millions, of individuals removing the shroud of spiritual poverty from their eyes and choosing to see the richness they were created for.

Because here’s what I know. At the end of the movie, Ray finally realizes that he didn’t do any of this for anyone else but himself.

And his gift?

He gets to play catch with his father.

In my story, this whole endeavor has been about me playing catch with my Father.

Should people choose to come and have their own game of catch, He’d be honored. And I will gladly stand on the sidelines and cheer. That’s what this is all about for me; cheering you on toward richness.

Because, in this story, that’s what you were created for.

MH

Pre-Order my new book, Redefine Rich, by clicking on the image below

Redefine Rich