When life smacks you in the face!

(Oh and here's what you can expect from The Hopeful Rhino)

(Cue: Eye of The Tiger) 

Dah… Dah Dah Dah… Dah Dah Daaaaaaaaaaahhhh….

Rich has always been a Rocky fan… Rocky 4, to be specific, and while we were dating, he saw it as his duty to educate me on the life of Rocky and Adrian.

He loves it so much that I believe he has managed to genetically pass on his love of the training montage and fight scenes to our children (don't question whether that is possible until you've been to our house)… who are now young adults and have entered into a whole new generation of the Rocky franchise.

So, with great excitement and anticipation, we headed to the movies last Monday night to watch the latest installment - Creed 3 - complete with popcorn and frozen cokes!

Photo credit: Eli Ade © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved CREED is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What does it mean?

I am still trying to settle on what the producers hoped to achieve through the movie. But I'm sure a noble and meaningful message is grafted deep within the plot lines.

Maybe it's a sense of loyalty to where you have come from, perhaps a little tip of the hat to "don't believe you are too old to do it again," and there's possibly a redemption narrative hidden there too. But then again, there's also a sense that the movie is about finding your inner strength and the beauty of diversity. The only problem is that our family has taken away something completely different.

The emergence of "kitchen boxing," or as the kids call it, “Let’s Slap Dad” (or “Let’s Slap anyone else who is stupid enough to enter the kitchen around 10.30 pm as the "Eye of The Tiger" blares from the speakers). 

(Side note: If you've seen the movie, you will know that "it's not about violence," as I recall Creed tells his daughter... so please know I am not advocating violence in any way, shape, or form. Please stick with me; it will all make sense.)

There's something cute about wrestling with your kids when they are little. Hearing the giggles, pretending they can overpower you, acting like they are strong, tough, and victorious.

It's another thing entirely when they are 6 foot 3, ripped, and haven't wholly realized their Dad is none of those things... although I have heard it said on more than one occasion, "Watch out! I have Dad strength" at the crucial point of the fight, which is apparently a thing to be in awe of and revered!!! 

Kitchen slap club is half jest, half fun, and a little bit of vying for the heavyweight title of the Langton family, which is all good and well at home in the safety and confines of the kitchen. My watchful gaze and quick intervention often ensure that no one “accidentally” gets slapped in the face.

Photo by Johann Walter Bantz on Unsplash

I wish that life was like that!

I wish someone was on the sidelines, always making sure nothing happens that gives you a sense of an unexpected blow to the face, knocks the wind out of you, or catches you off guard.

I'm sure you know what I am talking about.

You sometimes wish God would magically appear as the umpire, ring the bell, stop the fight, or call unfair or out of line at some punches being thrown. And maybe He is, but I wonder if the reality is He's more like the coach in the corner. Telling us, "it's ok, get up again, get back in the ring, face the opponent. It won't always be like this."  

I've felt my fair share of those moments in life… haven't we all?

Life's unexpected nature can often bring a sense of shock, horror, or deep sadness at scenarios that eventuate.

For example, I think about the time that I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after the birth of our son and being told that I would not be able to walk, let alone scale climbing frames at playgrounds; as a new mum with a boy that I dreamed of living my life to the full with, there was an immediate sense of loss and impending dread.

And I felt that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach on a Friday morning when sitting in my local cafe, Rich called to tell me that his Dad had passed away. I was immediately struck with profound grief and realized again that life doesn't guarantee anything. Those people we love will not always be here to offer wisdom, advice, or the familiarity of the relationship we love, and some days are just awful.

And sometimes, the blows keep coming as we realize that change is inevitable and the surprises in life are not always good or what we hope for.

Most recently, we have left the certainty of our employment, the security of our faith community, and the predictability of our day-to-day routine. It has been challenging; it was not what we had hoped for. We had always imagined ourselves staying in our roles for the foreseeable future. We still love the people of our Church, but it was time to move on, which we will write about more in the Rhino Journals. (Keep reading to know what they are).

There is a sense that leaving should bring excitement and the feeling of a new adventure (which it does). And, of course, everyone wants to know what is next… which is fantastic, lovely, beautiful, and encouraging... but the process is also painful.

The exit from community and belonging has a lonely ache to it... and there's also a reality that leaving employment and not knowing how you will provide for your family is intimidating and almost debilitating sometimes.

So to say it could feel like a slap to the face would be an appropriate metaphor. (Not a physical slap by anyone in particular, but by the disorientation that life and especially change brings).

So what am I learning again in that space because I have been here before?

Well, I’m learning a few things…

Faith is a fact, not just a feeling. 

Every end and beginning starts again with seeds of trust. I can't always feel God in it, but I know Him to be faithful and an ever-present help. So whether I wake up each morning feeling it or have to tell myself again that God is present… I will choose faith.

Resilience is cultivated.

Resilience is only learned as we keep picking ourselves up off the floor and choosing to go again. To keep deciding it is worth it to put yourself out there again and to lean into life, learn the lessons and practice them regularly.

Hope is fuel.

We will talk about this later, but "hope floats," as the movie title suggests. Hope makes us buoyant, and belief is powerful as we imagine that the world and our circumstances can improve. I love that 'The Message' Bible calls God "the God of green hope"… it's like He is the promise of spring in our deepest winters. 

Life is best lived with a future focus.

There's little point in turning back or dwelling on the past and living there. The future is ahead of us all. God hasn’t finished outworking His plan for humanity. In His time, He’s making all things new. The twists and turns are just part of the journey. While it takes tenacity to live and think this way, it’s also exciting. Who knows how God will turn things around? Who knows how He will use the circumstances to build us up or to encourage others? What is He up to? I’ve learned again that the way is forward, and despite change being difficult, as CS Lewis puts it;

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."

So what’s with the “Rhino,” you ask?

Photo by Dušan veverkolog on Unsplash

Recently we were talking to a new friend. He commented on where we have found ourselves and made a throw-away statement. He said, “you will need skin as thick as rhinos" to move forward. It was like a penny dropped. I realized what our new friend had said was true - Rich and I need thick skin to resist the darts that life has thrown our way. But it’s also true that we all need thick skin because life is surprising and not always good. To continually grow in faith, to keep offering ourselves and our creativity to a world that’s not always receptive, takes thick skin.

And it’s not just about building up a protective mechanism because that will cause angst and cognitive dissonance. Living like that will make you push God and other people away. It will make you resist community and self-sabotage your creativity. So instead, we need armor, as the writer of the book of Ephesians calls it. We must wear an outer layer of protection as we navigate our way into the future.

As Creative Pastors, I don't think we have ever seen it more clearly than in the creative space, where people regularly create, make, and expose the vulnerable places of their lives to others. And just in case you are reading this ready to count yourself out because you aren't "creative," let me say this; 

"God created us all with the capacity to imagine a better future,
and we can all do something to bring that dream to life”. 

The question for me isn't, "are you creative?" - but what do you create? Songs, music, art, relationships, families, food, beauty, words, a life, a home, poetry, architecture, beautiful environments, creative solutions to severe problems, strategies, healing words, products, systems, or _________ (you fill in the blank). We are all creating something.

When we show our art, in whatever form that takes, we stand there almost as if we are fully exposing the deepest parts of our soul to someone else. Then we wait. We’re waiting to see how they receive what we have made. Maybe they love it. Perhaps they reject it, and in the process, they reject us too. Their response often determines whether we dare to show and tell again.

I remember family concerts with Reuben and Ben where they would bring "works in progress" songs. They would tentatively pick up guitars and gingerly begin to strum notes and sing melodies intrepidly... "Our God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save".

And there was always that special Sunday, the first time a creative idea would be introduced to Church. The moment when you would wait anxiously to see if the congregation would "get it." Could they pick up the importance of the moment? Was the concept going to be all we believed it could be? Would it resonate with people?

I think about my friend who wrote her first solo project this year. She invited us all to a meal and communion before she led the recording. I could sense the weight she felt in the moment and the pressure of whether what she had done would be enough.

Or our other friend who started a creative agency with the hope that what he had learned, what he knew, and his ability to hear Jesus would lead to him building the kind of future-focused innovative space that would be able to share the gospel story again and again in different spheres.

And…

I think about two creative pastors in a new season of life. Circumstances have smacked them around, but they’re still passionate about inspiring and pastoring creatives. They trust God but, with some trepidation, have decided to put themselves out there again. They start a humble little newsletter and creative community to encourage people to keep getting up, mustering the courage to go again, hoping for a better humanity, carving out pathways for themselves, and keep seeking Jesus. They wonder if what they are doing will be as meaningful as they imagine it could be and whether it is worth the risk. And yet, to be faithful to God’s leading and calling, they need to move forward.

Because…

For every triumph story, there are also failure stories. There are the albums that go nowhere, the songs that only make it through one set, never to be sung again; there is the sermon that bombs and that piece of art or storytelling that leaves everyone wondering what on earth you were trying to communicate.

But…

Just because something comes to an end, doesn't work anymore, or knocks the wind out of you, the slap to the face doesn't mean you shouldn't catch your breath again, pick yourself up and go again.  

And so here we are!

Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash

This brings us to The Hopeful Rhino.

We learned recently that a group of rhinos is called a “crash.” So we dream that The Hopeful Rhino becomes a "crash," a collective of like-minded people who draw strength and courage from each other's stories, contexts, faith, and creativity.

A place to share what we have learned (and to hear about the things you have learned), to show and tell, to encourage each other, and cheer loudly as we each do our best to honor God, steward our gifts, and serve others with what we have been entrusted with.

This is a place of growth, development, inspiration, community, and being equipped. Together, as a community, we are The Hopeful Rhino - thick-skinned, resilient, forward-facing creatives.

What can you expect?

The plan right now is to have two versions of The Hopeful Rhino. We want this to be accessible to as many people as possible.

The free subscription will come to you as "The Hopeful Rhino Rapid 5" - A rapid-fire weekly email with five inspirational thoughts, links & insights to help you create more intentionally. It will be curated from the things we are personally reading and finding helpful.

We will also launch a paid membership called “The Hopeful Rhino Journal & Community.” This is intended for those looking for a creative community that will develop them and brings insight and accountability to their creativity and faith.

The paid membership will include the following;

• "The Hopeful Rhino Journals" - Weekly long-form in-depth articles, "how-to's," and reflections from the desk of Cass and Rich.

• Community Wisdom - A regular "Community Wisdom" post and a place for you to discuss issues relevant to creativity, creative living, faith, creative leadership, and life with us.

• Complete Archives - Access to the entire archive of content, tools, and resources we have gathered over the years.

• Access to the Creative Community - Inclusion in our members-only real-time community and chat channels.

• Special offers and other goodies - Things like… live zooms, exclusive podcast episodes, the opportunity for coaching, meet-up invitations, and more as they happen.

Paid members will also receive the weekly "The Hopeful Rhino Rapid 5".

If you'd like more information, please check out our "About" page.

All of this is intended to connect us with you and you with other members so that together we will be thick-skinned, full of hope, resilience, faith, and forward motion. We look forward to all God has ahead of us with this community of old and new friends.

We'll launch the weekly "Rapid Five" the week after Easter and the “Rhino Journals” from the start of May. Still, in the meantime, if you're keen to get started or want to show your support, we'll have the community chat channels up and running in the next few days.

Also, if you join as a paid member before April 10, we'd love to offer you a lifetime 10% discount on your subscription. It’s our way of saying thank you for the early support.

We are passionate about building community.

Over the years, we have seen God do amazing things in our creative community at the intersection of faith and creativity. So we are confident there will be a strong sense of community as we journey together. We have already been so encouraged by the stories many of you shared when you first subscribed, and if you are reading this and have yet to subscribe, then when you do, we look forward to meeting you too.

Life can knock us all around. It can make us question everything. But it doesn’t have to knock your faith or creativity out!

And, while creativity can be elusive, it can also be a potent tool. We hope that together we will become better creatives and more devoted disciples of Jesus. We pray that our faith will grow, our craft will develop, and our desire to see our world enriched will contribute to God's plan to redeem and restore all humanity.

So, come crash with us for a while, and let’s see what God unfolds in our future together.

Ready?

Let's go!

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