Doug Van Pelt

U2 In Hutto

So, I was shopping in this toy store and I see this kid start pulling on the shelf. 'No big deal,' I think. 'No way he's gonna budge that thing.' But all of a sudden a wall brace snaps and I see that thing coming down. With no time to react, I dive hands first to smother the kid, as my back helps shield him from the tumbling books and, "Ow!" large toy trucks made of steel. 'Thanks a lot, Tonka!'

Turns out its Adam Clayton's son. Adam is the bassist for U2. He can't help but cry as he sees the potential harm come to his son. He offers me a free U2 show in my home town on the spot. I'm flabbergasted. "This is a dream!" I say out loud. "No, seriously, man. It's the least I can do for you."

So I say, "Okay, I live in a small town outside of Austin called Hutto. We're right next to a high school football stadium. Maybe around the time of your Houston and Dallas shows you could do it. "We love Austin and had planned on being here anyway," says the skinny bassist as the manager for Terra Toys (on Congress Avenue in Austin) starts profusely apologizing. It's funny and sad to watch him possibly be more apologetic for this accident because the victim was a celebrity. I take him up on his offer to see his back specialist as he hands me his card, saying he'll cover all expenses. Then I realize what has happened.

It's all just a crazy thought and memory rekindled by an upcoming Texas tour date and an old Brady Bunch episode where Peter saves a kid in a toy store and gets a reward, but his parents refuse to let him have it. I always resented Mr. and Mrs. Brady for that. 'Let Peter have a large cash reward,' I always said.

So, before you bring your lawn chairs to Hutto, Texas; be sure and check your reality. Cuz mine's running amok.

As far as a made up story is from truth is the previous prose from the text I read today. In Isaiah, chapters 41 through 49, we hear about a people being taken, set apart, and given a purpose. For His glory He formed Israel and redeemed it. While He has done a great thing with His people, He considers it "too small" to just be His servant.

"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

He says, in 49:6, that He will spread His love and His kingdom through His people. Like a candle-lighting ceremony that spreads faster when people pass it on, He has actually entrusted us with His precious cargo -- His Word.

Think about that for a second. Would you trust you or I with this valuable message and commission? On the surface, we would all probably come up short. I'd say those 12 disciples came up short, too. They were in many cases a bunch of bumbling, fumbling idiots. But these men "turned the world upside down" by simply living their life and spreading the message.

It is too small a thing for God to just save us and reserve a spot in Heaven for us. He wants to use us, and He will, to do bigger things than we could even dream of.

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at July 25, 2005 08:28 AM