December 31, 2013
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. - Proverbs 2:6-9
Welcome to 2014! Just wanted to get a few thoughts down for all of us to consider as we enter the New Year. Now, I am not certain that there is anything magical about the arbitrary transition between December 31st & January 1st of each passing year, but it seems as good a time as any for leaving behind any sadness, regret, poor choices and last year’s failed resolutions (!) and have another go at it. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!
Let’s begin with Peyton Manning. Here he is, in the twilight of his career and after serious neck surgery rewriting the record books for the National Football League. Some of these records may prove to be unreachable. It is a real head scratcher but also a great encouragement to consider that a person can continue to excel when conventional wisdom has discarded you.
I bring up Peyton Manning because a couple of years ago he was in a commercial that suggested just the opposite. In it he said, “You know guys, unless you’re a professional athlete, you might as well give up the dream of having a six-pack like me. It ain’t gonna happen and you know it. Let’s face it, you are what you are and you need to learn to embrace it!” It was both funny and mildly offensive at the same time. (Just for the record, I have not given up my dream of having a six-pack - and not the kind I carry out of a grocery store). So, here we have a bit of conundrum. Mr. Manning has reinvented himself at the age of 37 – ancient for an NFL quarterback – and then has the temerity to talk trash to us lesser mortals! Yet, there is some truth to what he is saying and that is what I would like to give some effort to.
Experts tell us that many of us will fall short of our resolutions because they are much too grandiose and vague. We see, with starry eyes what we could be, write it down as a resolution and pay little attention to what is right in front of us, this moment – as in today. To achieve anything, to change any habit, to begin a new habit, starts with the small choices before us in the now. These must be bite size (no pun intended) and reachable. The incremental rewards we get from stumbling forward each day begin to rewire us for a different story, a small but important history of success. (Yes! I did not order dessert! Yes! I parked further away from the door! Yes! I completed cleaning out ONE drawer! Yes! Yes! Yes!)
Now, let’s get spiritual. I know of few Christians who are completely satisfied with their spiritual health. We all know we could do better, but the very things of which Jesus spoke as barriers to internal joy and peace attack us daily with a vengeance, to wit: worry about money; the safety of loved ones; general malaise over world affairs; guilt; shame; regret… Need I go on? And yet the Scriptures stand there and provoke us with the promise of perfect peace, inexpressible joy and a worry-free existence – a spiritual six-pack as it were. Is it really possible to access such a life? Well, the answer must be “Yes” or we may as well dial in the whole faith thing. But how do we get there?
I believe it has something - perhaps everything - to do with learning to hear the voice of God in the mundane. I believe that God is more willing to speak than we are willing or able to listen. And, I believe He offers us simple addition before we are expected to understand calculus. Allow me to illustrate…
I have met many Christians over the years who were worked up over some great dream or vision for their life who were also, for all practical purposes, a testimony of disaster. Their finances were a wreck. Their marriages were a dumpster fire. Their children were storied rebels. On and on it went. Somehow, as they related to me their excitement over “God’s call” for their life, I couldn’t muster any echo of enthusiasm because I knew the back-story. To a person, the big dream they had was stillborn because they had never mastered an affective obedience for what was staring them in the face.
My experience with God is that He moves with practical guidance in the most ordinary affairs of day to day living. He is a God of endless nudges. He will redirect an unforgiving thought toward mercy before it has a chance to become hardened bitterness. He will coax with an opportunity toward generosity when we would remain tight-fisted. He will encourage us to breathe some fresh air when we are tempted to watch a repeat of a mindless sit-com. And daily…He will invite us in to sup with Him and indeed gorge on the nutritional diet of heaven that is love, peace and joy.
But it begins with a choice, perhaps this very moment. The hearing test will not be difficult. There will come a familiar call to simple, instant obedience in some small thing. To act immediately in response to this one small thing will set our feet on the right path, the good path. And then, there will come another - a simple “yes” or “no” bit of instruction. Again – acting with instant obedience the thing is done and a pattern is established. It’s as if, previously, we had been listening from the bottom of a swimming pool. The voice was there but indecipherable. Now, as we move near the surface, to the source of that voice, we hear – first a word, then a sentence, then whole paragraphs. A conversation with heaven has begun and we find that heaven has plenty to say about the nitty and the gritty of our life along with healing words for this sad planet.
For this New Year, I invite you to include in your resolutions this journey of listening coupled with instant obedience. In so doing, all of heaven will cheer your efforts and aide your success.
Much Love,
CJ