One
lady told her pastor, "I don't want to get too close to God. I just want to get over in a corner and sneak
into heaven quietly. I don't want to be
a saint. I just don't want to go to hell." She then used this analogy. "When I started the ninth grade I set my
heart on finishing high school with straight C's. And I did.
You see, if you fail you have to repeat, and I wanted out. But if you start making A's people begin to
expect things of you." She
continued, "It's exactly like that with God. If you're too bad you'll go to hell, and I
don't want that. But if you're too good,
you will be sent to India, and I don't want that either."[1]
The
church in America is getting past this phase. The category of “none” is growing
when it comes to “religious preference.” Culturally, people find it is no
longer detrimental to their politics or business to be “none” or to have
another religion as their “preference.” This is not a bad thing. Part of what
it will mean is that those who choose to identify with Christ and the church
are at least somewhat “serious” about their faith. They really want to grow
into being a disciple of Jesus.
I
think some people believe true Christianity is reserved only for the superstars
of the faith. It may mean some
extraordinary act of commitment is necessary before one is proved to be truly
faithful. Maybe even some miracle must
be present in order for faith to be there.
Or maybe it means being able to get up and preach a sermon. Yet, I must confess that this is very
contrary to my own experience.
What
we might call the ordinary life of faithfully and daily living the Christian
life is actually quite impressive.
Think of it
this way. All of us have a gift to give.
As we go through life, we discover that gift and offer it to
others. Maybe that is the best any of us
can do with our lives. It is so easy to
think only of how others can give to us and nourish us. Part of maturing in life, part of the growth
we need, is to discover what we can give back to others. We are so often impressed with the larger
than life heroes of the big screen. I
find myself increasingly impressed by the heroes of daily life. They do not get to the front page of the
paper. They are the ones who get up
every day and have a reason for living this day. They are willing to sacrifice for family and
friends. They are willing to live the
values and principles in which they believe.
They do these boring things every day.
Yet, they are the ones who make the world a happier and safer place in
which to live.
Life is so short. Why not use it well? Why not use this brief time wisely? All too many people go through life selfishly
demanding their own way. They expect
others to serve them. Many others think,
not of what they can get out of life, but what they can give back. We might just as well use our time to make
the world a brighter and happier place because we have been here.
Reflect upon the gift God has given
you. Maybe we can be just a bit more willing to open our lives, to sacrifice,
in order to make the lives of others happier and more rewarding. Then we can be among those who make the lives
of others happier for our having been here.
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