I expect that much of the time you and I are completely unaware of the Divine intention in who we are and what we do. We struggle to entrust ourselves to Mystery.
The eleventh step of the Alcoholics Anonymous program is this: "Sought to improve my conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation, seeking only the knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry it out."
I read recently a beautiful story told by one of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning. My adaptation of the story goes like this:
A water bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on opposite ends of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other was perfect. The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half-full. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments because it fulfilled magnificently the purpose for which it had been made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable about only accomplishing half of the job.
After two years of failure, the bitter pot spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream. "I'm ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you," the pot said.
"Why are you ashamed?" asked the water-bearer.
"I've been unable to deliver more than half my share of the load for these past two years, because this crack in my side allows water to leak out all the way back to the master's house. My flaws are reducing your ability to fully accomplish your work."
The water-bearer responded: "I have always known about your flaw, and I have taken advantage of it. I planted flower seed on your side of the path, and every day, as we have walked back from the stream, you have faithfully watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."
Disappointment in our being or performing arise from our presuming to know the outcome fo a particular endeavor. The cracked pot was clueless about its life-giving, life-beautifying purpose as a vessel.
St. John writes, "A man can lay claim only to what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Any attempt to measure the value of our lives by comparison and contrast to others belittles our gifts and shows ungratefulness to God.
Despite our "flaws"--our physical cracks, intellectual limitations, emotional struggles, and spiritual fissures--we can and must trust that God has providentially equipped us to fulfill the unique purpose of our existence.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Flourishing in Our Present Reality
It is natural to human nature that we sometimes wish we were not where we are. We find ourselves in relationships and circumstances that we would prefer were different in some way. Some folk struggle to be happy and productive in certain geographical locations. Our work environment can cause us anxiety. Even churches can be tough places to feel at home--our own shortfalls or perhaps the hypocrisy of others can cause a struggle within our hearts.
It seems to me there are two ways of approaching life in this imperfect world:
1. We can say, "I don't like it, and I don't want to have to invest myself in a place or among people where I don't find satisfaction or see a promising future." Or,
2. We can say, "I will do the very best I can with the realities of my life. Far more important than the climate, economics, attitudes and people in my life at this place and time is the God who is with me at this place and time!" "Where I am is a place that was created for me by God, and the people in my life are people whom God loves and has lovingly placed here."
I've read where Francois Fenelon said there are two kinds of people--those who look at life and complain of what is not there; and others who look at the realities of life and rejoice in what is there!
We have a choice to complain and limit our living based on what we don't presently have, or we can live positively and brightly in the reality of what we do have.
The Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah had this choice (See Jeremiah 29:1-14). He sent this letter from Jerusalem to the surviving elders, priests, prophets and all the Jewish people living under Nebuchadnezzar's rule having been taken in exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. He brings an amazing word from the Lord to these "displaced" folk.
I'll just touch on a couple of his points in this letter. In verse 7 he reports the Lord's counsel: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." In verses 11-13 God says: "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray for me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU."
Will we open ourselves to being useful to God in the situational and relational contexts of our present life? Is it possible that the people, culture, opportunities, as well as the physical place and time (maybe even the church?!) found in our life today are God's good gifts intended to help us grow and flourish?
Building the life of our dreams in "hostile" surroundings is hard. But, knowing God's personal presence that is constantly with us each moment empowers us to live God's loving, good and perfect will right where we are.
It seems to me there are two ways of approaching life in this imperfect world:
1. We can say, "I don't like it, and I don't want to have to invest myself in a place or among people where I don't find satisfaction or see a promising future." Or,
2. We can say, "I will do the very best I can with the realities of my life. Far more important than the climate, economics, attitudes and people in my life at this place and time is the God who is with me at this place and time!" "Where I am is a place that was created for me by God, and the people in my life are people whom God loves and has lovingly placed here."
I've read where Francois Fenelon said there are two kinds of people--those who look at life and complain of what is not there; and others who look at the realities of life and rejoice in what is there!
We have a choice to complain and limit our living based on what we don't presently have, or we can live positively and brightly in the reality of what we do have.
The Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah had this choice (See Jeremiah 29:1-14). He sent this letter from Jerusalem to the surviving elders, priests, prophets and all the Jewish people living under Nebuchadnezzar's rule having been taken in exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. He brings an amazing word from the Lord to these "displaced" folk.
I'll just touch on a couple of his points in this letter. In verse 7 he reports the Lord's counsel: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." In verses 11-13 God says: "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray for me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU."
Will we open ourselves to being useful to God in the situational and relational contexts of our present life? Is it possible that the people, culture, opportunities, as well as the physical place and time (maybe even the church?!) found in our life today are God's good gifts intended to help us grow and flourish?
Building the life of our dreams in "hostile" surroundings is hard. But, knowing God's personal presence that is constantly with us each moment empowers us to live God's loving, good and perfect will right where we are.
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