Clay in the Hands

Yesterday marked the beginning of Lent. As I was out in the community yesterday, I noticed those who had taken the ash as a symbol of grief. Seeing those who chose to participate in the discipline of Ash Wednesday has had me thinking.

For those of us outside the tradition that practices this discipline, I think we would do well to think about its meaning. When we think of Lent, we typically think of giving something up. But the season has such a deeper significance – beginning with Ash Wednesday. By receiving the ash, the participant acknowledges the sin in his or her life. The act should be based on reflection of all the ways we have strayed from God’s path as well as reflection on our desperate need for God to be God in our lives.

We have a tendency to try and replace God in our lives with distractions. We place importance on things – often good things – that can dilute our commitment to follow God with our whole heart. Our hearts have a limited capacity. When we fill our hearts with desires for things other than God then our desire for God decreases – it is similar to the law of displacement in physics. When a container is at capacity and something else is introduced, something has to give. If I fill a five-gallon bucket with water and then drop a bowing ball in I am going to make a mess.

Lent is a season in which we reflect on the mess we have made with our lives by allowing things other than our desire for God to take up space in our hearts. And we ask forgiveness and repent. It is a season when we focus on our desperate need for God and we seek him more intently. It is a season when our commitment is renewed to live our lives for God daily.

As we make our way through the next forty days – leading up to Resurrection Day – take some time to reflect. There is only so much room in your life. Make sure God is the biggest part of it.

Last night, I had the opportunity to offer a devotion to a group of men who serve as deacons in our church.  The passage I selected was Mark 10:46-52 – the healing of blind Bartimaeus.

Jesus was headed to Jerusalem for what would be his last trip before his crucifixion.  He had already told the disciples a number of times what would happen but they were still not comprehending what was about to take place.

As they passed through the city of Jericho, a man called out for Jesus’ attention.  Jesus was surrounded by a group of people so the man’s cries went unheard at first.  Those nearest the man told him to be quiet but that just made him call out more adamantly and loudly.

When Jesus heard the man, he told him to come near.  At that invitation, Bartimaeus leapt to his feet, through off his cloak and came to Jesus only to be faced with an odd question.

The man’s need was obvious – he was blind.  But Jesus asked him the question anyway, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Bartimaeus did not really need to think about it – his response was, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

There is so much packed into this little episode recorded here.  Jesus asked an obvious question and I think he poses the question to us as well.  Jesus wants us to think about what we need that only he can fulfill.  I don’t see this is as a question of what we want or desire but rather a probing question that causes us to realize our deep and utter dependance on Jesus.

As we each search our own souls today asking ourselves what we need from Jesus, may we, like Bartimaeus, respond – Teacher, we want to see.  

Perhaps our prayer today should be:

Teacher, help us see.  We want to see what you would have us see.  We want to see you and understand you more fully.  We want to become more aware of what you are doing in our lives and in the world around us.  We no longer want to go through the motions, we want to live fully aware of your presence!  Help us to see!

What keeps you from living out your passions?  When you think of the things that excite you and the things about which you dream – what stands in the way of realizing those things?

There are any number of obstacles that can get in the way – some more formidable than others.  But for most people, I fear it is the wear and tear of the daily grind.  The To Do List is a great tool but sometimes it grows to be such a cloud of pressure that it obscures the goal.

Yesterday, I challenged our church family and myself to live out our passions daily.  Then this morning, I got to the office and all of the sudden I went into mechanical mode trying to check things off.  I looked at all the things that I have to get done today and gradually, the focus on living with passion and keeping the bigger picture in mind faded into the scenery like the Bedouin rug that hangs on my wall.

So how do we live out our passions in the midst of the daily routine?  Here are three suggestions to help you focus today:

1. Define your passions – What are your big picture goals?  You need to define those things concisely because ultimately, they will define you.
2. Write your goals down – Passions are what keep us going and the goals we set become the framework by which we work.  We write them down because we normally hit what aim for – and if you are aiming at nothing, unfortunately, you will probably hit it.
3. Keep those goals in front of you – The key to hitting the target is monitoring trajectory.  Reviewing your goals regularly can ensure that you end up where you want.

God intends life to be full of meaning and fulfillment.  He has wired you live that way.  Don’t let the daily routine dilute your passion.

Be blessed today!

It is so difficult to be real these days.  Have you noticed how everything has become so political?  I am not talking about the politics we see on the nightly news or Twitter.  I’m referring to the daily activity of life.  With social media, we feel we have to be on our guard all the time – making sure we are keeping that perfect image.

When we are around people, we want them to think we have it all together.  We think we can’t let our guard down or show our weaknesses for fear that we will be overlooked or mistreated.  We have bought into the fear that if we don’t look out for ourselves, then the world will walk all over us.

I am not denying that there is substance to the fear of being mistreated.  But I would call into question the source of the fear.  I believe what drives the fear is that we have bought into the lie that what we see in the world is real – and even worse – that what we see is all there is to be seen.

Stop and think about this for a second, if you are concerned about presenting the perfect image, don’t you think everyone else is concerned about doing the same?  So if all you are seeing from others is their facade, then you have to agree that none of it is real – or at best, partially real.

Our hope must remain grounded on what we know to be real – God and his truth.  If our foundation is God and the truth that he has given us, then we begin to realize that it is acceptable to be authentic.  In fact, once we have tested the solid ground, we might even realize being real is what God intended all along.

How liberating it would be if everyone was genuine all the time!  Today, focus some of your effort on being real.  Start with being real with God.

Be blessed today!