I like watching movies. And while I specifically like movies
that have action, I am also a firm believer that everyone enjoys a good love
story. For example, the first time I watched the Notebook I was in a dorm full
of male athletes; by the end of the film there was not one dry eye. There is
just something about the last scene when Alli remembers Noah, forgets him,
screams as he tries to comfort her, and they later [spoiler alert] die together
in their sleep. That makes for a good story.
Needless to say, I'm an emotional movie watcher. I often
find myself tearing up even in the most action packed movies. I even cry while
reading books or stories online. But not until just recently did I stop to
wonder why I cry while reading or watching a movie.
Years ago I read a few of Donald Miller's books, which led
me to follow Storyline blog. Many
of the posts on the blog are centered on what makes a good story and
how we need to live a better story, so naturally I started to read more about
stories and the characteristics of a good story.
During this period of research, I was just starting to
figure out what career path I wanted to take. I knew that in every good story
the main character wants something, so I started dreaming about all the things
I wanted to do and accomplish. Here is a short list of them:
- Live in a big city, like NYC or LA
- Live in Africa
- Learn how to speak Spanish and French
- Play Professional Baseball
- Publish a best selling book
- Pastor a giant church where members are seriously passionate about Jesus
- Be in a movie
I could end up doing all of these things (although some
tasks are more realistic than others). Occasionally I look for job
openings in various areas of the world, and for local baseball tryouts. I
even try to learn foreign languages from the students I work with (I
know six words in Swahili, seven words in French, and three phrases in
Spanish).
But if I'm being honest, all of my dreams and desires
seem so far away and it makes me feel stuck. I don't feel stuck because my
life sucks; I have a beautiful, amazing wife, a wonderful newborn son, I get to
teach at a diverse school, and I work for a thriving church. I
just think of how cool it must have been for Pee Wee Reese as he hugged Jackie
Robinson in front of a huge crowd. That was a big piece of history that paved
the way for other African American athletes. I just long to be a part of
something bigger.
I feel stuck because I can't see the bigger picture.
God created us for something more, something big. But
somehow we get lost in the mundane. The job, the cleaning, the bills, the
sleep. Jesus tells us that we will do greater works than He did (John 14:12),
but when do those works start?
This wasn’t Jewish hyperbole, because when we read into
the books of Acts, Romans and beyond it becomes clear that the disciples
really grabbed hold of this promise (as well as others like it) to heal people,
perform wonders and various other miracles, as well as reconciling people to
God, just as Jesus did when He was with them. The disciples were
living out a great story that Jesus invited them into.
They put all of their eggs in the Jesus basket. When
everyone else was holding back to see if Jesus was really the Messiah, they
gave 100%. Even when it went in the face of everything they had
learned, they said ‘you have the words of eternal life, and we have
believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of
God.”(See Mark 10:25-28, and John 6:21-68).
I get stuck at this part. I tell myself that I am completely
following Jesus, but there is always a part of me that I hold back because of
the messy house and the reality of the monthly bills. Not only that, but
sometimes I read the word of God and say, “this is a hard saying, who can
listen to it?’ (John 6:60). I gloss over it and pick the Scriptures I want to
listen to more closely. In my mind I say as the disciples said, ‘you have
the words of eternal life…. And [I] have come to know, that you are the Holy
One of God.’ but in my heart I say, ‘It's too risky and too hard to do
everything He says, so I’ll just live a comfortable life just like everyone
else.’
But no good story has ever had a main
character that was comfortable the whole time.
Jesus wasn’t comfortable. He took our sins upon
himself, and died a horrible death. But He was also raised from the dead. Upon
His resurrection, the invitation to join His story was released to
everyone in the world.
Jesus has a grand adventure planned for every single person
that puts all their eggs in His basket. It's time we stopped being comfortable
with the mundane and started to embrace Him as He is, the Savior of the
world.
It will not be comfortable, and it may not always be safe,
but living a good story never is.
I'm challenging myself to start living a better story. The
story that God planned for me. A story worthy of conflict. A story that will
allow me to speak Gods grace, love and peace into a mundane world.
I hope you will accept the challenge with me.
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