Posts Tagged ‘bible’
I was reading a friend’s blog yesterday and they were talking about friends who help in times of need. For some reason, this immediately made me think of Simon of Cyrene from the Bible. He doesn’t get a whole lot of press, but he’s a very interesting character if you stop and think about him. He is the guy who carries Jesus’ cross for him.
Now think about that. The Bible clearly says that we will all have “crosses” to bear in this life. Now, when Jesus was talking about each of us carrying our own cross, I know he was being metaphorical. He was talking about dying to our selfishness and inwardness and ego-centrism, and learning to live with a true revelation of the lives of others around us. Love, in other words (or word as the case may be).
Isn’t it interesting, though, that even Jesus didn’t carry his own cross? Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not taking anything away from Jesus—he alone died for our sins and rose again. And truly, he could have carried the cross the whole way. So if he could have, that means he chose not to. And that’s the sticking point. Why didn’t he?
Herein lies the valuable lesson (at least for me). While on earth Jesus showed us how to live perfectly as humans. Perfect dependence on God. But also, perfect dependence on others. He was never above receiving help or blessings from other people. And I think this example is so cool. In his final moments, in his greatest anguish, on the greatest stage the world has ever known—Jesus receives the help of a no-name Jewish man. . .who carries Jesus’ cross. Jesus’ cross! Think about that!
And it makes me think—I have had so many Simon of Cyrene’s in my life, and I am so very thankful for them. Faced with a cross I never knew I’d have to carry, and a hill that was certainly too big for my legs to conquer, so many Simons (and Simonesses!) have come alongside of me and lifted my burdens onto their shoulders. They have carried my burdens.
So often people look for God in the clouds, or in science, or complain about lack of proof. When really, maybe we just need to look at each other sometimes. Do you feel abandoned by God? Maybe he’s has just shown you love through the hug of a friend. Feel discouraged by God? Maybe that kind word was actually sent by him.
So anyway, that’s what I’m thinking about tonight. And also I ‘m thinking about all the chances I have to be a Simon in other people’s lives, and what a profound blessing that is. Simon of Cyrene entered into the greatest story every told and unknowingly helped God save the world. When we let ourselves become Simon’s in other people’s lives, we too are entering into great and wonderful stories. Because often the greatest stories begin in great pain, don’t they? And when we become Simon to that person, we play a part in seeing that story go from pain to victory.
And I’m not sure there are many greater blessings on earth than that.
So go find someone who needs a Simon today . . . and pick up that cross.
No, this is not a post about exercise. I was just thinking about something today, and thought I’d think about it some more here…
I have had this thought run through my mind several times in the last year(s): “Man, this situation (struggle, decision, obstacle, worry) is really wearing me down, I can’t wait until it’s through.” Do you ever think that when you are in the middle of something?
I feel like it has just been one thing after another for a long time. For instance, Mandy and I agonized for months and months about whether we would try again to have a living baby or not. This decision hung around my life like a weight. Truly. It invaded my thoughts at all hours of the day and night. It was as if something was always following me, like an emotional shadow over my life. Sometimes during that time period I just wanted so badly for it to all go away. Now, I knew that wasn’t possible. And we faced it straight on with prayer and faith and wisdom and much counsel.
And that’s something I’ve learned about things like this. Often our human nature wants the easy way out. We want the quick fix to our problem – whether it be an external problem or an internal emotional one. If not a quick fix, than avoidance. That’s why so many people do so many things to cover up the pain (confusion, self doubt, worry, uncertainty, etc). It makes sense. It is easier to drink it away (or whatever) than face it head one. Because facing it is painful, and opens you up to a long process.
But that’s the key. The long process. I am convinced this is why God has drawn me to hiking at pivotal times in my life, because making big decisions, undergoing change, and even suffering, require the same fortitude and stick-to-it-iveness as a long, difficult hike. But, as in hiking, often the joy is in the trek. The true salvation is in the process, not just the end result.
So anyway, even though I’m so optimistic about he process and all, I still kind of hate it :) I just have felt lately that as soon as one “weight” gets resolved, and my mind is free from having to circle this thought constantly, then WHAM – I am sucked into another one. I was thinking today how tiring this is. How can I always be carrying a weight?
And then I started to think about God. I’ve been trying to renew my passion for God’s word lately, something that has fallen off as of late. And today I was reminded of a verse that I’ve always loved. It’s in Matthew where Jesus tells us that he’ll carry the weights and burdens of our lives. And I realized – that’s what I need that in my life. That’s real. I need the help of a loving and very strong Savior.
So, I’m not entirely sure how to put that all into practice, but in my own way I’m trying. Anyone else care to share? ;) Does anyone else feel weighty? What do you do with that?
From the earliest days of our lives, we all have learned that one-word, simple but powerful argument that works for all things in life: ”mine!” Whose toy is that? Mine! Who’s turn is it? Mine! Who gets the last piece of cake? Mine!
Maybe later in life the arguments change, but the answer remains the same. Whose money is that? Mine! Whose power is that? Mine! Whose prestige is that? Mine! Who should get the credit for that? Mine! Mine! Mine!
Something I want to do with my blog is to write about spiritual insights I have into my own life. I have a profound love for the truth found in the Bible. One of my favorite things is to read small snippets of the Bible, and “sit down in it.” That’s what I call it anyway. What I mean is to just take some time, and put all else on pause. To figuratively park myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually inside a passage. Here’s one:
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1 Corinthians 4:7)
It strikes me that from day one, our drive to possess everything really has very little to do with the possessions themselves, and much more to do with our own identity. And our identity is seldom something we can define standing alone—no—we almost always must use others as comparative measures by which to feel either good or bad about ourselves.
What makes me different from others? Really? Is it my money? Is it my faith? My family? My job? My personality? My material possessions? This passage speaks to me. It says that the pathway to true identity is not through more stuff to call my own, but through freeing myself of that notion all together.
Owning anything, truly owning it (which implies controlling it), is an illusion. I can’t dictate what will happen with my money. Right? Hasn’t the current situation taught us that? I can’t control what happens with my family. I have lived that truth far too poignantly. I can’t even truly possess my gifts and talents. I think I’m a good writer who has written a really good book. Does that make me a best seller? Not even close.
So, this sounds potentially depressing, but I think actually the truth is the opposite. I think it’s liberating. I find freedom in knowing that my goal on this earth is not to amass control and ownership. That all that I “have” has been given to me for a time, and that I am literally living an opportunity. An opportunity to do something great with what I’ve been given.
I find peace in knowing that my identity is not tied to so many “things” but is found in the love of a Creator who saw fit to give all the attributes that make up “me”—whose creativity and love truly know no bounds and are expressed so beautifully in the vast diversity of humanity. I think the answer to the author’s question, “what makes you different?” is God. God makes us different. God makes us unique!
And last I find great joy in the things that no one can truly claim to be their own—relationships. One of the only riches of this earth that I believe we can take with us into eternity. And I find myself, through no great feat of my own, overwhelmingly blessed with friends whose love and support I need everyday.