Do you ever notice that there are things in our lives that are broken, but not so much that we actually fix it? It's that toilet you have to jiggle the handle on...or the car you have to pump the gas just right for it to start...or the furnace that makes that noise that isn't normal.
We tolerate these inconveniences because we don't want to go to the trouble to fix them. It's only when a stranger encounters them that we realize how broken they really are.
The brokenness we tolerate isn't just confined to DIY projects around the house. There is brokenness in our spiritual lives that, sadly, we tolerate. Fixing these areas of sin, temptation and guilt may take hard work. But we will never be whole without doing it.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, December 26, 2011
If its already broke...
Our kitchen sink was leaking. We first noticed drips coming from the basement ceiling. I found that the faucet was leaking and would have to be replaced.
We got the replacement and I started disconnecting the old faucet to replace it. I was struggling to get the old faucet off. Because if the rust and gunk it just didn't want to budge. But the real reason was I wasn't committed to it fully. I was trying to disassemble it in a way that I could still put it all back together.
Eventually I took out a saw and just started cutting the faucet into pieces. After a few cuts I got everything off. I was able to install the new one and everything is working again. Now I'm wondering why I was being so gentle with a broken faucet.
But it was a reminder to me that even when something is already broken, it still takes an initial act of courage to fix it. Sometimes you have to commit to the change fully before you can make the progress you need to truly change.
We got the replacement and I started disconnecting the old faucet to replace it. I was struggling to get the old faucet off. Because if the rust and gunk it just didn't want to budge. But the real reason was I wasn't committed to it fully. I was trying to disassemble it in a way that I could still put it all back together.
Eventually I took out a saw and just started cutting the faucet into pieces. After a few cuts I got everything off. I was able to install the new one and everything is working again. Now I'm wondering why I was being so gentle with a broken faucet.
But it was a reminder to me that even when something is already broken, it still takes an initial act of courage to fix it. Sometimes you have to commit to the change fully before you can make the progress you need to truly change.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Good King Wenceslas
This Sunday our preacher mentioned this Carol in passing in the sermon on Sunday. But I looked it up and was amazed by the words to the hymn.
Most people know the first verse (or at least half of it). In it the good king looks out from the castle over a wintry night landscape. Through the blowing snow he sees a poor man gathering fire wood.
In the second verse the king asks his servant where the poor man lives. In the third verse the king tells his servant to gather up meat, wine and firewood and tells him they are going to take them to the poor man’s house. So they set out together into the blizzard to bring to this poor man everything he needs for a holiday barbeque. In the fourth verse the servant starts to complain about how cold it is and how strong the wind is blowing. The servant is afraid that he can’t go on and will freeze before they reach their destination. But the king tells the servant to walk in his footsteps and he won’t be so cold. In the last verse the servant finds that when he steps in the footprints of the king he could move thru the snow much easier. The servant also seems to feel actual warmth when walking in the king’s steps.
I’m sure you’re already making the application. The king calls his servant into a cruel and bitter world to do good for someone who needs it. However the way is so hard the servant despairs. But if the servant walks in the footsteps of the king he can continue in the journey and fulfill his mission of mercy.
When the Kingdom of Jesus comes into our broken world, He calls his people to acts of mercy confronting injustice, rescuing the oppressed, caring for the marginalized, and healing the brokenness. When we follow, often we find that the journey is hard and fulfilling our mission stretches us beyond what we think we can bear. But if we stay close to our master and follow diligently after him we will find encouragement for the journey and the strength to join our King in his mission.
That’s such an awesome story being told in that old carol!!! I love the last line: “Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”
Most people know the first verse (or at least half of it). In it the good king looks out from the castle over a wintry night landscape. Through the blowing snow he sees a poor man gathering fire wood.
In the second verse the king asks his servant where the poor man lives. In the third verse the king tells his servant to gather up meat, wine and firewood and tells him they are going to take them to the poor man’s house. So they set out together into the blizzard to bring to this poor man everything he needs for a holiday barbeque. In the fourth verse the servant starts to complain about how cold it is and how strong the wind is blowing. The servant is afraid that he can’t go on and will freeze before they reach their destination. But the king tells the servant to walk in his footsteps and he won’t be so cold. In the last verse the servant finds that when he steps in the footprints of the king he could move thru the snow much easier. The servant also seems to feel actual warmth when walking in the king’s steps.
I’m sure you’re already making the application. The king calls his servant into a cruel and bitter world to do good for someone who needs it. However the way is so hard the servant despairs. But if the servant walks in the footsteps of the king he can continue in the journey and fulfill his mission of mercy.
When the Kingdom of Jesus comes into our broken world, He calls his people to acts of mercy confronting injustice, rescuing the oppressed, caring for the marginalized, and healing the brokenness. When we follow, often we find that the journey is hard and fulfilling our mission stretches us beyond what we think we can bear. But if we stay close to our master and follow diligently after him we will find encouragement for the journey and the strength to join our King in his mission.
That’s such an awesome story being told in that old carol!!! I love the last line: “Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”
Friday, November 11, 2011
What I'm Learning from My Shingles
Sooooooooo...I have shingles.
For those of you who don't know what that is, click here.
So I've been trying to think of a metaphor that I could blog about from this.
The first thing I thought of was that your past catches up with you. Shingles are essentially Chicken Pox that flares up again after a few dormant decades just to torment you once again. I thought about how often things from our past that we thought had been dead for years can suddenly reappear and still cause us damage.
Then I thought of how failure to take early action can really hurt you. They tell me that had I gone to the doctor within 72 hours of the first sign of infection the medication is much more effective at shortening the length of the infection. Unfortunately, I put off doing anything about it for about 5-6 days so these huge pills I'm taking are essentially just expensive placebos. Too often we have the opportunity to take immediate action to resolve a situation and instead we hesitate and the result is that things get more painful, last longer and are overall much worse.
But the honest lesson for me is one about humility. You see, there are three types of people who get shingles: people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and those under acute stress. Well since I have a fully functioning immune system and I'm only 36...I must be stressed out. I have always taken pride that I'm a person who stays pretty calm regardless of the situation. But the truth is that I am person who "acts" pretty calm.
If I'm honest then I have to say that I really was very stressed out and I could use your prayers.
Life is hard and sometimes I just need to tell people that. As a leader that can be doubly hard because so many people rely on you to set the tone and lead the way. But even the most stoic leaders need a safe place to admit their anxieties.
I know that was a pretty good lesson to learn...but I'm still not sure it was worth it. :-)
For those of you who don't know what that is, click here.
So I've been trying to think of a metaphor that I could blog about from this.
The first thing I thought of was that your past catches up with you. Shingles are essentially Chicken Pox that flares up again after a few dormant decades just to torment you once again. I thought about how often things from our past that we thought had been dead for years can suddenly reappear and still cause us damage.
Then I thought of how failure to take early action can really hurt you. They tell me that had I gone to the doctor within 72 hours of the first sign of infection the medication is much more effective at shortening the length of the infection. Unfortunately, I put off doing anything about it for about 5-6 days so these huge pills I'm taking are essentially just expensive placebos. Too often we have the opportunity to take immediate action to resolve a situation and instead we hesitate and the result is that things get more painful, last longer and are overall much worse.
But the honest lesson for me is one about humility. You see, there are three types of people who get shingles: people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and those under acute stress. Well since I have a fully functioning immune system and I'm only 36...I must be stressed out. I have always taken pride that I'm a person who stays pretty calm regardless of the situation. But the truth is that I am person who "acts" pretty calm.
If I'm honest then I have to say that I really was very stressed out and I could use your prayers.
Life is hard and sometimes I just need to tell people that. As a leader that can be doubly hard because so many people rely on you to set the tone and lead the way. But even the most stoic leaders need a safe place to admit their anxieties.
I know that was a pretty good lesson to learn...but I'm still not sure it was worth it. :-)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sorry, We're NOT Under Construction
At the nursing home we are in the middle of a major renovation. So there are these signs posted everywhere: "please excuse our mess..." You've probably seen similar signs at hotels, gyms, restaurants, etc. We go out of our way to apologize to our customers for being under construction.
But the truth is that we should always be under construction. As leaders, we must always be "renovating" not just our buildings, but our processes, systems, people, and assumptions. It's when we become complacent and stop innovating that our customers truly suffer.
Maybe we need to post "Sorry, We Are NOT Under Construction" signs. Signs that communicate...
-we think our service is good enough and we don't intend on making it better
-we don't believe that our mission is really that important after all
-we think this is probably the best performance we can expect from our employes so we don't intend to push them
-we take for granted that you, our customers, will come back so we are not going to worry about how we treat you
-we know that getting better is hard work and we just don't have the energy for that right now
-we are comfortable not being the best at what we do so we just going to work hard enough to not go out of business
I think I'm going to make a new sign. "We are under construction...you're welcome!"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
But the truth is that we should always be under construction. As leaders, we must always be "renovating" not just our buildings, but our processes, systems, people, and assumptions. It's when we become complacent and stop innovating that our customers truly suffer.
Maybe we need to post "Sorry, We Are NOT Under Construction" signs. Signs that communicate...
-we think our service is good enough and we don't intend on making it better
-we don't believe that our mission is really that important after all
-we think this is probably the best performance we can expect from our employes so we don't intend to push them
-we take for granted that you, our customers, will come back so we are not going to worry about how we treat you
-we know that getting better is hard work and we just don't have the energy for that right now
-we are comfortable not being the best at what we do so we just going to work hard enough to not go out of business
I think I'm going to make a new sign. "We are under construction...you're welcome!"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Stanhope Way,Normal,United States
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