To Be

Conversation on a popular television sitcom:
       Man: Thank you, you are a good friend.
       Friend:  I'm glad you think so, that is what I try very hard to emulate.

What about us? What are we trying very hard to emulate? If you are like me, more often than we care to admit you find yourself trying to emulate certain characteristics, qualities, even relationships, rather than just be the person necessary. The idea seems a little crazy considering the fact that a majority of the time being takes even less energy than emulating. However, as we all know, emulating does not require commitment.  Nowhere is this exhausting dance more visible than in the church.

I believe that most Christians desire an intimate relationship with Jesus and want to see God work daily in their lives. We hear testimonies of God's intervention and provision and we long for that closeness with the living God. We attend church, read books, and travel to seminars accumulating information from people who seem to walk beside the footsteps of Christ as we would like. We formulate a model of a "true follower of Christ" and we begin to emulate. We follow them on twitter and Facebook, like the same music and books he/she likes, maybe even change the way we dress, eat, or live, but until the intimacy is our own, our hearts fail.

Isaiah 29:13-14 says, "Then the Lord said, 'Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote; Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.'" Emulating may seem to work for a while, but will never last. God has invited those whom He has redeemed to draw up under His arm and really be with Him, not to emulate relationship with him based on the experience of others.

Our traditions and Sunday morning customs alone are not what please the Lord. The real difference in being verses emulating is a willingness (and follow through) to sacrifice whatever necessary. We must give all of our heart even to the detriment of "else"...someone else, something else, somewhere else, whatever else.

Rounding Third

The painfully uneven sunburn on my left arm is my parting gift for having attended my youngest nephew's end-of-the-year tee ball tournament. There are few things quite as adorable or as frustrating as watching tee ball. The field looks like ants at a picnic and parents are losing their voices while big hearts in tiny uniforms run the wrong direction. Such a cute sight, although, I'm not quite sure that it is baseball.

During the final game of the day the opposing team sent "Babe Ruth" to the plate as the tenth batter. He was small compared to the other kids with the biggest dark eyes and sweet round face. The bat seemed as big as he was and the weight of his helmet made his head wobble. He hit the ball off of the tee and took off running. My nephew's team quickly made an out on the field and the inning was over, but the other coaches let the little boy run the bases anyway. He proudly jogged around each base as if holding the Olympic torch - that is until he rounded third. Straddling the third base line a few feet from home plate with the ball in hand was my nephew Logan, the pitcher. As the runner came near, Logan reached out and tagged him in the chest. The little boy stopped and stood there a moment looking completely stunned and broken-hearted. An "awww" fell across the crowd of fans.

I could not help but think that the world treats us the same way lulling us into thinking that we are successfully rounding life's bases as a champion when the reality of truth is waiting for us at home plate. Regardless of how we may rationalize our choices and justify our sins the one true Judge will hold us accountable. The world's shiny toys and bendable righteousness are a fool's gold - exciting for a moment, but worthless. We must be be carful to walk according to the Word of God in order to have life because the enemy comes to destroy. (John 10:10)

"My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life." Proverbs 6:20-23