Do you ever wonder why you do the things you do? I have recently been reading much of the writings of Donald Miller (most recently in his book Searching for God Knows What) and loving his take on life and religion. He depicts an image of a Lifeboat, something he was challenged with early in life. The idea is this: Imagine there is a boat with 6 people in it, a lawyer, a doctor, a janitor, a teacher, a bank teller and a construction worker. Now add to the senario... the boat is sinking and only five can fit into the "Lifeboat" to be rescued. Who gets left behind? How is this type of decision made? How do we place value upon a person in deciding life or death?
Miller connects the thought process that might go on in ones head during this kind of decision to the thoughts and decisions we make daily as we try to live and survive the everyday. How often do you find yourself trying to prove yourself worthy to be heard? How often do you find yourself striving to prove you are right? Where does this come from? Why do we so inherently desire to find approval or validation from an external source? Miller explains that it is based upon our creation. We were created by a God who gives us purpose and validation through Him. We were created to be made complete by that connection with Him. However, there has been a separation, a divide placed that makes us feel so far from the eternal source of validation which we were created for. We long for that, but yet it feels far away. We yearn therefore we seek refuge in the approval of man. How do we regain the purity of our origin? How do we return to the source of our deepest needs? There is an answer and it lies within the redeeming power of God and His Son Jesus Christ. But, do we truly connect with Christ on a level that restores us to that original validation or do we still yearn for the approval of man to bring validation and satisfaction? I must admit in my visual, tactile, audible world it is hard to overcome the need to be validated by a source other than God. It is a struggle that will be continually faced this side of eternity. Maybe this is a result of the great divide or simply a consequence of my humanity, but, nevertheless I must admit that it is present.
Why do I share this with you today? I don't know. Maybe to share my heart, maybe to share my own struggles with life, or maybe to stir questions within your own heart. This is life and we were created by a source longing to love us and give us purpose through himself. Enjoy the ride.
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3 comments:
Miller to me is like the second coming of Brennan Manning. He's no Manning, but I say yes, yes, yes, when I read his words. Reading Through Painted Desserts this summer before coming out here was a fantastic literary experience. I LOVE Searching for God Knows What...actually a whole lot more than Blue Like Jazz. I felt like in Blue he spent too much time establishing the fact that he's cool and not like other Christians...
I agree...I do like Searching for God Knows What much more than Blue Like Jazz. Much more challenging in its thoughts. Blue was much more conversational and laidback, yet I feel in both there is an interwoven apology to all those who have been screwed or burned by Christians. Maybe that's why its so refreshing. Finally someone to speak up and say sorry we aren't always right.
This is true, he has a way of engaging that reader that at one time loved the Lord, but walked away because churches are full of broken people like me that wind up jacking things up and hurting people. Or even that reader that has not experienced God intimately, and isn't interested because of what they see from the outside. Both good books in their own right. I just kept reading Blue thinking "if this guy can get all of Christendom reading this, Kevin Still could do it 100 times better!" :)
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