"It takes so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the courage to pay the price." Morris L. West
Is there truth in this statement? What is the price of a self-examined life? What fuels our paralysis and keep us from accepting the best becoming "fully human"?
The fear of self-discovery. It is frightening to really look at who we are and examine why we do what we do? Just looking requires us to "pay the price" actually changing may be incomprehensible?
Accepting the "Wal-Mart life" is a much safer and far less expensive option. It's a bargain, a blue light special...it's polyester instead of cashmere. The "Wal-Mart" life is the way it's always been done; it is a life with no surprises. It is finding yourself doing what you do simply because you do it. The skeletons appear to stay in the closet and we like it that way. If you're angry you stay angry, if your sad you stay sad, accepting defeat, embracing powerlessness, romancing the stone. It's the equivalent of walking around with a bag on your head and the "christian" community accepts, embraces this way of living.
Christ came to offer us the best life, life to the fullest: to save us from a broken and sinful world. We accept this theology in our churches, we accept this theology through our creeds and speak often of how this world is in need of redemption but we are far less willing to accept or apply this to ourselves, to our families, to our relationships. It is easier to believe this gospel is for "them" that we already "got it." To accept that we still need to be redeemed would mean redeeming the way we respond to the people we love or to redeem the broken way we interpret the world. It would mean that we would have to accept our own brokenness on a much deeper level and redemption would require change.
The price of change is too high or so we believe. Change requires the risk of opening up to someone else, the risk of revealing ourselves to another. The risk of being perceived...the risk of being seen for all that we are...broken. The fear of risk blinds us to the reality that redemption leads us to a cashmere life; the life that Christ offers. Right now, right here on earth...not waiting for eternity but starting now.
Anything less than taking the risk is accepting the "Wal-Mart" life...choosing to have full shopping carts of "valuelessness" instead of holding in our hands just what is quality. We walk around wanting to believe we've got it all, wanting to believe this is the best that can be hoped for yet becoming avid fans of life's "What Not To Wear" and wishing that we too could be in the 360 degree mirror...but knowing the price would be too high....
5 comments:
if the price is finding friendship...true, unconditional love like Christ's in a friendship...loving even in the midst of "cashmereless" ugly nakedness...then, whacked as it may be...I'm in my friend...take a risk and join me...you are brave enough...you, my beautiful friend, are not a wuss!
I think the price involves finding freedom... freedom you never knew you had. It's just overcoming the exposure - and being okay with those around you either accepting it or rejecting it. I'm getting there! You are not a wuss, Bierma!
What is the price of a self-examined life? Loss of convenience for one. No longer is it okay to just be that way because thats the way I am. No longer is it okay to sail through life effortlessly and allow life to get in the way of our relationships with God and with others. No longer is status quo acceptable. Change is required and valued and desired.
What fuels our paralysis? Fear. Laziness. Apathy. Contentment. Complacency.
You are SO going to LOVE The Shack. I cannot wait to "discuss" it with you. In case you haven't picked up on this from me: IT IS AMAZING and a book that every person should - strike that - NEEDS to read. Without realizing it, you've touched on some of the thoughts from that book.
I appreciate your introspection and honesty and willingness to put this out there and hope it makes sense:)
I would love to all read that book and get together over coffee (or a good beer:) and discuss it! I think I would just love to listen Jana and Christine and Laura talk for awhile....
Ouch. My brain hurts. I am still in toddler land and can not form a complete sentence!
I know what you are saying. . .I think. All I know is at this point in my life I'm trying to get past survival-mode. I don't want to look back at this time and have ZERO recollection of it!
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