I watched a movie with my Dad a long time ago called “The Incredible Shrinking Woman”. It was about a woman who comes into contact with some kind of substance, (shampoo or glue, I think…), and as a result she ends up shrinking rapidly. Scientists race to figure out what’s happening and track her changing size, clueless about what will become of her as the public, a barrage of press reporters and her family look on in anxious excitement. The fear is that the only way to stop the shrinking from occurring is for her to die.
So how does this have anything to do with the World Race or living life abundantly? Directly it has no relation but if you’re up for a flick about a shrinking woman this is your movie. It is jam packed with all of the drama and cheesy humour that one anticipates in a flick of this nature. Actually quite amusing when nothing else is on. However, indirectly, this movie has a lot of say that we should pay attention to.
The progression and eventual conclusion of the film is based upon the emotional trials that are faced by the family, in particular the woman, involved. When the shrinking first starts our hero is sarcastic and views it as a nuisance. As it continues and press coverage starts to heat up she starts to see the benefits of shrinking and soaks up the spotlight. But the shrinking does not stop as predicted by scientists and the reality, that the only thing that will stop the shrinking might be death, comes as a wake up call. She has become too small to hold her children, kiss her husband or even live a normal lifestyle. Now the size of a small doll she wonders if anyone will even be able to see her when she dies.
As Christians we are not called to live selfishly but to live a radical life that is constantly being lived for the benefit of others. We are called to live a life that is defined by love and compassion. Radical lives that are abandoned first to God and, resulting from our decision to serve God, to the world we live in.
In essence we are called to shrink.
When we finally get to the place where it has stopped being about our agenda, our glory, our goals, our purposes and our plans and our selfishness has died something amazing happens. We, like the incredible shrinking woman, begin to grow again. But this time our perspective is different. We grow up humble and selfless. We grow up with an attitude of love and concern for the people around us. We stop being so preoccupied with ourselves, stop being so easily offended and demanding, and learn to do things that are in the best interest of other people.
That is a truly radical way of life. Through the experiences in my life God has taught me that I cannot change the world around me unless I am first willing to change. If I want to see children fed and clothed, going to school and being set free from the cycle of poverty I first need to get over myself. I have to let go of my western mindset and place my feet in their shoes. I cannot know what they really need until I am willing to understand their needs.
The exact same thing applies right here in Quesnel British Columbia. The people around us do not need us to come at them with all of the right answers. They do not need someone who thinks that they are superior to come and rescue them. What they need is someone to love them. To reach out, offer them a little bit of respect by suspending judgement, and truly make an effort to see them. They need us to shrink and allow God to get bigger.
