With Thanksgiving approaching, why not serve it up with a little side of conviction..
The irony that lies in this week is laughable. Spend a day giving thanks for all of the stuffing, and then wake up at 3:00 am to buy more. Apparently, everything that we were thankful for, just isn’t doing it for us a minute past midnight.
I don’t imagine that little boy will be smiling that same, infectious smile over a flat screen for 50% off. Or that this nomad lives for his Porsche Cayenne. And I doubt this couple went through 50 years of marriage without any discomfort and disagreement. They are still mad for each other because of their shared troubles and made it out alive.
And then made out.
As I was laying in my ultra soft firm temp ruffle bed last night, I was thinking about comfort. And how much of it I have.
I was thinking about how hot the water gets in my shower and how much of a luxury that is.
I thought about how I can be alone in my car that has gas in it and all the freedoms that provides.
How many obnoxious options I have in the morning when deciding what to wear.
And how all of the worlds dreams for you involve comfort in its’ utmost. The nicest car. The most pinteresting house. The prettiest babies. A husband’s tender concern that surpasses them all. That homeward bound job with the rolling 401K & surface purpose. None of which win considering there will always come a person who is ‘better off’ ..unfortunate when those are all sweet little gifts if appreciated.
Everything that is a wonderful gift, isn’t everything though. Meaning, they shouldn’t be your goals, your aspirations, your dreams. They should only be blessings that dropped in on you, girl, and they’ve been making life a little easier since ’99. I’m finding that I’m guilty of this. Hard.
Where as comfort is enticing, it isn’t nearly as powerful as the alternative. It just so happens, we are at our most full when we see the alternative through to the end. I truly believe this.
God doesn’t call us to a life of comfort or of luxury. Yes, Peter, come join me on my yacht as we sail the Mediterranean for hookers and fame…
No.
In fact, we are called to check whether we would pay the price. If we would drop what it costs in order to serve and honor Abba out of love. Not out of ‘these are the rules’, but when you feel a healthy respect and love for someone, you want to honor and obey and do what they ask. Out of love. But it comes at the price of comfort, sometimes. Which, in reality, isn’t that expensive to give up. The opposite actually. Both literally & figuratively.
We are enslaved by comfort. We can’t function without it. How will we ever manage..
But the freedom in not being controlled by a product, consumer relationship..must be nice I’d imagine. The fullness after having come out the other end of discomfort or tragedy all the while maintaining faith and choosing joy. Must be nice I’d imagine. The sweeter song playing back to you of your life at the end..of a timely, challenging, fearsome life. Must be nice I’d imagine.
None of the truly sweet and good things of life can come our way when we are under the reign of queen comfort. It is gluttony and then going back to your own vomit for seconds. Candidly, it’s as repulsive as it reads.
So I am challenging myself, and therefore, inadvertently, you who read this (sorry), to break free of some comfort and trust what’s on the other side. To have faith that we can let these guilty pleasures go, knowing Abba has not only the goods but the best on the other side. However uncomfortable the road may be. However distant. However UnAmerican dream like it is with its’ lack of picket. Don’t believe the lie that the doughnut isn’t worth throwing away.
And don’t twist that around on me with a famine complex.
Just a few examples that might be plaguing your life: dating, depression, lust, shopping, addiction, discouragement, make up, squats, anger, OCD, TV, DVD, another acronym, Facebook, a grudge, Nicky minaj…whoever your mistress is, consider ending it. She’s keeping you from your ultimate and most important relationship with God. And He is the only one that will satisfy because He’s honestly the only one who knows what’s going on in that wild heartbeat of yours. Even a part from you.
