Last week I blogged my Transformation Train dream. This morning, when my friend Matt Potosky showed up for our Tuesday Spirit-Driven group in my home, his sketched Transformation Train had a smiling donut character hanging on for dear life at the end of the train–enjoying the ride of its life. The clock-watcher was all worried about getting the train there on time. The resentful one “saw” and felt all the injustices of its life and found no joy in the ride. The screwdriver was just glad to be on the train. The wind-blown paintbrush’s bristles were having a bad hair day. But the most shocking character was the happy-go-lucky donut. How can those who are last, those who have so little, or those who have lost so much have so much more joy than we do?
Why do we have to give up or lose what we have in order to be open to receive what’s missing and what’s most needed? As long as we’re hanging on to what we have or striving for more of what this world offers, we’re the last ones positioned to receive what Jesus Christ freely offers: abundant and everlasting life. Our world teaches us that more is better. Bigger is better. Newer is better. Whoever controls the media controls society. It’s not surprising that we have a world that is attached to working more–to make more–to accumulate more. But busyness and stuff don’t give us peace and joy. In fact, they rob us of inner peace. The more we have, the more we must work to maintain and manage what we have. The less we have, the more time we have to enjoy God, people, and what we have. The more I cram into my day, the less I enjoy my tasks, the people around me, and my day.
Many of us have felt the least worthy to receive anything good from God or from people. We’ve lost so much, or we’ve been treated so harshly, that we’ve lost hope of anything good happening in our lives. We got the degree, but we can’t find a job. We want to get married, but we can’t find the right one. We got fired, and it seems like forever since we’ve had a real job. We’re the last one in line, the last one to be picked, and the last person anyone seems to want to listen to or take seriously.
What’s your “last story?” Gave up? Procrastinated so someone else got what you wanted? Didn’t finish what you started? Got burned too many times? Got fired? One of your lies came back and hit you in the face? Your angry ex got even with you and spread nasty lies? You did too much for too long and now you’re paying the price and your body quit working? You quit talking because no one listens anyway when you speak? You quit trying? You got hurt? You don’t care? You got sick? You expect someone else to take care of you? You snooze and you lose? You can’t…? You lost what or who you can’t live without?
Eugene Peterson translated Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount into words that make sense to me. “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule” (Matthew 5:3, The Message). When you’ve given up striving or you’ve given up everything in order to respond to Jesus’ call to come and follow Him, then you’re ready to receive everything that Jesus has to offer you. I think that I feel like Jesus in this way. I like to work with people who are ready to change. People who are tired of trying and nothing is working. People who give up and just say, “I need your help.”
When we get to heaven, the more we’ve given up on this earth to follow Jesus, the more we will have in heaven. The last will be first, and the first will be last (Matthew 19:30). When we’ve received everything we need in Christ, we stop seeking what this world says we need to have or to do or to buy next to be okay or to be successful. Those are the last things we need. Simply give me more of Jesus, and I’ll have everything that I need.
It may hurt when I lose people that I love. I’ll temporarily get angry if I lose my job. I may grumble or complain a little bit when my mind or my body doesn’t work like it used to. Sometimes I wish I had more, but I don’t really need anything. Many of the things that God is calling me to do will take a ton of work, discipline, endurance, asking others to help, and continuous prayer. If I don’t have them yet, it’s probably because I shrank back from opportunities and gave myself the wrong messages.
When we realize just how much we’ve been given and how little we deserve God’s blessings and favor, we’re the last people in the world who should be bellyaching. When we take our last complaint and turn it into praise, we’re on our way to composing our next song and leaning into the next best thing that God has planned for us. DO-NUT let yourself be like this “poor me” donut. Instead, give thanks to the LORD, and get ready to go after what God is about to do next in and through your life. The best is yet to come!
