Tomorrow I will be posting a recap about the two week journey I have been on with my two blogging companions, @AndreaMoriarty of Autism Unplugged and @PaulaWiseman of Sage Words: Engage, Enlighten, Encourage. Paula, Andrea and I have been writing about the Christianity in the raw: What it really looks like on any given day. The good – like finding 10 reasons to praise God – and the bad – like keeping it cool when your son smashes your iPhone — each day brings new challenges that test our Christian faith. But what does it all mean?
Ever notice how the flavor of any given day can turn sour on a dime?
In today’s Authenticity Challenge post, I have to fess up and get real here. Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly a small incident can change my attitude.
Let’s take a look at today: Everything was running smoothly. Matt was off on a trip. The kids had been exceptionally good, and everything was under control. Elise was invited to a birthday party and it was nearly time to go. Just as I was about to give the call for coats and shoes, the doorbell rang. I looked out of the upstairs window and saw three neighborhood kids at the doorstep.
“We’re late for the party. Don’t answer it!” I called out to Elise and Alec. I waved at the kids and called through the window that we were leaving and that my kids could not play. Just as I was doing that, however, I heard the front door open. Apparently, Elise had not heard me. As I watched my little Shih Tzu scuttled past her legs and bolted out into the muddy front yard.
The kids squealed and began chasing our dog, Pogo, up and down the street. Elise ran out in her party clothes to join in the chase. Unfortunately, two other neighbhorhood dogs were out, too, and were eager to play. By the time I got out the door to join in the mud parade, Pogo was bounding up a hill after a dog into a neighbor’s backyard.
Now mind you, it has been raining here – no, let me rephrase that – it has been pouring here for two days. The ground is drenched. So here we were, four kids and one mom, chasing three unruly dogs up and down hilly front “yards” (actually mudhills) trying to catch a little runt of a dog who can run like a jack rabbit.
Here is where I could have stopped and had a good belly laugh at how idiotic we all must have looked, coated in mud, running from house to house after a pack of wild dogs. But no, I was exasperated, yelling to all of the neighbhood kids, “GET THAT DOG!” at the top of my lungs.
By the time I could get my hands on Pogo I must have had steam coming out of my ears. I grabbed my little guy and trudged back down the neighbor’s hill, through the muddy front lawn and into my front door. I looked down and notice I was wearing heels… muddy, soggy heels.
Mama was not happy.
But now, I’m thinking it probably was a funny scene to watch. Life is messy. I need to learn to roll with it.
Right now, I need to sign out and give Pogo, the muddy pile of fur in the corner of the room stinking something awful, a good, long bath.
Paula Wiseman and Andrea Moriarty are teaching me a thing or two about authentic Christian living! They’ve been writing about how their faith plays out each typical day, giving readers an inside look at real Christianity. Each day as I have read their posts, I have learned something new.
Today Andrea posted a clip from Mary Poppins. I hope she doesn’t mind, but I going to pick up on that theme and include my favorite clip from this movie, one that reminds me of the contrast between worldly living and Christian living. Here, executive and father Banks has just been fired from his banking job and is bemoaning the loss of his dream:
So, what does this have to do with authentic Christianity? Let me explain: Authentic Christianity means living in an upside down world. Things that seem important in the typical world are usually the least important things by Christian standards. For example, power, prestige and money mean little when compared to showing compassion and love to those in our circles. Christian economics is based on a heavenly exchange rate, one the world simply does not understand.
But here is where things get tricky for me as I live out my faith: I can’t shut out the world. The pressure to succeed and get ahead is preached at me every day through commercials, magazine articles, on billboards and in all of the over-the-fence conversations with the Jones’, you know, that family down the street that I can never quite keep up with. So it is often a daily struggle to keep my priorities in check:
For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!
Luke 12:30-32 (Amplified Bible)
Almost every day I wonder if I am doing all that I could be doing. I wonder if I am missing opportunities because I choose to work out of my home as a part-time consultant (rather than work full time) so I can be here to help Elise and Alec with their homework after school. We have financially struggled so much this year that I have nearly thrown in the towel and sought full-time work. I have questioned myself and my motives. But all the while I know that God has me right where He wants me: here at home. Working part-time may not be your God-given calling, but it is mine.
Authentic Christian living is upside down living:
“But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.”
Luke 22:26 (New Living Translation)
That kind of living makes no sense to the world. It’s crazy living. Radical living. But living this way brings the divine into life. It’s like God miraculously squeezes more life into each day. By living this way, Christians find joy that is often missed by others, as God makes sure that we don’t miss out on the sweetest moments of life. Our friend Burt (in the clip above) knows this truth and as he shares the following precious advice to Mr. Banks:
You’ve got to grind, grind, grind
At that grindstone
Though child’ood slips like sand through a sieve
And all too soon they’ve up grown
And then they’ve flown
And it’s too late for you to give…
When I look around and fear that I am not getting ahead, I have to remind myself that I don’t have to measure up to the world’s standard of success. My treasures are not of this world, but every bit as real.
Whoops. I did it again. I’ve overbooked my time for tomorrow. Again. I need to make a decision about which appointment to honor, and which to let slip. I hate missing appointments, but authentic Christians mess up sometimes. Thankfully, Jesus sends grace, grace, grace.
How to decide? One appointment for tomorrow is located at my home church and feeds my spirit immensely. I long for the comfort of being with the ladies who share this appointment with me each Tuesday morning. The other appointment involves donating some of my professional skills to a worthwhile cause that is very close to my heart.
Which to appointment to honor? Today’s Bible study helped me decide:
I’m completing the “Experiencing God” study this winter. Just this morning, the study asked me if I would interrupt my personal plans–even plans that meant a lot to me– if God called me to do something for His Greater Plan. Hmmmm. Authentically, I probably would want to go do my own thing. I would reason away God’s call to His work around me.
And then today comes the test. (I should have seen it coming!) Sometimes I wish God would come and sit on my sofa with me and spell it out for me, tell me exactly what He wants me to do and why, but He doesn’t work that way, does He?
So tomorrow, I am going to go and serve. I will miss my Church at Charlotte ladies, but will see them next week. I am sure that God will meet me there.
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