I Don't Like Turkey

You know every year I stuff myself with turkey. Drown it in gravy. Carefully place a portion on my fork with just the right accompaniment of dressing and cranberry sauce. Scarf it down and go for more. I've done this every year for quite a long time. Except for this year. I've come to realize I'm forcing myself to eat it and truth be told I really don't like turkey. This is another addition of a growing list of things I consume that in truth I do not like. Turkey goes on the list with coffee and modern jazz. All things I have consumed in mass quantities for several years. I think I like the idea of those things just not the things themselves. I think this list is being developed the older I get. Because the older I get the more I'm sluffing off all of the things that are not authentically me. I am on a quest for authenticity. A me that really can't stand turkey, or bitter coffee, or self pity, or cowardice. But what's funny I'm beginning to think this authentic me is the me God intended for me to be instead of the one society or my on insecurities have made me out to be. But what I'm really trippin' off of is discovering that there are things about myself that I have just done out of habit more than actual preference. For years I've gotten up every morning and fixed coffee I really don't like; eaten turkey I really don't like. What other stuff is in me like that. Sins and behaviors that I just do that are done just because I've gotten into a groove with them. This becoming is no small task. Truthfully it sucks. But my sense is that I'm getting there. I just got to figure out what I'm going to eat for Christmas dinner now.

Bearing Crosses

We are no more like Christ than when we take responsibility for things we didn't mess up. I am so good at seeing messes that other people make. In their lives; in the lives of other people; messes in their homes and on their jobs; interpersonal relationships; family strife. All of those messes!!!!! Its like the proverbial juice stain in the carpeting of their lives. And many times I'm like my little sons. If I see a stain I'll ask, "why didn't you wipe that up?" And they will say, " Cuss' I didn't spill it." And I too will see problems arise and if I didn't contribute to the problem I don't see the need to stoop down and do anything about it besides stating in my infinite wisdom, "Wow what a mess!"

What if God did that? What if he judged us and our messes and stood back and merely said, "Wow, what a mess!" What if God took the stance, "Let the one who made the mess clean up the mess." No, God through Jesus Christ took responsibility for our mess even though He had absolutely positively nothing to do with the mess!!!! Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. He contributed not a drop in the deep pool of human sin. But instead of saying, "Clean that up." Jesus says I'll take responsibility for my beloved's mistakes.

Now the wonder of this truth is this: What if we lived in that manner? What if we became part of the solutions to other peoples messes? I mean intentionally and consistently determine to help, heal,& hold those around us who mess up. Instead of stating the obvious; instead of blaming; instead of accusing; we lovingly stoop down and try to do something to help in the cleansing process. In our homes, on our jobs, in the world.

I'm beginning to believe that is what is meant by bearing our cross.