Monday, October 4, 2010

The Hope of Transformation

“We Shall Morph Indeed”

It is harder than expected to fight my natural tendencies. If I let myself have my way, I would have just finished Chapter 3. I’m that eager.

Part of the problem is that it is hard to establish a time to write that is close to the time that I read. If I could write and read simultaneously, there might be some good stuff. As it is, I read the first chapter on Saturday and never got near a computer; skimmed the chapter again on Sunday and never got near a computer; and so here it is Monday and I’m already disappointed - which happens to be appropriate.

The first sentence of the first chapter is “I am disappointed with myself.” And I wholeheartedly agree. I am not what I am supposed to be. And like so many others, I want God to tell me WHAT I AM so that I can strive to be closer to that ideal.

But God doesn’t work that way. Okay, that is true and false. God isn’t as specific as we’d like him to be. He doesn’t hand out a slip of paper with your job title on it when you reach your majority. (Reference to City of Ember by DuPrau.) But wouldn’t it be glorious if he did!?!?! And unlike the book, where there is a random drawing for your job title and you might just as easily hit the jackpot as you might be utterly deflated by your lot … God would have chosen your profession with the same care and attention to detail as he did when creating your blueprint. Heck! Couldn’t your profession just be in your DNA? (Yes, I know, then there would be little reason for free will and we’d also lose the excitement of surprise and anticipation.)

But He has given all of us a blueprint! Christ Jesus. We are to become like Him! When I’m faced with perfection, I am overwhelmed. Where could I possibly even begin to start?

In the Study Guide for chapter 1 there are 2 questions for small group discussion:

1.     What is one disappointment you live with as you look back over your life?

I am disappointed that I have rarely fought for what I wanted. I’ve been like a sheep allowing anyone who poses as a shepherd to lead and guide me, even if it doesn’t feel right and true. I have rarely asked for what I wanted. I’m so easily deterred, accepting someone else’s authority or “concern” without questioning whether or not it is real or accurate. And of course part of that is because I want the approval of others. I am a people pleaser. I certainly don’t want to do it if you’re not going to like it or you’re going to complain about it later. If what I would like to do is God-pleasing and even in line with my Spiritual gifts, then why not?

2.    In the moments you get a glimpse and vision of what God wants you to be, what do you see?

I see music. I see story. I see authentic communication. I see connection. I see mothers and children together and not separate. I see us together because we want to be and not because we are forced to be. And because we are in it together, we are joyous and we fill each other in our weaknesses and provide for each other through our strengths. And we hold each other accountable. And we have the time to do it instead of not ever doing it because we don’t have the time … Which, the way things are now, we don’t have the time.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those who he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:28-29 (ESV)

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