Jesus as a Janitor

1.     John gives examples of five questions we can ask ourselves as we begin to establish a “rule of life” (201). Choose one of these questions and tell how you are presently developing in this area of your spiritual growth.

How will I handle money in a way that draws me closer to God? For several years I have been comfortable in my giving. When I say this I mean that when the annual Stewardship Sunday arrives, I don’t cringe or try to hide. In that area, I think I “get it”.

Presently … When something on top of my tithing in placed on my plate or in my heart, I am working on approaching giving without anxiety. I try not to “fit” into a budget that is planned out a year in advance. I try to give “in the moment” and consider only today and not what I will need tomorrow or next month.

I’ve never tried to put that into words … As a “development” plan. But that is certainly what I’ve been aiming at recently.

2.    Choose another question from p. 201 and explain how you hope to grow in this area of your spiritual life.

How can I fill my daily tasks with a sense of the presence of God? I have noticed that God is on my mind A LOT. He’s not a Sunday fella nor is He my go to God in a crisis. He is on my mind in some way, not always, but in a WOW kind of way.

This does NOT mean that it is in the right way. I’m not praising Him or worshipping Him in my thoughts or actions. He is more of a complex thought or conundrum that floats up there. More than a puzzle, but that’s the idea. I definitely don’t have the praying thing down.

I would like to experience growth in the way that I invite God into my life. The way that I ask Him to participate in it with me. Or rather, to allow me to participate in His Grand Design through my small part.

Unfortunately, I think I am always looking for the BIG purpose that I have been CALLED to do. Delusions of Grandeur like the chocolate chunks in a delectable cookie of self-pity and hatred.

I need to experience God in the little things. The daily tasks that I need to perform on a daily basis in order for my family to function. The little things that I have been rushing through in order to get to the big things. I need to slow down and savor them and appreciate them and see and feel God in them.

3.    How do you think Jesus would do one of the following:

a.     Wake up in the morning – He would wake up with at least a spare 5 minutes in order to stretch His mind and pray to His Father before he sprung out of bed and stretched His body.

b.    Greet those he would first see in the morning – He would give everyone the most beautiful, welcoming smile that would reach all the way up into His eyes and you could feel the love pouring out. It would not be a question of whether or not He was happy to see you. You would get the sense that you were the best part of His day.

c.     Eat – He would eat in moderation. Everything in moderation. He would enjoy a donut occasionally. Beignets would be a favorite weekend treat. He would be just as excited with oatmeal, but he would add fresh fruit and ice cream.

d.    Drive – I just don’t think He would drive, unless He was driving a big old bus around and picking random people up to take them where they were going. I tend to think that He would walk when He could, ride His bike for longer trips and take the city bus to get across town. That’s where His people would be.

e.     Work – I had to go take a shower and come back to this one and the TV one. And it occurred to me that Jesus would be someone like a janitor. Especially at a school. It is a humble job – you clean up vomit and other lovelies. It is a necessary job that requires the person arrive first and leave last. There are a lot of problem solving skills needed. You have to be a jack of all trades. But you get to be around the people. I remember nearly all the janitors I’ve ever worked with or were at my school. They were always your best friend and an ear. I think Jesus would love that job. And it would keep Him busy. There would always be something to do, but He could leave it there at the end of the day.

f.      Shop – I think He would shop for others and not for Himself. He’d go to the mall and clothe the poor. He would never need to buy Himself a thing because of all the gifts His fans would always be giving Him.

g.     Use the Internet – He would use it as a tool and not as a toy. When He got on, He would have purpose and not get sucked into every little link. When He was finished, He would turn it off. And people would always come first. The people that were in person.

h.    Watch television – He would watch differently than we would. He would NOT watch the opening weeks of American Idol where we get to sit around and make fun of all the people that think they can sing, but are definitely delusional. Jesus would watch the end. And He would vote. Maybe for everyone. Jesus would watch shows with other people. He wouldn’t watch alone. I think He would certainly watch sports. He might watch game shows and help the ones who really need the washer/dryer or million dollars.

i.      Go to bed at night – He would be exhausted from all of the good work He had done all day, but He would still thank His Father before falling asleep.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26-27 (ESV)