Fizz in the Coke
The other morning found me earnestly rowing to nowhere at the Geezer Gym. Surrounded by several physical reminders of life’s fragile nature and brief tenure moved me to up my pace a bit in yet another effort to keep the old man out. Often I row and think or talk with friends I only see there, but this morning had me listening to a Tim Keller talk.
One idea of his tugged on my mental rope. He was teaching about how God blesses us with the express intent that we, in turn, would be a blessing to our family, at work, to strangers, and to our community. Our experience of God blessing us is never meant to be the end goal, but in our consumeristic, individualistic, and materialistic culture this extension of blessing can be a heavy lift. We want the blessing but shrink from being one to others in the same measure we have been blessed. It’s a halfway measure of walking with Jesus.
What we miss in this halfway approach is often the fizz in the coke of life. When we jump in with God with our blessings as both a starting point and a model, then be on the lookout for opportunities to bless others, whole new dimensions to the everyday days we live unfold.
I have a young friend, let’s call him Michael, who I see mostly as he shops at the ReStore where I volunteer a bit. He is a business owner, husband, and father, and Jesus follower. Pretty ordinary in most ways but holding a secret plan that he executes with regularity. You see, Michael is on an adventure every time I see him to invest his life in others for their good and God’s glory, and the thing about his thing is in how it looks so ordinary.
I love to hear his stories, as we stand in the aisle of the store, because they encourage me to be more invested into my world like he is in his. While he makes blessing others look easy, I’m convinced it’s a result of the many times he has looked for chances and taken them. It’s not rocket surgery.
Michael’s attitude reminds me of Paul’s comment and challenge to the believers in Philippi. He talks to this new-ish and not wealthy church group about how the inside work of God is intended to work its way to the outside of a life. Take a listen.
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Many of us, on the last pages of our year’s daily calendar, take a look back over our shoulder on the completed year. And if you have eyes to see, then the blessings of God lie scattered like sparkling jewels along your occasionally muddy path. These propel us forward, and encourage us in rough terrain, and remind us of his care for our lives. Since Jesus knows us by name and is well-acquainted with what we need to grow well, his blessings pour a slab of trust we can build on.
It’s worth doing. Look back on your day-planner and remember your questions and his answers, your needs and his provision, your worried nights and his calming presence. The trick faith-folks like Michael put into play looks like taking personal blessings and plugging them into everyday life to to make a tiny difference in another person.
Life then truly becomes an adventure of being blessed and blessing others, like breathing where we inhale the goodness and exhale our version of the same into our world, over and over. So, tomorrow transforms into not just another day, but another chance do a bit of what Paul says in Philippians 2:
Love one another in practical ways
Spend time with others as deep-spirited friends
Help others get ahead
Lend a helping hand
When I’ve slid this mindset into my life, I find it is both good for me and at the same time good for you. Winner winner chicken dinner.
It’s the times I stay locked away in my mirrored closet when I am most sad, discouraged, distant from God. But when I swing open that door, taking what I have been blessed with and holding it all out for others to benefit from it, then my life feels full and the coke in my glass fizzes over the top.
Music for a new year!
…and a couple of lame jokes…
A young clergyman, fresh out of seminary, thought it would help him better understand the world if he served as a policeman for a while before taking on a congregation.
He studied hard and passed the exams; worked himself buff to pass the physical; and then came the all-important final interview.
One question was: "What would you do to disperse a frenzied crowd?
He promptly responded, "I would pass an offering plate."
He got the job.
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These are actual comments left on Forest Service registration comment cards by backpackers:
"A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call."
"Escalators would help on steep uphill sections."
"Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness."
"Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands."
"Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals."
"Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill."
"Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests."
"Please pave the trails so they can be plowed of snow in the winter."
"The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals."
"Need more signs to keep area pristine."
"A McDonald's would be nice at the trail head."
"Too many rocks in the mountains."