“Hey – No fair!”
I could hear my visiting grandchildren getting ready to eat breakfast as I finished sending an early morning email. My wife had placed bowls of oatmeal before them. One had a teaspoon while the other had a tablespoon. Who would have thought that spoon size could be such a big deal.
That got me thinking…
Several years ago, when I did film production our crew was on location in Zeeland, Michigan at the world headquarters for Herman Miller (an office furniture manufacturer named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s most innovative companies for 2021). These people have an impressive reputation, make quality ergonomic products that are in high demand AND they have a tremendous corporate culture and corporate history rooted in Christian faith. They know how to do things right. They certainly knew how to do it the day we arrived. Before we shot the first frame of footage they welcomed us to a private and lavish full course plated dinner they had prepared especially for us. Nothing was spared. Call it good public relations or just good old fashioned Midwest hospitality, you couldn’t help but basque in the special treatment.
A few years later I found myself on a ministry trip serving at (or more accurately I should say being served at) a children’s church in the boarder town of Reynosa, Mexico. Was the meal fancy and luxurious? No. They didn’t have that to give BUT the authentic and passionately prepared food was served with some of the richest compassion I’ve ever experienced. The food was good but it wasn’t about the food. It was about their good stewardship of the moment, their coveting of the intimate relationship, and their total dedication to God by acting on the Spirit-led individual and personal calling. You couldn’t help but be humbled.
Not as often as I could, I’ve done a few random acts of ‘food-giving’. There was the $50 gift card for a nearby Cracker Barrel that I gave to the homeless veteran, his wife and daughter who were living in a tent in the wooded area of the highway exit ramp. There was the volunteering at soup kitchens and church fellowships. There was buying some groceries for a person who didn’t have enough funds on her EBT card. Each time my mind wrestled, at least a little bit. Should I do this? Why me? Can I afford to take the time or spend the money? Ultimately, each time, I couldn’t help but realize I was privileged to follow through on what God expected of me.
As you read this issue of Faith & Fitness Magazine I challenge you to redefine how you do your physical and spiritual fitness. God calls us to renew our mind daily. That means converting ‘privilege’ from being a dirty word into being one of the greatest callings you can have in your life. Your time, money, health, food, workouts … yep, everything – It isn’t yours. It never was at all. When God is in control in your life then you take everything out of your hands and put it into His.
The falls and failures, the frustration and pain, the getting back on the bike and trying again, it’s all a privilege to give to God. The holding and caring, the listening and understanding, the getting down from your high place to be with others where they are is one of your highest privileges.
I can’t emphasize this enough, until we earnestly long for God to take all of our life, we’ve got nothing! The recovery can’t happen until we’ve first been truly broken. But going for broke is just the beginning. The real strength is in the advantage you gain to lose, be poor, identify forgiven, persevere and serve. You ARE entitled to live in all the powerful glory of Jesus Christ. Now is the time to be magnanimous in ways that only God can train you to be.
Everyday put it all on the line. Quit being distracted from a competition that doesn’t exist. No one has any better spoon than you. So, let go of the worries and hold on to the truth.
It’s all you now. Privileged – Yes, we are.
