Radically Happy

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The more I reflect on what it means to follow the way of Christ, the more I realize how hard — and necessary — it is to #DropMyStone.

Being Wronged

For example, recently we had a major initiative “unexpectedly” fail. I was triply offended because they:

• ignored my warnings
• neglected to communicate the risks
• embarrassed me when I counted on them

My natural — perhaps even healthy — reaction was to insist on a full accounting of what went wrong, including a shift in priorities and procedures to prevent a recurrence.

However, as I was compiling a list of promises that I felt had been broken (to me) and warnings (by me) that had been dismissed, something started to feel… off.

The Ugly Truth

With help from a colleague, I realized I had unconsciously been focusing exclusively on how I had been wronged, and totally overlooked how my actions both reflected and reinforced the system and incentives that led to this failure. In other words, I had been so focused on other people’s sins — I had become blind to my own.

In particular, I realized my thoughts and emotions conspired together to make me believe I was completely (or at least fundamentally) innocent:

• I was in the right.
• I had done everything I could.
• So the only possible solution involved fixing (or punishing) other people, in order to protect myself and what I value.

Just like the Pharisees.
But unlike Jesus

As I reflected on how Christ responds to me when I do things that hurt him and my kingdom, I was struck by how He refuses to distance Himself from my — and our — sin. From His incarnation to His baptism to His crucifixion, He is relentlessly seeking to understand us.

• So He can forgive us.
• So He can intercede for us.
• So He can heal us.

What If…

What would it look like if I treated my enemies that way?

What would it look like if I treated those I consider God’s enemies, the way He treats me?

I very much fear it would mean giving up my self-righteousness, emotional distance, and self-protective confidence in my own judgement…

• Making myself vulnerable in the presence of my enemies, like a baby in a manger.
• Aggressively seeking ways to humble myself before those I seem superior to, like Jesus did with John the Baptist.
• Surrendering my defenses to appear naked and broken before those who will hurt me to protect themselves. As Jesus did on Gethsemane and Calvary.

It sounds insane.
It is insane…

• Psychological suicide.
• Social self-destruction.
• Throwing your life away.

Unless…

Jesus really is who He says He is.
And it is genuinely possible
To know Him well enough
To know when it is time
To stop living my ordinary life

• Deny myself
• Take up my cross
• Follow Him

Because when I do…

I discover that those who wronged me
Are just like me
The fears that led to them hurting me
Are the same fears
That led me to judge them
Instead of trusting Jesus

And the grace they need
To be healed
So they can do better
Is the same grace
I need
To forgive them

And when I am willing
To surrender…

• My faith in my judgement
• My hope in the law
• My love of my self

I receive…

• Unimaginable power
• Uncountable blessings
• Unspeakable joy

And often…

Miraculously
Everything works out
Better
Than I could ever imagine…

• Enemies become friends
• Poverty becomes riches
• Sickness becomes healing

But sometimes
They do not

Sometimes…

• People die
• Gold turns to dust
• The bad guys win

And I lose everything
But Jesus

Yet even that
Is okay

Because that
Is when I discover

That nothing
With Jesus
Is far, far better
That everything without Him

Amen.