Totally Rad!

I've been in a slump lately.  Not feeling too passionate about life outside of my comfy, secure, four walls.  There are too many contributing factors (excuses) to mention.  And that's not really the point anyway.

I want to be radical.  I want to do something big.  I want to be full of passion and personal investment in the areas where I serve, live, and lead.

So I prayed.  I prayed for direction.  I prayed for open doors.  I prayed for blessing and favor.

And I was so busy praying (daydreaming) that I didn't commit.  I was so busy searching for radical opportunities that I missed the obvious ones.

Jesus was a pretty radical guy.  Water into wine?  Talk about the life of the party. Raising people from the dead?  Yeah, I'd say that would draw a crowd.  Precedent setting?  Yep, that was Him.

But he didn't perform the radical until he lived out the faithful.

Jesus served, lived and led for over 3 decades and did not perform a single miracle.

Surely at some point He had a neighbor who was sick or a family member who was dying.  On a daily basis, I am sure He interacted with people who needed healing, blessing, and miracles.  What about the days when His mom had a headache?  Or when His younger brother fell and skinned his knee?  The neighbor whose baby was on the brink of death, the storekeeper who was about to lose all he had, or the friend who was abused.  Why didn't He do anything?  He was fully capable.  Yet this portion of His life is often glossed over with no big fanfare or attention.  We don't get to see the real action until His final days.

I am learning that the faithful is necessary before the radical can be revealed.  Not because we need to prove ourselves to God.  But because I need to prove myself, to myself.  Going back to my previous blog post, Scarecrow or the Tin Man, I need to learn to decipher and prioritize the foundational truths from the emotional experiences.   I need to learn discipline, compassion, faith, and joy.  I need to learn submission, not just to people in authority, but to Him.  I need to let go of my perspective and begin to see through His eyes.  I need to learn to trust again.

You know, I hesitate to publish this post.  I am fearful that I am going to have another emotional slump in a few months and feel, well, stupid.  I cringe at the thought of being wishy washy and unreliable.  Guess that's kind of the point though, about the whole faithful thing.  I need to start somewhere.

Life is hard.  Bad things will happen.  You might lose your job, your home, or your mom.  Your marriage, your children, or your ministry might not turn out as you expected.  There will be days when you feel lonely, left out, and overlooked.  You will be falsely accused, talked about, and unfairly judged.  You will face misunderstandings, miscommunications and mistakes.

Still, we must be faithful.

So continue teaching your classroom of children on Sunday mornings.  Continue leading your small group.  Continue reading your Bible.  Continue praying every day.  Continue teaching your children how to live a Godly life.  Give to those in need. Give your tithes and offerings.   Give of yourself until it's no longer comfortable.  Be honest.  Be kind.  Be ethical.  Be dependable.  Be a friend.  Practice love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

Be faithful. Then be ready for the radical.