Think Differently About the Top of the Heap

The 5 ugliest words that no one ever says, yet are implied all of the time: "I am better than you." How disgusting if these words were said to another, yet do we not say them repeatedly, everyday? As I quibble with my wife over nonsense, am I trying to communicate to her that I am a better human than she is, and she should adopt my way of doing things?

How very small. How very quibbling. How very sad.

In today's Southland reflection, Briggs writes about "ranking", an old past-time for middle-schoolers to rise to the top of the heap. Briggs reflects on a friend of his, Jeff, who, in the graceful, self-assured way that we all seek for ourselves, went about life courageously and honestly, as a matter of course. There are those people that resemble Jesus in that way. They often call it what it is, or take the high road, or show compassion, but never to win acclaim; again, it's a matter of course. There's something inside that doesn't allow any other way. The behave as if the world deserves for everyone to be deeply and truly themselves.

But the world doesn't want me to be myself. And it does.

This is where Jesus comes in. I need Someone to look to, to give me confidence that I'm going to be ok if I go against the grain. But I know that Jesus doesn't want me going against the grain for the sake of going against the grain. He wants of me to go against the grain when it's necessary. Otherwise, to live peaceably with all men and women as much as possible.

The pursuit is never to be popular, or to come out on top. The pursuit is to do what's right, to shine like a light.

Heavenly Father, I need to find my way back to You, through the cross, through Christ. I've become distant and cold; I'm intermittantly with You. I want to be always with You. Not for the sake of others, or because it's the right thing to do, but because it's what You want for me. And You rescued me. My life was shit, and You made it not so shitty. You actually made it quite beautiful. Lest I think it was my own doing, come and be with me and show me how to stay.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

https://southland.church/devotions/show-week/what-made-jesus-mad-when-graceless-religion-gets-in-the-way

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