Imitation Moment

In the book Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis there are times when he teaches through a hypothetical conversation between Christ and a disciple of Christ. I love this didactic strategy because he invites me in to identify with the disciple and to consider the words of Christ in a new way.

All the craziness associated with pulling together all the last-minute details for the Z2 Convergence that we begin tomorrow forces me to pause for a second to consider an interesting conversation between a disciple and Christ!

Disciple: Where are you, Lord, when I'm overwhelmed with all these details and all this stress?


Christ: I'm here with you, as you know already. I wonder what is overwhelming you to the point that you only now turn to me?


Disciple: I recognize that you have been here the whole time. At the same time, as my tasks continue to come at me with amazing vigor, my thoughts entertain the ever-present mountain called "things-still-to-get-done." I write them down "here" and "there." I forget about "this" or "that." I actually remember "the other thing" and manage to crank out pieces of randomness to add to the little hill called "finished." Are you just sitting there watching me? Waiting for something? What is going on?


Christ: Sure I see all that, my child. Actually, I feel how overwhelming it is for you. You take on so many things! I love that about you! I remember creating you like that on purpose. I also remember creating you to take delight in me, to experience peace in me. I see times when your faith in me alone carries you beyond this thing you are calling a mountain. You let go and sit at my feet as you breath your next breath, learning from me the way you must go. I love those moments that you are even unaware of yourself and so sensitive to my moving that it is as if I were directing your path according to my word. You do that so well, my child. Keep it up.

Learn from God Himself

This is your first Saturday of Christmas break! Woo hoo! We are continuing the Christmas Break Exercise designed to help us stay focused each day during Christmas break. I explained it in more depth here. Here is the brief thought for today.

As an extension of yesterday's thought, take a look at what happens on the mountain of the Lord's house in Isaiah 2:3: "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.'..."

God teaches on the mountain! Spend a little bit of time reflecting on the things that God has taught you this last semester about his ways. How have you "gone to the mountain" and seen him at work in your life? How has he changed your life even in one semester?

Remember that God continues to teach us even now! He reveals himself to us in the most unlikely places. We can learn from him on a big beach in Hawaii or on a bean bag in our home. Be alert! Search and look for his teaching around you today.

[btw...where are you planning to assemble with a community of faith tomorrow? Who can you ask to go with you?]

The Chief Mountain

"In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it." Isaiah 2:2

Tanya and I had the privilege of climbing to the summit of Mt. Fuji (12,389 feet) when we went to Okitsu, Japan on a Let's Start Talking project in 2001. It was amazing! I'd never seen the world from that height before or since. As we rested after our incredibly intense, four-hour climb, we enjoyed the spectacular, awe-inspiring view of Japan. There were no other mountains even close to the height of Japan's tallest mountain! Nothing blocked our marvelous view.

As I read Isaiah 2:2 at the beginning of this Christmas break, I wonder what other "mountains" in my life may be blocking my view of God's world as it is meant to be viewed. This break is a good time for me to consider some of my high, established mountains. Perhaps the mountain of fear towers over all else for me. Maybe it's school or family or future. I bet the mountain called "being in a relationship" tempts some of us with the promise of an amazing view.

I wonder if this Christmas break will be for you the picture of the "days to come" that Isaiah paints. Will Christmas break be the time when the mountain of the Lord's house is established as the highest of the mountains in your life? Will you raise during this Christmas break this mountain above the hills, rightly identified as hills instead of competing mountains?