I kid. We all know Jesus was born in the most humble of beginnings. He was perceived to be a bastard child, born into a shed full and animals and placed in their troth. Not quite the entrance we would anticipate for the Messiah!
I think there is a great lesson there. The bible (at least today's translations) talks about kingdoms and lords and images of God that are associated with royalty, wealth and power. When God had a chance to demonstrate what was truly important on earth, the result was the life of Jesus.
It was important for Jesus to be born into the margins. He later identified and sympathized with so many people who the world had decided to cast out.
I've always had the inclination that if I want to make a truly positive mark on the world, I need to have the resources that will allow me to have the greatest impact. Look at Jesus, though. Look at Ghandi...Mother Theresa... The lives that were the most dynamic in a positive way, were lead by those with nothing of the world.
If I'm honest with myself, I know that I want to have the resources that will make my life comfortable (and probably even enjoyable), while I do good. I don't need all the things I have to live out my fullest life...not by a long shot.
I am wasteful, and I put too much emphasis on material items. I'm definitely going to explore this in greater detail, but the lesson I'm learning today is that simplicity and humility are keys to living the life I believe I should.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I always saw you as a person who was somewhat divided... in that you do enjoy material things [don't we all!] and always strived for that monatary success but that you also saw [see] greater importance to change the world... there's a conflict there of course.
You're young and you have time to do it all!
Post a Comment