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Potential

This was written by another but I wanted to share it!

“Ponder the potential of an egg. Ideally, under the proper circumstances of fertilization, the egg could become a baby chick. But just as most eggs do not become chicks – their highest fulfillment – so we, a humans, do not usually attain our highest dreams and ideals. Yet, all is not lost, for an egg that does not become a chick is still very useful!

Before this egg is useful, however, it must first go through various treatments. Initially, and egg just be candled and graded. In the candling process, a tube light shines through it to detect imperfections or cracks. It must have a healthy life cell. Just so, the searching light of the Holy Spirit must penetrate our inner life cell to be sure there is a new life cell in Christ and then to expose our imperfections.

Then this egg must be graded for size; some are small, others- medium, large and even jumbo. These are actually equally valuable in that there are occasions when a small egg is more desirable than a larger one and vice versa. Just so, each of us has varying capacities and gifts, but we are equally important and needful in the plans of God.

After the candling and grading process, the egg is boxed and then distributed warehouses and stores. The eggs have no say-so, but must go where they are sent. We, too, have assignments in life. Perhaps at times we feel all “boxed in”because of our circumstance in life. We may even be tempted to break out of the box – that confinement – but f we are to be useful, we must be patient and trusting.

After all this preliminary treatment, finally the egg is recognized for its importance; it is now taken off the shelf and purchased by a shopper. If only the egg new what lies ahead, it would undoubtably prefer staying right there on the shelf in the grocer’s cooler. Without any warning the egg is mercilessly plunged into a pan of cold water. And if that is not ruthless enough, it soon feels the flame beneath the pan. Gradually the water becomes hotter and hotter until it reaches the boiling point. The egg must wonder how it can possibly endure any more treatment – the fact is, some cannot…they crack in the intense heat!

By now, the egg must be asking apprehensively, “What next?” Suddenly it becomes aware of a cracking of its shell. And not only breaking, but then follows peeling – how humiliating! But that is the part of the process for our becoming useful – our outer shell must be broken. The self-protective facade must be cared so that the Christ life can be released from within.

The peeling is more distasteful than the breaking because of the humiliating exposure of our naked selves. How we resent others gazing upon our losses and failures.

“Surely, matters can’t get much worse for me than this!” the egg must be thinking hopefully. But it suddenly feels the sharp cuttings of a knife across its already peeled body. “Perhaps the chef is cutting me into attractive wedges so I might be used to garnish a salad…ah!…useful at last. But no…they are chopping me into small pieces.” the egg moans. And the eggs is mashed into nothingness.

Until we are aware of our nothingness – without God – we are not useful to God. So He supervises our candling, grading, distribution and then allows the fiery trials, the braking, peeling, cutting and mashing that we might become useful.

Now that the egg has been mashed into nothingness, the chef mixes mayonnaise, pickle, mustard, a little salt and pepper with it, and it becomes a delicious egg salad with which they prepare egg salad sandwiches to feed others! So as the processed oil of joy of the Holy Spirit blends our mashed nothingness with the life of Christ within, we become food and nourishment for hungry souls.”

 

By Ruth Shank Shira in her book, God Recycles Broken Dreams, 2013 ANM Publishers,Charlottesville, VA.22905

Scriptural references: Psalm 139:23-24; Romans 12:4-5; Micah 2:5; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 37:34; Isaiah 43:1-3; Psalm 34:18; I Peter 2:24;  John 3:30; Isaiah 61:1-3.

 

 

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Celebrity

In my country we tend to think “big” is better…bigger is best, biggest is even better yet! The larger the crowd, the more important you think you are. We focus on the size of houses, cars, bank accounts… We tend to be attracted to the flashy, to hype. The better the PR, the better we think it is. If  a person gets lots of press coverage we think they are important and what they have to say is relevant. Mr. Trump is a master at that!

I thought it was very telling when the Pope came to the US last year and he was driven – not in the regular big, black limo but in a small Fiat! It was fun to listen to the news commentators as they talked bout it. It was such an unusual sight to see a man the world reveres and whose fame is larger than most anyone’s, humbly riding in a small automobile! He was perfectly happy and content. I do have a feeling if he had had his way he would prefer to get out and walk among the people – the ordinary everyday people. He didn’t seem too impressed with the trappings of his status or the “important” people who flocked to shake his hand. I love that he visited prisoners and the handicapped. He was genuinely touched by the simple people.

I confess that I can be “impressed”. I do a double-take when a long black limo drives by…or I see someone step out of their private jet (I admit I do envy a private jet!)…but that’s not in my future anytime soon! We are infected with celebrity – even in churches. Often a church is known not by its denominational affiliation or missions giving or doctrinal position but by the pastor’s name and his status. We tend to mention how many books the pastor has published, how many members on the roles, how many Sunday services they have, the size of the ministerial staff…

I don’t have anything against success – far from it. I think it is great but it is not the way God counts success in His kingdom. If we read the scripture it doesn’t take long to realize God does things hind-part before! Backwards. Upside down. To live you must die. To gain you have to loose. You have to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, give your coat and your shirt. Not what a PR firm would recommend for a successful business model!

Let me be the first to say, I think it is terrific when God grows a ministry, a business, a bank account by numbers. But it is not the only measure.

We like to think success is related to size – it isn’t. Success is related to faithfulness and humility and obedience. Ouch! People often tell me how God is going to honor my Father for the many who came to Christ through his preaching. And I am sure God will on some level. But I always mention God won’t honor the numbers but rather, the faithfulness and obedience of my Father. Just like He will honor the faithful school teacher, the faithful cab driver, dishwasher, small church pastor, Sunday school teacher. Those who serve His faithfully and obediently in obscurity.

Are you feeling obscure, unimportant? God sees your labor on His behalf. God is pointing you out to a great crowd of witnesses  saying, “Look at that one. They are serving me faithfully. That’s one of my trophies!”

I’d rather have that. As the dear soloist, George Beverly Shea, sang so sweetly, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.  I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame. I’d rather be rue to His holy name. Then to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.”

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