The Struggle of a Blessed Life.

Some mornings when it is dreary and I still want to be in bed, I start up the Kuerig, turn on my music, and catch up on my favorite children's ministry blogs. Today is one of those mornings. Usually I read about the latest in kidmin culture, new books, curriculum, sweet room designs, and advice from those wiser then me. Today though, I was struck by Jonathan Cliff's latest post. He started writing about perspective. Usually I'm not a sucker for the motivational pushes for change...but this really hit me. He started off writing about the different things he has complained about lately (to which I read quickly so that I wouldn't feel too guilty), but then I couldn't ignore what he said next: 

"Perspective.  That’s some kind of word, huh?  How to get it?  How to maintain it?  How to keep it?I’m not sure, but I know that this $100 backpack will sure help.  Or will it?  I struggle to live out my perfectly perfect life in an environment that is the envy of the rest of the world.  I struggle.  Struggle, really?  What the what?  It’s the great western world dilemma.  Living with gratitude for all that I have, while also having a perspective on the blessings I’ve been given."

Wow. "I struggle to live out my perfectly perfect life in a an environment that is the envy of the rest of the world. I struggle." How true is this? Really...it's like a punch in the gut. So often I wake up frustrated. I am frustrated with where I am at in life. I am ready for more. I am frustrated with drivers who use the passing lane to stroll to work. I am frustrated that I am wet from the rain and that my nose itches from allergies. I am frustrated that I have too much to do...ironically I'm frustrated because I don't have enough to do. I sure have a rough life huh? I struggle in a life that is full of blessings. Sick.

Cliff goes on, "Is the new iPad a toy, or a work tool? Just seeing those words makes me want to puke." Why have these thoughts even entered my mind? Is that really my biggest question for the day? This is my struggle. Sick.

So how do we make sure that we do not fall into the trap of complaints, of envy, and of selfishness? When we call it what it is (who wants to do that?), it's entitlement, isn't it? I mean really I feel that I need or deserve the very best. People around me have the best, so I should too. I wonder how much it would change if I were to live somewhere else. Sometimes I look at pictures, read articles, or watch the news, and I feel like throwing up. I want new shoes to add to my pile, while that little kid is dying because he can't find food. Ridiculous. I want to change, but really if I'm honest, it sure does not sound fun.

Cliff ends with - "2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

My personal goal is to open my eyes to realities in the world that I would rather ignore and to let the Bible call me to look at those realities through the eyes of the one that gave up all to become poor.  And he did it so that I would become rich.  Not rich, like owning vacation homes and wearing expensive clothes rich.  Rich like not needing things of the world to define me. Perspective." 

What a great goal. I want to be rich as Christ defines rich... I am a daughter of the High King kind of rich.