Musings: Notes From My Daybook

"Seek God, not happiness"—that is the fundamental rule of all meditation. If you seek God alone, you will gain happiness—that is the promise of all meditation.  --Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Regarding the passion of seeking after things, Cardinal Wolsey is a real poster boy.  After Wolsey's well-documented and single-minded pursuit of power, position, and wealth ended in his fall from grace with Henry VIII, William Shakespeare places these words on his lips to Cromwell:

Mark but my fall, and that that ruin'd me.
    Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition:
    By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then,
    The image of his Maker, hope to win by it?
    Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee;
    Corruption wins not more than honesty.
    Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
    To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not:
    Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,
    Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st,
    O Cromwell,
    Thou fall'st a blessed martyr!

Seeking self, or seeking God's agenda?  Jesus presents two alternatives.  Only one presents a way of sharing in the joy of God's life.

Of course, Bob Dylan has something to offer as well to Matthew 6.19ff, in his tune "Gotta Serve Somebody."

Tobymac speaks to our text this Sunday, Matthew 6.19ff

Like so many of you, I have been following with great interest the rise of piracy in the Indian ocean.  And so I was pleased to learn of Captain Phillips’ safe rescue by the U.S. Navy and of the diligence deployed to resolve this crisis.  Of course, one rescue in the midst of nearly 100 acts of piracy already this year does not resolve matters. And, regrettably, there will be many twists and turns in this international dilemma that already is commanding the attention of a dozen nations.

But the thing that captured my attention the most this week was the comment of one the crew of the Alabama.  During the hours of uncertainty, hidden away in the cramped, boiling bowels of the engine room, this crew member said, that all he could think about was going home.

When freed, days later, standing on the deck of the Alabama, this 35 year old crew member said that the first thing he was going to do upon arriving home was to go home and hug his mother--a long time!

I am struck by how crisis brings to the surface the most significant and valuable things in life.  When living in “cruise control,” it is easy to simply pursue whatever ideas and goals tickle our fancy and appeal to our interests.  But when a little crisis slips into the room, there is a sudden ordering in our lives.  One does not have to work at discovering that which is important, it is crystal clear--its value takes hold deep within us and will not let us go.

What is important to you--really?  Do we need a crisis to call it forth from within us?

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6)

I don’t think Jesus is necessarily thinking about money or even about your annual commitment to Northlake (though our stewardship reveals much about our treasures!)  Whenever I recall his words I find myself asking what is it that I really treasure, what is it that I really value?

Family, yes.  My wife and children--without one doubt.  But I am wondering about another phrase that Jesus offers to us.  It is really a prayer.  Jesus suggests that we pray it.  “Your kingdom come, your will be done.”  

What would Northlake be like, what would your world look like, if your treasure was shaped by this simple prayer?

I can relate to the crew member who wanted to hug his mamma’s neck--so can you.  But what will change the world is when you and I claim that our treasure is defined by “Your kingdom come, your will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.”