The One

In reading Luke 15 there are several stories: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Each story is focused on the ONE. In each story, the ONE is first lost and then found. And in each story, there’s great joy and celebration when the ONE is found. The collective meaning of ALL three stories is: God passionately cares about the ONE. As a favorite pastor of mine says, “The Bible doesn’t say that heaven rejoices over cosmic mysteries and universal realities. BUT the Bible does say that something special happens in heaven when ONE person who was separated from God in sin is restored to God in love.”

God doesn’t just love the crowds. He loves the ONE.

When we look at our current conditions we often see the masses and we are overwhelmed by what seems to be the insurmountable odds and we miss the ONE. I ask myself these questions:

Is my life a reflection of God’s “seeking love?” Am I interruptible to stop and engage the ONE? Am I willing to give my life for the ONE?

When you break down all of the New Year’s resolutions there should only be ONE: finding the ONE. Who is she/ he? Would you give your time for the ONE? Statistically, if I give myself to ONE person each year and disciple that person for that year, I will reach the world for Jesus in 19 years IF the process is continuous and the ONE continues the process as well. You can look at the masses and be overwhelmed or you can look to the ONE and find great joy.

Here’s a key to all of this: We must unclutter our lives in order to see God and His purposes and in order to see the ONE. Try it. It is exhilarating and there is a freedom to getting the clutter out of our lives. We will find that we will give more of our time, possessions, relationships, and our finances IF we will first unclut- ter our lives of what we can’t take with us. When we do, we will find the ONE.

THE ONE

I was recently sent this as a way of encouragement by a good friend. He said, “Thanks for showing us how to do it.” Well, time and the Lord will be the final judge of whether I have lived my life in this manner:

“More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are work- ing directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.”

Henri Nouwen

At some level, it might appear that the above quote omits responsibility for the “hard things.” But if you read it more closely you will understand that it is the inference of “the hard things” that gets one to the “words, the handshakes, and the hugs.” It is the intimate understanding of the Gospel that informs us that

life can be dirty and difficult, and that to engage this good news one must be willing to get into the mess because we are imperfect people desperately seeking to be known at some level. BUT to get into the mess it takes being intentional. Good intentions have NEVER accomplished anything. NEVER. It takes intention- ality to engage in the lives of others and we see this clearly in the life of Jesus. It is what He was about.

Being intentional is the “hard work.” The world screams at us and demands of us that good intentions are acceptable. Please don’t believe this. It is a lie.

Thirty-six years ago, I met a man on a football field and in that short time I sensed I was to be a friend. Did I hear the voice of the Lord? I don’t know, but I just had a desire to know this man. I walked with him through failed marriages, the loss of a son, the loss of a business, and addiction. I played racquetball with him, met him for breakfast and lunch and met a number of his girlfriends along the way. I listened to him express the peace he felt from meditation and the inspiration he gained from quotes from Buddha. And we played racquetball.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from my friend and he asked if I would come out to his office for 20 minutes. His office is about 20 miles from my home. So, I went and he had two questions for me. We talked them through and then with tears, he asked me this, “Thirty-six years. Why did you stay for 36 years?” I told him that Jesus’ good news is about staying and it is about doing life with others. It is not about leaving because there are different life choices. He then said, “If you had left, I don’t think I would have come to follow Jesus.” My friend is 80 years young, but so full of life and a desire to follow Jesus no matter what is asked of him. As some would say, he’s “ALL IN.”

Like Henry Nouwen stated, “I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.” Following Jesus is all about relationship. Let’s take the time to be with them and, in the process, play some racquetball.