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Going Against the Grain

If I think I know what I want from life, work hard to get it and am fortunate enough to achieve it, what could persuade me to give it up? Knowing that so many of our fellow beings never even have the opportunity to contemplate this question makes a position of fulfillment all the more precious. To give it up would be "going against the grain"; it would be walking away from everything this world has been trying to instill within me all my life.

Would I do it for love or fame or fortune? Would I do it in the spirit of martyrdom? Would I give it up for true happiness? Most would consider it as foolishness to even entertain such thoughts. But open the door to the mind and the heart for a moment and listen to Jesus speaking to the rich man, "If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me." --Matthew 19:21 (The Message)

Someone else who understood going against the grain was Mother Teresa, "We all long for heaven where God is, but we have it in our power to be in heaven with him right now—to be happy with him at this very moment. But being happy with him now means loving like he loves, helping like he helps, giving as he gives, serving as he serves, rescuing as he rescues, being with him twenty-four hours a day—touching him in his distressing disguise."

So it seems to me, both Jesus and Mother Teresa are describing something far more precious than achieving anything I might think I want out of life. "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. --Matthew 6:3-34 (NIV)

I'm trying, Lord. It's not easy, but I am trying.

Jane Mullikin
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