As I continue on the journey through this time of reflection and seeking the Lord, I am asking more and more to be like Christ. When I think about what that means — because it is easy to say, and sounds very good and Christiany — and I think about how to live out the reality, it is a bit intimidating and overwhelming. To respond as Christ did — like the Senifeld episode where George chooses to do the opposite of every inclination that he has. That is so hard because when I am confronted with an unpleasant situation where I feel like I need to prove something, I hear the words of Christ saying, “Shut your mouth. I am your defense.” Or “I know you feel he did you wrong, but I want you to bless him.” What?! Why?! Being more like Christ means living in a steady place of peace and confidence in the Father, not in the daily sway of circumstance. Being more like Christ is laying down me and being Him. Which is usually opposite of my natural inclinations. And as Jerry Seinfeld said, “If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.” Misty Edwards talks about this whole idea of living like Christ in his kingdom — “You gotta go down if you wanna go up, and you’ve gotta go lower if you wanna go higher. You’ve gotta hide – and do it in secret – if you wanna be seen by God. It’s the inside outside upside down kingdom, where you lose to gain and you die to live!” Jesus outlines this lifestyle in “The Constitution of the Kingdom” found in Matthew 5, 6, 7.
“We desire to celebrate the approaching mystery of our salvation with greater freedom and greater joy. Faith does not come easy. While we see and know people for whom faith seems like second nature, for many of us it is a gift that reveals itself only with the utmost diligence and care. It usually begins to appear in times of transition, distress and/or sickness, for it is in moments like these that the Lord is able to get our attention long enough, so that we can hear His voice above the noise and confusion of our daily lives. Whenever trouble breaks into the serenity of our daily existence, we can be sure the Divine potter is at work trying to mold us into something beautiful.” — Father Dominic P. Irace
And there it is. During those moments of pain, trouble, and crisis, we so often cry out to the Lord and, suddenly, He has our attention and can cut through the noise of life long enough for us to hear that still voice. Am I listening? Am I allowing the Lord to use those moments of “doing the opposite” to shape me into the vessel that He wants me to be? There are many metaphors for what He wants to do in our lives — be it clay in the hand of a potter or the fire of refining and coming forth as pure gold — the theme is that there is Someone bigger than me who has an amazing vision of what my life is to be and is guiding me to accomplish His grand plan that brings me fulfillment, joy, peace, and freedom! He will use those times of trial to shape and purify me so that I will be a beautiful and unique reflection of Him. And somehow, in the middle of that, He gives me the freedom to choose to be the clay. It all just shakes my head in amazement and wonder.