Just One Word
The other day I ran across a question while reading that made me stop and ponder. Simple, yet profound. Transparent, yet complex.
“If you had to use a single word to describe Jesus in his life and ministry, what might it be?”
Think of all the possibilities: Wise, loving, compassionate, focused, bold, and many others might come to mind. The article said that when posed that question, Dallas Willard, the USC prof and prolific writer, often on spiritual formation, immediately responded with…relaxed.
Relaxed
That wouldn’t be my first thought, but given the totality of all we have recorded of what Jesus said and did, it makes more sense the longer I consider it. Reading over the gospels with that word in mind I can see it as Jesus refuses to be herded and ignores proddings to multi-task. He moves through his days above the sometimes turbulent energy of either friends or enemies.
Relaxed. Think about some of what that term embraces.
Relaxed implies trust. On the night before his arrest, recorded in John 17, Jesus prays a most intimate and trusting prayer to the Father. Aware of what is to come and yet not blinded by fear or anxiety for either himself or his followers, his words reflect a total trust in God in the face of all that is soon to take place. Jesus’ throwing himself into the Father’s arms without a net to save lays out a way for others to follow in life.
Relaxed communicates confidence. When Jesus faced fierce critics, no time comes to mind when he scrambles for an answer or refuge. Confidence these days seems often to be equated with aggression, where any challenge must be met assertively. But Jesus, living a relaxed life trusting the Father, appears to feel no need to rise in anger to every, or really any, pressured situation. And in times of intense confrontation, Jesus never resorts to verbal insults or pointed fingers (except for the religious fraudsters hanging around…those he took to the woodshed).
Relaxed declares an order of operations. If he were on his own, Jesus might not be so relaxed in life. Even though a full member of the Trinity, fully God while living a fully human life, Philippians 2 explains how his role is distinct from and submissive to the Father. Each member has their role, and living in that place, without striving to be more than that ushers Jesus into a relaxed state. He is not on his own, but following a path designed before time that allows room for him to relax and boldly live.
Relaxed replaces worry. I can’t imagine Jesus wringing his hands over any situation. While we read in the book how he wrestled with truthful emotions, like at the tomb of his friend Lazarus and in the garden facing his own end, but that is far from worry. Worry is a by-product of a lack of trust and little confidence. It feels the need to take on more than intended to save the day. However, as Jesus fully trusted the Father, confident in his plan and care, worry had no space to be planted and take root.
You, as an apprentice to Jesus, are quite simply called to do what he did. Then do it again and again until new neural pathways become who you are in Christ. If that one word might best describe Jesus, could we do any better by claiming anything other?
Let’s work this back to front.
If worry tends to shadow your steps; if the feeling of pressure is to hurriedly act in order to rescue yourself from your current, or imagined, tight spot; if all the Sunday talk of walking by faith evaporates in light of Monday’s list…maybe taking a page from Jesus’ playbook will help.
Remember the order of operations. God, FatherSonSpirit, is in control, not you. He, in your dark places, does not grope for a way forward. He is the way forward. Settling the “who’s in charge” issue carries with it definite practical byproducts of both confidence and trust into whatever is before you. That leaves any of us standing equipped to face all of life head on. And there you are…
Relaxed.
So…
Lift up (again and again) your worried, anxious, hurting heart to the God and Father who loved you into life, to the Savior who gave his life for you, and to the Spirit who lives inside you for your good.
Lay out before him your concerns as often as they cloud your sun.
Trust again today for him to carry you as you need and to fulfill his plans for you to the end.
Wade on into whatever lies in your path with confidence, not that it will turn out as you desire, but that it will be according to his will.
Let it be for me and for you that someday soon relaxed will describe our life. Let that name hang around your neck like a jeweled necklace you treasure and protect.
Today, relax.
Music is always good
JokesJokesJokes…but just 2wo
A man has to attend a large convention in Chicago. On this particular trip he decides to bring his wife. When they arrive at their hotel and are shown to their room, the man says, “You rest here while I register. I’ll be back within an hour.”
The wife lies down on the bed. Just then, an elevated train passes by very close to the window and shakes the room so hard she’s thrown out of the bed.
Thinking this must be a freak occurrence, she lies down once more. Again a train shakes the room so violently, she’s pitched to the floor.
Exasperated, she calls the front desk and asks for the manager. The manager says he’ll be right up. The manager (naturally) is skeptical, but the wife insists the story is true.
“Look, lie here on the bed. You’ll be thrown right to the floor!” the woman says.
So he lies down next to the wife. Just then the husband walks in.
“What are you doing here?” the husband asks.
The manager replies, “Would you believe I’m waiting for a train?”
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My immigrant Dad is down at the auto dealership, looking at potential choices.
“Cargo space?” he asks the salesperson.
The salesperson, slightly confused, finally replies, “Car no do that... car go road.”