Be here!

Stop trying to “get there”

I am continuing to unpack just what it was that hit me so hard about Matthew chapter 10.

It started to dawn on me that the whole chapter was like an intentional training school. It was Jesus trying to prepare the disciples for ministry.

I started to notice that a frequent phrase I used (and still use) is “we are getting there”.

“There” was a destination that I as a leader spent most of my energy working towards. There was this vague sense that if I kept focussed and working hard we would reach a destination that was less stressful and made more sense.

Part of “there” is a place where money, in particular, is no longer an issue.
Now not stressing about money is not a bad thing, in fact its pretty much the point of Matthew 6:25-32, but that is different to what happens when the avoidance of stress becomes an organising principle for your life – rather than the bigger purpose God has you here for.

Jesus seemed to be coming from a different place altogether:

¹¹“When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

^12-15“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.

In the preceeding passage Jesus told the disciples to “come as you are” (to borrow a line from Kurt Cobain), and then in these passages he is kind of saying:

“Go where you go. Don’t try to organise anything for your own comfort. Hang out with ordinary people. Don’t look for people the world thinks are special. Take them as you find them, and sometimes they won’t want to give you the time of day – don’t stress, just walk away.”

This is such a different way of engaging with life. Instead of trying to sort things out for maximum personal benefit and minimum stress – the job is to engage with life as it is and people as they are.

The fundamental assumption behind this approach is that there is a God of the universe who is ultimately in control, and he doesn’t need your help with priorities. He will put you in places for his purpose and he will bring you to people for his purpose.

This approach is the opposite of taking control of your life. This approach requires you to live in the now much more than the “what’s next”.

For someone who wanted to “get there” this is a challenging way to live.