Tangible Kingdom (Week 8 Day 6) “Manufacturing Organic”
August 17th, 2009 § 5 Comments
One of my favorite movies of all time is Tommy Boy. (Don’t judge me) The story line is about a recent college graduate who tries to save the family company after his dad died by going out on the road to make sales. The problem is that for years the people were buying from his dad because they liked his dad. Tommy went out to try and sell and experienced complete failure. He was down and out and was pretty tough on himself.
Tommy Boy: “Let me tell you why I suck as a salesmen. Lets say I go into some guys office lets say he’s even remotely interested in buying something well then I get all excited I’m like Joe Joe the Circus Boy with a pretty new pet (the pet is my possible sale) Oh my pretty little pet I love you so I stroke it, and I pet it, and I massage it hehe I love it, I love my little naughty pet you’re naughty and than I take my naughty pet and I go (clrrrr clrrr) Aahhh I killed it, I killed my sale. Thats when I blow it.”
If you’ve seen the movie, you know that Tommy finally finds his groove, makes some sales, and saves the company. He did so through just being himself and acting natural. He realized he was working too hard to impress others. That the typical sales techniques just didn’t match who he was. And it didn’t work. Kinda like David trying to wear Saul’s armor. It just didn’t fit.
Our nature is to put too much pressure on ourselves to do things right and to do things now. This reveals our debtors mentality which can really hijack our faith journey. The problem with that is that we simply cannot manufacture organic. So be ready, but be relaxed, and be willing. Missional should be bathed in prayer because we are looking for “God” moments “on our way” not forced moments that we create. That can be THE difference between real and inauthentic. Knowing that it is initiated by the Spirit’s movement should help take the pressure off and allow us to enjoy the journey. If you find yourself anxious or feeling “guilty” that you’re not doing enough… maybe you should give yourself permission to just relax more.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’! After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit” – John 20:19-22
Jesus told the disciples to relax, then told Him that He is sending them. He didn’t tell them to get all worried and troubled because He is sending them… He said “Peace be with you”. Another famous instruction from Jesus was a reminder that in this world, they would indeed have trouble, but to “take heart” because He had overcome the world.
I see two huge things for us from these words of Christ. The first is that even in trouble or confusion, we can have confidence in His calling. And the second is that we can relax and know that it’s better to “live” our faith outwardly and authentically than to “force” or “perform” our faith inwardly and forcefully.
Classic.
This is why you’re lead pastor, who else would or could have linked Tommy Boy to the TK-Primer…in the words of Tray Pruet, “Classic”
Relax…what a great message in today’s day and age…let that word haunt us!
I agree we shouldn’t worry, but I also know there have been times in my life where I have relaxed too much & let things either fail because of inaction or not been blessed by being involved when I probably should have been. I know you cannot tell me how to find the balance in my life, but how do you strike that balance in yours?
-B
B.Lynn
You’ve brought up a good point… I think we may each have our own key to this balance. None of us are coming from the exact same place. For me it was the exact opposite situation than you’re mentioning. I was always too concerned, worried, scared I wasn’t doing enough… so I did more. What I thought would create more peace, created more anxiety.
So for me, I had to let go of trying to “prove” myself to God (and others) and trying to “earn” contentment. What I realized is that I really didn’t trust God with the results… that’s a sad confession… and that I really felt it was up to me to make it happen.
My method’s (and probably theology) had become more me-centric than God-centric.
So for me, not worrying was about trust, letting go, and finding peace in that place. It’s a constant struggle. I think that’s a part of the journey and why we must consider daily how we deny ourselves and take up our cross.
hope that’s at least close to being somewhat helpful.
I can definitely see the other side of me-centric than God-centric. I have a tendency to be me-centric by saying if God wanted me to do “that” I would have an overwhelming desire to be there or it would fall in my lap and I would have little choice but to take care of it. Otherwise I am happy to bury my head and let the world spin by while I entertain myself. My wife is on the other side with you. I have made the statement before that she runs to where she thinks God wants her and then gets pulled back to where she is supposed to be, while I stand still and wait for God to push me to where he wants me. Some times she is right and I am disappointed that I stood there and dragged my feet, other times it is the opposite. If we talk though, which does happen once in a while, we generally walk to where God wants us and do the most good. So maybe I am saying I need to listen to God through my spouse more and hopefully she can do the same, and we can bless others and ourselves.
-B