My wife went down to the Lititz Public library this morning. Its a big morning. Story time sign-ups are today for the fall story times. if you don't get there early enough, you'll not get a spot in the story time you want. Soshewent down at 8:30 and stood in line for approximately 100 other moms. While in line, two friends stood in front of her and behind her. Rather thanrelinquish her spot to talk with her friend, the woman ahead of my wife talked around her, as if she wasn't there.
Cherie listened to the women talk abou themselves. Which day will be their manicure day, which days and hours will be their exercise/rec center days. They talked about their husbands' rec time to ride mountain bikes, etc...They were sharing their schedules. "Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30c to 11:00 is my exercise time. Wednesday afternoon is my manicure day. Thursday morning is my mom's bible study group." It all sounds like keeping up with the Joneses, self-improvement, consumerism. Cherie came home and told me about it because she has no plans for herself. Oh, she did schedule to get her haircut next week. But she and I spend little time or energy in self-improvement, at least not in the kind of self-improvement that most consumer Americans partake in. The expensive club memberships, spa treatments, even night's out with friends are not on our agenda these days. Why not?
If any want to become my followers they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me." Self-denial is unpopular at best, absolutely anathema to most Americans. Rather thanself-denial, we seek to affirm the self, adore the self, adorn the self, gratify the self, pamper the self, protect the self, idolize the self. Self-importance is the defining character trait of most Americans. Autonomy, self-rule, self-governance, self-indulgence, self-centered living. independence is a virtue that leads to self-idolatry, rather than freedom. True freedom comes in the denial of the self that Jesus embodied. Paul's use of kenosis, self-emptying, in Philippians 2 reveals this amazing act of GODseen in the life and death of Jesus. He surrendered his will to GOD, the one greater than all others.
We pray, "...your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Being called to live like Jesus today means to deny the self-idolatry of our culture. not easy. Not popular. What should I do with my Ipod?
