Good Monday Morning, Dear Friends,
It’s been said that most of our finest destinations can’t be reached via the shortcut. A strong body and a trained mind are always the result of hard work, dedication, and struggle. There’s an old Spanish blessing I once ran across which says, “May God deny you peace, and give you glory.” Don’t you like that? Complacency seldom produces anything worthwhile. Great living comes to those who are willing to pay the price. History’s heroes were always tormented people: Lincoln, Gandhi, Moses, Jesus, and the list goes on. We gain high ground by struggle, not by the easy road.
Too often we attempt to ease the pain without getting to the cause. Many years ago, someone asked a tired, bored Englishman why he spent so much time at the pub. “It’s the quickest way out of London,” was the man’s caustic reply. A lot of us travel on such roads. We imagine we can cure our ills by suppressing the pain. In part, this is why Jesus was crucified, and Socrates was poisoned. If we dislike the news, we want to kill the messenger.
An examiner was giving a test to new motorists at the DMV. Among the questions was this one: “What is the most dangerous part of a car?” One young person wrote, “The driver.” That showed good insight. Problems are resolved when you deal with the cause. That’s true whether it’s a personal problem, a business problem, or a family difficulty.
I once read the story of a wealthy builder who called in his assistant. He said, “Jim, I’m leaving on an extended trip. I want you to build a house. Here are the blueprints, and here is a check to cover the costs. Spare no expense. Make it the best we’ve ever built.” When his employer was gone, the assistant thought he saw a way to gain a small fortune. Wherever they could not be seen, he put in cheap and inferior materials and put the money he saved in his own pocket. One day his employer returned and went to see the house. “How do you like it, Jim?” The employer asked. “It’s magnificent, sir,” came the reply. “I’m glad you like it, Jim,” said the employer. “It belongs to you. I wanted to express my gratitude for all you have done for me.”
A long time ago Jesus told a story about two builders (Matthew 7:24-27). One was wise; he took a long time to anchor his house on a good foundation. The other builder was foolish; he was in a hurry. “Foundations are not important,” he thought, “except in a storm, and a storm may never come.” So, he built his house on an insecure footing. But the storm did come, and his house went down.
Building a life is much like building a house. We have to live in what we build. We can cut corners and take shortcuts, but that road always ends badly. Wise is the person who takes his or her own right road, no matter how hard and steep it might seem. The reward is only available to those who dare to climb heights and scale high mountains.
It is a good prayer, that Spanish blessing: Grant us not peace, but glory.
May we look carefully at the roads we take,
Bruce Jones, Pastor
Imagine Church
