UNRELIABLE

How many months—no, make that years—had these stilts and pogo-sticks knocked around our storage areas and yard? I can't remember. When my grandboys tried to walk or jump on them, the results weren't pretty. Let's just say that I wasn't ready to stock up on a bushel of bandaids. Finally, I posted this photo (FREE! FREE!) on a local internet selling site.. A few days later these instruments of torture (for a grandma trying to keep her grands safe) were gone. Whew. 

The stilts' final “re-homing” got me thinking about folks whose egos exceed their actual abilities. The apostle Paul had something to say about that: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3). To paraphrase: Don't act big when you're not big. Be humble and realistic in accepting your strengths and weaknesses.

As for the pogo sticks, they reminded me of people who bounce around in life without really getting anywhere. It may involve bad friends, abandoned attempts at education or jobs, or physical and mental health issues that never get resolved. They just can't stick with a program and finish it. The apostle James, talking about perseverence as an essential lesson in faith, nailed it with this about indecisiveness:

He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:6b-7)

The apostle's sea-worthy analogy certainly described my grandboys endangering life and limb on the pogo stick. And it “nailed it” for doubters, can't-make-up-their-minders, and those who weave from one bad choice to another instead of steadfastly following God's paths.

Paul urged the Ephesian believers to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” That included “lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, striving for unity in the body.” (Ephesians 4:1-3). Later to the Colossians, he urged walking “in a manner worthy of the Lord,” bearing fruit for God and growing in the faith (Colossians 1:10-11).

Such behaviors are far from wobbling all over the place like novice stilt-walkers and pogo-stickers. And maybe there's a message here about any worldly play-things (like unhealthy relationships, internet/drug/alcohol addictions, wasteful spending) that distract us from walking steadfastly with the Lord.

JUST LOWLY SPUDS

We'd gotten a bag of potatoes that were rejected by the produce company for size, including this mammoth one that I decided to name “Bud the Spud” before I peeled, cooked, and mashed it for dinner. I gave it some fake “eyes” (though it had a few of its own, au natural) for its portrait....and thought of a game from my 1950s childhood that featured a plastic potato. The aim of the “Mr. Potato Head” game was to decorate it with all sorts of plastic “items,” like mustaches and hairdos. I guess, the uglier the better. But don't laugh: those half-a-century-ago game spuds sell now for $175-225 on resell sites. I find that... incredible.

I guess I shouldn't, as there's something in our culture that thinks “the bigger, the better.” The more luxurious, the lovelier. The flashier, the favored. The more “decorated” (as in military medals or academic degrees), the more desirable.

Paul turned that tendency upside down when he described what should characterize a Christian:

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3)

He went on to describe the various ways Christians live out their faith, according to the “giftedness” with which God has endowed them. Some are gifted in declaring God's truth. Others serve, teach, encourage, share resources with those in need, lead, and show mercy (vv. 6b-8).

The walls of my little office/sewing room have some award certificates given me as a writer and speaker. The recognition was affirming, but I have learned that they aren't the whole picture of God's call on my life. Some days I really feel like a lumpy old potato, wondering if God can still use me. Then I remember: He specializes in new recipes as He “grows” a servant. In my cooking life, I can transform a “spud” with recipes for baking/twice-baked, scalloped, mashed, hash-browned, and fried. Similarly, God knows what's best for the rest of my years on earth.

And who knows what God can do through the raw material of a human being? Pastor Charles Stanley of our times has said, “God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to him.” Nineteenth century evangelist D.L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God's help, I aim to be that man.” Missionary martyr Jim Elliot wrote in his journal: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Our culture tends to elevate and even worship celebrities. That's not God's usual way of doing things. He seems to delight in reaching down into a mesh sack and pulling out the most unlikely candidate to prepare for His work. Like me.

Curious about the world's biggest potato? Here's a whopper that looks like a curled-up gnome:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/giant-potato-may-have-smashed-the-world-record/ar-AAQmFQk

GET THE POINT

We were browsing a thrift store in a little farm community when I spotted these unusual cowboy boots. They made me think of the extreme pointed toe shoes that came into vogue in my young adulthood, and are still around with their skinny stiletto heels. As someone with foot problems that require (ugh) orthotics and shoes with wide toe space, I have no “pointies” in my shoe collection. But what was the purpose of these boots?

Thanks to an internet search, I learned that these boots are special Mexican dancing boots. The longer the toe (and sometimes it's crafted to curl upward), the more impressive the boot. They're not cheap—typically crafted of exotic animal skins like alligator or armadillo.  They emerged as dance attire around 1880.

I also realized that history repeats itself. In medieval times, shoes with long, curled-up toes were typically worn by persons of royal blood or the upper class. They didn't need practical shoes since they sat around being important and wealthy while their servants did the cooking, cleaning, and farming.

Bottom line: these fancy boots I saw were for fancy solo dance moves. You wouldn't waltz with your sweetie in them unless she wanted bruised ankles. You wore these weird, impractical shoes to show off. These were no “white bucks” some may remember from the early Pat Boone era (half a century-plus ago!). They were built for parading one's dancing style to impress people.

Maybe you've been around people who act like that. Oh, they don't wear the pointy shoes, but they want to be noticed and applauded. I know the temptation. In my years of writing books and speaking at women's events, hearing applause and having people want your autograph were a version of “pointy shoes.” But they weren't to be my style. This phrase kept coming back to me for perspective: “I'm just a nobody exalting a Somebody.” These days, when I write someone, I often use the signature line, “In grace.” That's because I am here only by the grace of God. And in recent years I've dealt with people and problems that have shown me my need to keep growing in that virtue. I'm a Redeemed-Nobody in process under the care of a loving God. 

I have new appreciation for this scripture:

For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service]. (Romans 12:3 Amplified)

I appreciate the Amplified Bible's careful translation of the Greek to emphasize that “faith” is not just believing in Jesus, but serving Him and living in a way that pleases Him. The emphasis is on humility and service. Yes, a bunch of nobodies (except for the grace of God) serving the great Somebody. No long-toe dancing boots required.

CUT HERE

 My mother was the consummate seamstress whose skills extended to men's suits and wedding dresses. The memories are faded now, but I'm sure she put every extension leaf in our dining table, spread the fabric, topped it with a flimsy paper pattern, and cut away. My “cutting surface” is a folding cardboard board on top of our guest bed. Although I don't sew much clothing now aside from pajamas and nightgowns for my grandchildren, my patterns are worn and torn.

A few weeks ago, as I twisted and turned the pattern pieces to fit my barely-enough piece of fabric, I mused about the Biblical passages about “patterns.” God doesn't leave anything to whim or chance. One big example was the building of Israel's first worship center, the Tabernacle, which the Israelites put up, disassembled, carried, put up, disassembled, carried...for nearly four decades in a desert. Finally, it found a resting place in the Promised Land. When they were building it, God warned Moses: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40, quoted in Hebrews 8:5). Somehow, God communicated the whole building plan. It would be fresh, holy, and not at all like the pagan worship centers they'd seen in Egypt.

Just as God had specific ideas for His worship centers, He has specific instructions for human behavior. We're to be different—God-chosen people. The apostle Paul expressed it this way” “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will it—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Sometimes, I roll my eyes and ask, “What next?” as our culture sinks deeper into normalizing sinful, immoral, and selfish behavior. “Everybody's doing it” becomes the reason to do it, even when God drew the line for morality and propriety that should characterize His followers.

Sadly, it's nothing new. I have a sticky-note marker in several “behavior” passages of my Bible so I can review what God's standards are—and are not. Especially in his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul had to pull believers away from the common behaviors of their sin-soaked culture. In chapters 4 and 5 he dealt with:

*Mouth sins (lies, anger, unwholesome talk, slander, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking)

*Selfishness sins (greed, stealing, not doing honest work so they could share with the truly needy)

*Relational sins (bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, every form of malice)

*Moral sins (sexual immorality, every kind of impurity).

His conclusion was emphatic: “God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them” (Ephesians 5:7). In other words, don't let the world lay its pattern of sin and rebellion on the fresh cloth of God's love and righteousness.

How is that accomplished? One way, by letting our minds get saturated with scripture so we're attuned to “God's pattern.” Other ways: heeding the counsel and example of mature Christians. Paul expressed it this way in a letter to his protege Timothy—the old apostle's last written communication that we still have: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).

My current grandchild “pajama” projects feature designs with cats, penguins, and a Disney princess. Oh, the interests of these little kids who will outlive me, and impact their culture. I pray for them—that their moral and spiritual “pattern” will come out of the scriptures, and that they grow up to display their love of God through upright and caring behavior to those around them. In other words, “cut” right!

"ALTERED" EGOS

Talk about inflated egos! There’s an old story (probably an urban legend, but a popular speech illustration) about a Navy warship that one night detected what it thought was another ship’s lights right in its intended course through a dangerous bay entrance. The warship radioed the other ship, “Adjust your course. I am a large warship.” The other alleged ship responded, “You adjust. I’m a lighthouse.”

The point of the illustration is that an inflated sense of importance can be a dangerous thing. If we don’t change to adapt to reality, we’re apt to crash.

The problem in life is that we live among folks who think they are warships and that everything revolves around them.  They are the center of their own universe, a problem psychologists call “narcissism.” It’s seen in people who overestimate their talents or importance, feel “entitled” or “special,” and are selfish and exploitative. 

I’ve been around such people, and I can hardly wait to get out of their “boasting zone.” They remind me of myself as teenager whose self-esteem was wrapped up in playing the violin in the high school orchestra. I never had private lessons so was a mediocre player, but did I ever covet the role of “Concertmistress” (first chair), which I finally achieved as a senior. Going to college and getting “seated” back in the second violin section adjusted my ego downward! Along with that came learning that every player did his or her best for the benefit of the whole orchestra, regardless of where they were ability-positioned. 

'BIGGER THAN....'
That truth was expressed in psychological terms in Dr. Henry Cloud’s bestselling book Integrity (Harper, 2006). He wrote that emotional healthiness means changing course from self-centeredness to the quality of transcendence. A person with this attribute has gone beyond thinking that life revolves around him or her, and sees that life is about things and causes bigger than them.

“The greatest people,” he wrote, “are the ones who have not sought greatness, but served greatly the cause, values and missions that were much bigger than them. And by joining and serving those, we see greatness emerge” (p. 243).

Not surprisingly, we have that same advice in the Bible, namely Paul’s letter to Roman Christians:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3)

He goes on to describe the various skills (or gifts) within the Christian fellowship, from preaching to showing mercy.  They all fit together like one grand puzzle, no one piece more important than the other.  When inflated egos submit to God, it’s the spiritually altered egos that best serve Him.

They’ll never mistake a lighthouse for another ship.