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Immanuel Baptist "On the Journey" Articles |
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| Living Lives that Count for Something! Many of us, at some point in time, dreamed of making a significant contribution to our world and humanity with the living of our lives. We wanted to make a difference. There was restlessness in our spirits, for we wanted our lives to count for something. We were not afraid of sacrifice or self-denial. In our dreams, we hoped to leave some impression upon the lives of others and our world. For most of us, these dreams rose during adolescence, and we took them off to college with us or on to our first job. We were intent upon soaring with our dreams and making a significant impact upon our world. Yet, somewhere along the way, many of us lost our sense of adventure and conquest. The idealism of our youth faded away, as we confronted the realities of living in the real world. Things were not as we dreamed they would be when our hearts were filled with enthusiasm for our visions of a better world. We were passionate about teaching, but we soon discovered that teaching meant wrestling with our students and the administration. Healing was our passion, but soon the practice of medicine seemed more like a business, and issues like malpractice insurance became oppressive. We wanted to fight for truth, justice, and the American way, but we found these very values compromised by those who pledged to protect them. Team sports and scouting shaped our lives, and we hoped to shape future generations by volunteering as a coach or scout leader, but parents and regulations got in the way. We were ready to follow our passion, but someone punctured our idealism or raised obstacles in our path. Along the way, for some of us, the necessities of daily life consumed all of our energy. There were deals to seal, sales to make, planes to catch, doctors to see, schoolteachers to consult, mortgages to pay, and the taxman to face. We felt like we were running to get ahead and falling behind with each step. Soon exhaustion dogged our every step. Depression became our companion. Before we knew what had happened to us, we felt we had nothing to give and nothing of significance to share. Yet, even as life caught up with us, our desire to make a significant contribution to life held its place deep in our souls. The words of that idealistic song still struck a cord in our hearts. We were willing “to dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to bear the unbearable sorrow, to reach the unreachable star.” The world has tried, but it has not extinguished the flame of our idealism—our belief that we can contribute something positive to life. We are still willing to take risks and to make sacrifices in hopes of making our world a better place. Fulfilling the metaphors of our Christian faith, we desire to be salt, light, and leaven in our world. As I have reflected at the beginning of a new year, it seems to me that many of us continue to yearn for a life of meaning. When we recognize the brief span of our lives, we want to have burned brightly piercing the night of hopelessness and despair with the light of life and hope. In our hearts, we trust the words of Jesus, and we desire to love one another, to love friends and enemies, to work for reconciliation, to live as Good Samaritans, to care for the least of our brothers and sisters, and to seek first the kingdom of God. The question comes, “Where will we begin to express our passion for making our lives count for something?” I believe the church, as the body of Christ, offers us a place to begin, and I am convinced that Immanuel offers many opportunities for us to live beyond ourselves. Week-by-week, we have the opportunity to befriend the friendless, to walk with friends through troubles, to serve the less fortunate, to touch young lives, to teach with passion, to offer healing and forgiveness, and to share the source of the inspiration of our lives. Immanuel calls us to make sacrifices for the kingdom of God. Immanuel calls us to leave the security of our homes and our roles to travel to Russia or Washington or Toronto or wherever Jesus leads us. Immanuel calls us to find our purpose in life, as we seek to meet one of the world’s great needs. Immanuel calls us to rekindle the embers of our passion to make our lives count. As we begin this new year, let us seek individually and collectively to make our lives count for the sake of the kingdom of God. Let us gladly deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus daily. In the coming months, let us see Immanuel as the place to begin forging lives of meaning. Let us together live passionately for God.jamie |
Website last updated: Monday, December 20, 2004 Website Related Questions/Comments: Chris Cash-ccash@vci.net |
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Immanuel Baptist Church - 3465 Buckner Lane - Paducah, KY, 42001 - 270.443.5306 - www.immanuel-paducah.org |