FOOD FOR THOUGHT
(06/28/2009)
DIY
SPIRITUALITY
Cindy Hong
When
business is slow at the family restaurant in Detroit , I'll immerse myself
in the local newspaper. Depending on how slow business is, I may even
make it to the comics (which I don't normally read) and classifieds. This
particular day was Monday, so business was slower than molasses. I'm now
reading the real estate ads and see homes for $60,000 then $35,000 then
$15,000 and finally one for $500. Come to find out that a couple of months
earlier a Chicago couple bought a house in Detroit for $100. It needed
some work, but $100 for a house? I can spend more than that at Sam's on
toilet paper, food, and shampoo. In a city that ousted a corrupt mayor,
headquarters of struggling GM and Chrysler, host to the 0-16 Lions last
season, and home to 4 remaining Starbucks, Detroit needs a boost of some
sort. Perhaps if housing is cheap, people will flock to Detroit and boost
its economy. I can afford $100, $500, or $5,000 for a house. But no matter
the price, some things cannot and should not be bought, such as a do-it-yourself
mentality. DIY traps me into thinking I can do it all myself, on my own.
On many days I'll take pride in my self-sufficiency and believe I'm in
control of my circumstances. By working a little harder and making more
of an effort to be good, I can usually find small successes here and there.
But unfortunately I also bring this sense of effort and control into my
relationship with God. Let me be good and do my devotions. Let me pray
before leaving the house. Let me make it to church on time. Maybe I can
control my tongue a little more today. And in the midst of all this good
stuff, I somehow miss God. He sees me checking things off on the list,
hears my monologue prayer, watches me master a passage in His word, and
all the while just waits patiently for me to stop and be still. He is
the Father who chases, pursues, and delights in us. But I don't want that.
I want to do it myself and earn it. When He sees us, He is filled with
compassion toward us, runs to us, throws His arms around us, and kisses
us (Luke 15:20). These action verbs that describe God's posture toward
us have no room for DIY. And why would we pick DIY when the other option
is a hug and kiss, delight and rejoicing, from Him?
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