i have decided ...

it has been decided.

i will do thirty days of thankfulness.

is that even a thing?  it may be; i'm not quite sure.  regardless, i will make it a thing.  and i will write about (at least) one thing every day that i am thankful for.  meaning, i will find time to write, even on the days that i have no time to even eat.  even if i simply post a 3 word phrase, i will post.  discipline and commitment are not my strong-suits; jesus, grow me in them!

so, today, i am thankful for: jesus.  plain and simple, jesus christ.  i am thankful for his life as an example, his death as atonement, and his resurrection as an illustration of the transformation that occurs in our hearts and lives as we become followers of Christ.

what does a Christ-follower look like?  the underlying beliefs that our parents usually pass on tell us that Christians don't lie, swear, smoke, or drink; nor do they hang out with those that do.  if we look at the church, we could say Christians usually look like hypocrites, as we know all to well that we usually miss the mark, and don't live up to what we say we believe.

i would argue that Christ-followers should actually look like Christ.  it may seem obvious, but in our flesh and citizens of this sinful world of me-me-me, we often forget we are supposed to be little Christs.  it is ironic to me that a popular, satirical comedian would do a better job at understanding what Christ-followers should look like that those actually fleshing it out:

“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.” --Stephen Colbert

Colbert gets it right on a few accounts, and i'm ashamed to admit that i am part of the guilty party he calls out here.  first, the jesus of the bible talks a lot about the poor.  namely, helping them as opposed to ignoring them.  serving them, being one of them.  even the beatitudes show us that the poor are among the blessed.  i've seen it first hand in ethiopia and belize and haiti; the have-nots often have more joy and a better since of what it means to love thy neighbor than those of us haves.  jesus has commanded us to love and serve the poor; our apathy is flagrant to those around us, namely those not a part of our Christendom.  we give ourselves a bad name when we preach a God that we don't necessarily or willingly imitate.  and Colbert is right to tell us it's time to admit we are lazy, or just don't want to do what we've been called to.  it is time to own up to our faults.

so friends: believers, and unbelievers alike.  i am sorry.  i have failed.  at representing Christ.  at being salt and light in times i would rather be dark and bitter.  i have failed at loving my neighbors well, or nearly enough.  at expecting more and giving less than i should.  at patience, oh dear Lord, i have failed at patience.  i am often times selfish and proud, not selfless and humble like Christ.  i have trouble forgiving as fully as He has forgiven me.  i apologize for the sinner that I am, and how that taints the image of a magnificent, merciful, graceful Lord that we serve.  i need to be a better example of Christ.  not to earn salvation or forgiveness or work towards receiving the love and favor of the father.  but to be a light in this world that so desperately needs a radical change.  and i challenge you, brothers and sisters in Christ, to be radical in your faith, above the norm-- which is nothing more than a disappointment for those watching us.  remember, it is not to puff ourselves up, or to make us better, or too look good in front of people.  but we just might be the only Christ a person sees; and we need to make sure we are portraying more of the loving, merciful, serving, generous Jesus that we know Him to be.

i am thankful for the opportunity to grow in Christ, and to reflect His love daily.  forgive me when I fail; I am only human, and because of that, I am destined to fail you.  I will not live up to your expectations of me, but i can promise you that it is because of Jesus that I can get right back up and try again.