A friend once said:
"a glass can only spill what it actually contains."
I believe that this is the kind of commitment and sacrifice and love that Jesus asks of all of his followers. I believe that this is exactly what Jesus did and accomplished on the cross. I also believe that everyone (whether you identify as a follower of Jesus or not) is called to lay themselves down for someone else. We all have had experiences (or are having them now) that require us to put our neighbor's needs before our own. And sometimes, that is uncomfortable and/or exciting.
Jesus calls us to live such a life daily. He gets no extra fees and this choice comes without any gimmicks. This self-less life is often overlooked as "too good to be true." Similliar to those informercials that say if you buy this product in the next 90 seconds, your life will be great! But, Jesus is not an advertisement running across the television screen or a billboard on the highway. He is not absent from our lives only to be called upon when we are in desperate need. He is active and living today and everyday. He is all around us, through us and in us.
His life is like that of a glass cup. But, I think that the deeper part comes down to this: "What's in your cup?" Because if we can really get to the meaning behind the truth, then we have come to understanding. Before you pour the liquid into your cup, do you read the ingredients list on the back of the can or bottle? Are you filling up on just sugar and chemicals and preservatives? Or is it all natural? Is it made from real things in the environment? Does the nutrition label say: "made with grace, peace, forgiveness and love"?
When you finally pour that liquid into the glass, what does that substance say about you? About your life? Whatever you choose to quench your thirst is a direct reflection of you.
And when your glass is knocked over, (either planned or not) what flows out? Does the liquid bring forth help and healing or does it choke up anger and resentment?
Truthfully, I think that we all have a little Splenda in our drink. But, what does it take for us/me/you to work to make it pure? To be nothing but "all natural"?
You know how some waters (like Aquafina) say: "contains: water and salt"? How can water be anything but water? Why do we find the need to always enhance the flavor that is already so rich? In the same way, why do we all feel the need to enhance our lives with additional items and artificial ingredients?
Why do we do this?
I think that one of the many answers is that we feel uncomfortable being ourselves. We don't relish the opportunity of showing people our true selves. Our identity (whatever you find yourself immersed in) greatly impacts others. We never know how much we really impact a fellow human being (either positively or negatively). Our lives are always on display. They are a showcase. If we really examine the ways in which we live and it reveals that we are not comfortable with ourselves, then how will we ever be able to counsul and help others? If Christians are not able to find their sole purpose and satisfaction of new life in Christ, how will their friends know that there is another way to live apart from the sweeteners?
I also believe that another reason we enhance our drink with man-made materials is that we are afraid of making mistakes. We need to come to terms with the fact that as humans, we are not always going to get it right. It's important to learn from our mistakes so that we can become better stewards of our world and help others not to make the same ones that we did. Mistakes are one of life's learning tools. I'm not saying to go out and fill up on caffeine but what I am saying is that we are constantly reminded that through every fall, stumble and trip we acknowledge that we can't get through life on our own. Life is not supposed to be an independent journey. Humans were made for relationships and to experience and be dependent to the extent that it helps us not hurt us.
For those who identify as followers of Jesus, may he teach us how to be dependent on Him; to know that we are partners on life's journey. For those who may not profess to be followers of Jesus, may we begin to understand and take comfort in knowing that though all of us long for an artifical sweetener to add flavor to our drink, may we begin the process (however that may look for you personally) of removing this unncessary addition to making our drink pure.
Copyright July 2010: Alex
