A few hours into the trip after I had calmed down and my head had shrunk back to its normal size, I looked to the left and suddenly noticed a rather large piece of paper hanging down on the inside of the window. I wondered to myself, "who put that there?" Upon further examination, I realized that it was a checklist from the rental truck company. What was even more perplexing was that it was actually blocking half of my driver's side mirror and yet somehow I had failed to notice it until two hours into my trip! The whole experience sent me down a pondering road for most of my driving day. I was astounded at how I had missed the obvious. It was actually a bit unnerving as I began to ask myself how many other times have I missed the very thing that’s right in front of me!  As I write this I hear the voices of many wives like my own saying, "sounds like my husband."  Maybe this is a deficiency in the male species. One way or the other I didn't like it, nor the potentially negative things that it can set in motion.

I've also been thinking a lot lately about the human need for significance. We are born with a spirit and soul that needs to know that we are valued, by others and by God. When our soul is broken, we are not satisfied with simple affirmation as being ordinary just isn’t enough. Our soul craves "more", and we are beset with the need to be extraordinary!  We need to be seen as special, unique and more important than others. This particular phenomenon is manifested within the Christian community in a variety of ways. On the one hand there are those that are forever telling us of their mystical and spiritual experiences that have this underlying message that they are somehow different, special and dare I say, more superior than others. There are also those who continue to remind us of their "inside" understanding of the mind of God. You always know when you've been in their presence as you walk away from the encounter feeling a few inches shorter. There are many traps along this road and one that seems to have snared many these days is the continual hype used by many Christian ministries to reinforce their own extraordinary place in God's plan and purpose.

I've been thinking about the New Testament church planter Paul, and how he handled himself when visiting the Corinthian community. "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence (superiority) of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:1-3). Just a few lines earlier in his letter he said "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (I Cor.1:27-29).  Is it possible that we are standing in the way or even hindering the Spirit of God by our continually proclaiming our own extraordinariness? Paul it seems, testified of his simplicity and ordinary life so that when God did move "your faith might not rest on man's wisdom but on God's power (I Cor. 2:5).  Are we emotionally whole? Are we strong enough, to be weak enough to allow God to be strong in and through us? Have you ever really noticed how very simple the message of Jesus was?  I wonder if in our need for significance we have created a Christian culture that is addicted to looking sophisticated? Underlying our thinking is that I need to look good so God looks good. Paul seemed to be prepared to get out of the way so God looked good. I'm not advocating stupidly but wondering about the power of simplicity.

I think we in the Christian community need be careful not to lose sight of the mission amongst the continual pressure both internally and externally to better market ourselves. In our quest to "know God" or at least look like we know Him, we must remember the words of the Prophet Jeremiah, “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink?  He did what was right and just, so all went well with him.  He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord. (Jer. 22:15-16)

The Christian life and message is really quite simple. "Greater love has no one than this - that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  If we in the Christian community could get out of the way and return to the simplicity of the Christian message and lifestyle, we would very well see the true power of God manifested and change nations. In your quest for significance please don't miss the obvious, "Administer true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another" (Zech. 7:9), especially to the poor.