Hitting the Wall
Hitting the
Wall
“For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life.”
John 3:16
“This is how we know what love
is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives
for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:16
While
we were in Klamath Falls earlier this summer I ran across this graffiti on the
wall of the courthouse there. The courthouse address is 316 Main. It is
apparent that a prominent local Biblical scholar had artfully added “John”
above the 316. Who else would have had such insight to boldly and Biblically
deface the singular dignity of the courthouse address as such?! And of course,
I first thought of the verse that typically is thought of when one sees John 3:16
brazenly stuck on the side of a courthouse, or a sign at a football game, or a
random roadside billboard…. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall have eternal life.” This,
however, is not exactly the only John 3:16. There is also 1 John 3:16 “This is
how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought
to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” And that also came quickly
to mind as I saw this graffiti, because It has been this 1 John 3:16 that has fueled the zeal for writing 40 essays as
I turn 40 this year.
Around
Christmas I wrote a Christmas newsletter with 1 John 3:16 highlighted, and the
call to it stuck with me longer as a couple of you encouraged me to write more.
So throughout these essays I have felt compelled to lay down some of my life in
words, lay down a little of what I have learned, lay down in words what I love,
lay down some of my time and effort to keeping connected to friends and family
in a different way, lay down much of what typically I would otherwise have not
compunction to share… except that HE calls, he fills my ears with “This is how we know
what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down
our lives for our brothers and sisters.” This is love. When we share
our stories, share our lives, share our experiences, share our joys, share our
concerns, share small wisdoms … just lay it all down – this is love.
We can lay our lives down in endless ways. We can lay our lives down by
sacrificing our time, talent, or treasure. We can lay our lives down by
stepping aside, stepping in, stepping up. We can lay our lives down by speaking
up or keeping silent. Only the heart knows best where we need to lay down most
to be the best bridges for bits of heaven to cross the earth.
And
laying down life in any way is not easy. I find that as I round this 33rd
essay, thinking how ironic it is that the 33rd falls on the week of
my 40th – that Jesus life was 33 years when he came into his passion
and death. Does that mean anything? I don’t know. Except to say that I have
come to disregard coincidence, and consider God’s providential and perfect
timing with greater measure as I age. Am I rounding on a passion and death?
Maybe I already have. Surrendering to this. Last week a second poem came to
mind. It seems the best end for today.
33 He lived all into perfection
For 3 in He
For 3 in we
40 days into the desert
40 nights into the flood
40 weeks pregnant growth
40 years of wandering
Israel, your number is up
