It seems life is non-stop compromise. This morning I stopped by Verizon to look at a couple of their newest phones, the Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid. Both good phones, but neither had the "whole package". One had a strong operating system but was heavy and unattractively boxy, the other was slim and stylish but limited in technological flash. For me, the ultimate phone on the market is the iPhone. However, choosing the iPhone and its technological wonderland is not without compromise either! With Verizon I have great reception nearly anywhere I go along with excellent customer service, but to choose the iPhone means accepting the lackluster reception and less than satisfying customer service of AT&T.
A brief side-note: customer service is extremely important to me. Go to an Apple Store (the computers, not fruit) and before you reach the middle of the store you would have been greeted happily by no less than 2-3 employees. As a church, we must remember that visitors look at us like we are any other place of business. If we don't provide them with good customer service, they will likely not return. Remember that it is always easier to get someone in the door the first time than it is to convince them to return based on the promise that it will "get better", it's "good enough for church" or we just had an off-day.
Back to compromise...
Thankfully there is one thing in life that requires no compromise. If we stay mindful of God and choose to walk in his presence, we will never find ourselves in need. It is a broken world, per our choice, and bad things will happen... but the choice to have God's presence in our lives comes without having to weigh pro's and con's. God's spirit is more than enough to provide us the strength, comfort and resolve to find our way through anything. Let me say that again, anything. Unfortunately, we often choose to compromise our relationship with God. We say "I'll hang out with you on Sunday's and Wednesday nights, but the rest of the week is mine." God says "but I love you, and I want to be with you ALL the time!" "Sure, I love you too God... with all my heart. But I have things to do, and some of my friends aren't that hip on your way of life - why don't you hang out here in my room, watch some TV and I'll be back in a little while." This is not always a conscious thought process, but it is ultimately what we are telling God. I'll admit, too often I have told him the same thing. As my Pastor, Jim, has said, to choose God is to enter in to a marriage. This marriage will not work if you constantly leave your spouse at home while you go out to play with your friends... it takes nurturing, conversation, adoration, comfort, consideration and attention.
Do you remember the Harry Chapin song "Cat's in the Cradle"? Listen to the song (lyrics below) and imagine that you are the adult and God is the little boy. The relationship that is developed in this song could be similar to the relationship you are developing with God. For God, it is never too late for us to begin anew... but you and I only have so much time.
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A child arrived just the other day, he came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, he'd say, I'm gonna be like you, dad. You know I'm gonna be like you." My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play. Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok." And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed, said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him." And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then, you know we'll have a good time then." Well, he came from college just the other day.
So much like a man I just had to say, "Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile, "What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?" I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day. I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time. You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu, But it's sure nice talking to you, dad. It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
he'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me. |