Back to the heart

I guess this guy was hoping for a different answer -

“Someone out of the crowd said, "Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance."
He replied, "Mister, what makes you think it's any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?"
Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'
"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'
"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."” Luke 12:13-21 (The Message)

Maybe the man was hoping that Jesus would agree with his fight for justice and take up his cause. Certainly Jesus is for social justice, but He is even more interested in the heart of a person.

One person may have felt for the man and fought for his rights, another may have said that he didn’t deserve it anyway. Jesus, knowing this man’s heart and indeed all hearts, warns him about greed and the dangers of prioritising possessions over having a heart that is right with God.

Your life will be defined by what you focus on most – what is your life defined by?

Activist vs. Heartivist(?)

I didn’t know what to think when someone first described me as an activist. My image of activists has always been people who get blasted by water cannons. I was being interviewed by a guy who is doing his PHD on teacher motivation, he summarised my desire to work as a teacher as being an activist – someone who does things to try and make a difference.

I had never thought of it that way but I realise that I do like to do things. It is kind of where I come from in terms of my personality and motivations. It’s something that I value. I have been good at making things happen and getting things done. I have always thought that this quite an asset – but now I realise that it can also be a liability.

Being motivated to ‘do’ things can lead you to forget to simply ‘be’ someone. Trying to do too much will lead to stress, burnout and conflict in relationships. Sometimes what we do doesn’t work. It becomes easy to judge others by what they do, and when we start to compare ourselves to others.

I consider myself to be someone who can commit, work hard, get things done and achieve goals – but more and more I am valuing the heart over the actions. Without a heart that is strong, free and open I don't think our activities will necessarily amount to much.

On New Years Day I felt to read what Jesus said in Matthew (Chapter 6). Jesus tells His followers not to worry about life – clothing, food, our bodies and the future. I reflected that most of the goals I usually make ultimately could be described as worrying about these things. This year, on my journey, I want to worry less about what I do and make goals for my heart instead.

Are your New Years Resolutions about ‘doing’ or ‘being’?

(I struggled to think of an opposing word for activist – can you suggest something better than ‘heartivist’?)

Decreasing Demand

Demand has lied to us. We have been told that we deserve things we don’t need. Demand drives our economy, threatens our environment, and squeezes our culture.

Demand destroys. It expresses itself as selfishness, greed and even physical sickness. It’s ugly. It makes us sick. Demand makes us focus on our rights and forget about the hearts of others.

Demand comes from deep within, from something missing in the soul. It makes me want the bigger house, the better car and the massive TV. It makes me want to eat more than I need. It makes me yearn for affirmation.

We have been offered a cycle of wanting, getting, lacking satisfaction and wanting again. It’s a sick spiral. It’s something to which we could devote our whole lives.

We need a better offer. King David sang, painting a picture of real satisfaction;
The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:1-3

What if we decided to challenge demand in our hearts?

My wife Sarah and I have decided to go on a blogging journey for forty days starting at Christmas. We intend to write about things that stir our minds and challenge our hearts. Our idea is that it’s not just that we need to decrease demand in our lives but that there is something incredibly valuable to gain in our lives by doing this.

If you’re keen to come along and perhaps go on your own journey then you can:

Receive – read each day with your mind and heart open.

Respond – share your thoughts and ideas by commenting at the Excess Exchange blog, do something, let something change in your heart, tell someone.

Thanks for reading. I’d love to have you along for the ride.
Mark