sick of safe

Here's something I've been thinking about a lot the last few days, something that was evidently on my mind over a year ago.... I've kind of been thinking about it in connection with fear......

March 4th, 2008

It really makes me wonder sometimes, reading of Jesus and his life, reading about the disciples lives....and the extremes they hit. I don't mean extreme in a bad way, just extreme love. I still struggle with reconciling it all in my head. I'm not saying it has to look the same for everyone, or that it should, but I am left with this feeling that somehow we rationalize the Bible down, we talk about love as if we know what it is, and yet no one lays down their life for another person. We give with limit, when God's love knew none. We expect to live, do some good things, generally be ok people, and somewhere it seems love has lost its danger. Do we ever seriously consider what it may cost to follow, or do we simply follow and give no heed to the cost? I don't know what the cross means to everyone else-but I don't think Christ was scoffing when he told people to deny themselves and carry their cross. We have watered down love. We want the good feeling and the thrill, without ever truly having to take a full risk- we'll only see a dim version of love as long as we're willing to only go to half-lengths to show it.
The question is, do any of us have the courage left to show it?

Will any of us opt for extreme love rather than mediocre?

is the cost something we are willing to pay?



And now, a year later, I think the answer to that question is ... Yes.

Once you see, once you really see who Jesus is, Yes.
because there aren't any more options left.

He is the only thing that's left.
Jesus, who he is, and how he has lived love.

nothing else matters anymore.