Not the American Dream!

Denise and I decided to take a drive this morning. During the first two years of our marriage, that drive would either be to the beaches of South Walton County, Florida or to Mobile, Alabama. And we would basically be driving at sea level. Well, instead of at sea level, we began our journey at 7,522 feet above sea level and crested 12,000 feet above sea level before descending to the other side of Trail Ridge Road into Grand Lake, Colorado. The above picture was taken at Lake Irene which is 10,700 feet above sea level. If you would have told me a year ago that Denise and I would be living in Estes Park, Colorado and driving over the Continental Divide (we did today), I would have said you are crazy! But we were. God called us to a new place and a new ministry at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. What a journey it has been!

In the Gospel reading for tomorrow, I can imagine that the rich young man had a similar sort of experience. You see, he went up to Jesus with a serious question which he figured he knew the answer to. What must I do to inherit eternal life, good teacher? Part of me thinks that he thought he knew the answer and was simply looking for affirmation that he was on the right course. Despite Jesus initial, “why are you calling me good” response, he still felt like he was on target. Keep all the commandments? Piece of cake! I have done that since I was a wee lad!

When Jesus looked at him with love in his eyes, the young man must have felt like he was blessed and affirmed. After all, he was living the dream. He was a rich young man who was on top of the world. Money, possessions, power, prestige… they were all his. And this incredible Rabbi had just looked at him with love… how can it get any better? BAM! The next words out of Jesus’ mouth must have shocked him to the very core. You lack one thing… sell everything you have and give the money to the poor. Then come follow me.

“Really, Rabbi? Sell everything I have? Liquidate all of my assets? And do what? Give it all to the poor? Seriously?” It was no wonder that he went away grieving. After all, he had many possessions! When I place this lesson in today’s context, I see a similar reaction. What is the American dream? Make loads of money and be successful. Retire at an early age and go fishing! Oh, by the way, don’t worry about who you crush on the way to your prize! When Jesus calls us to realign our priorities, he doesn’t pull any punches.

This passage would be all about money and power and possessions if it were not for the response Jesus gave to Peter. Peter, in a moment of pure incredulous shock, said to Jesus: “Look, we gave it all up to follow you! If the rich dude can’t be saved with all he has, then who can be saved?” (Mark 10:27-28, Padre’s paraphrase) Peter looked at the rich young man and thought: “He has everything! He has money, power, possessions. We have nothing! How can we possibly be saved? We have nothing! We gave it all up! So what’s up with that?”

Peter, my dear brother, it isn’t about power, riches, and possessions.  You are more concerned about your position in society. You are more concerned about keeping up with the Jones’s. It is about so much more than that. It is about doing what God calls you to do with the gifts God has given you. It isn’t about amassing power and wealth and prestige. It is about humble service. Remember Micah? “Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God.” That, my friend is what it is all about! As Jesus said: “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The further I moved up within the Chaplain Corps of the US Air Force, the more I realized that this was true. At some point, it looked like a decisions was going to be made. Would I buy into the system of power and prestige? Or would I continue to be a humble servant of Christ. To be honest, personally, I saw fewer opportunities to be a humble servant and more opportunities to become part of the system. I chose to retire without reaching for the next higher rank. Some said I would have easily made Colonel. I said it wasn’t worth it for me, personally. I turned down the AF dream. I wanted to humbly serve Christ. I didn’t want all of the “accolades” that came with the rank. Just let me serve, Lord.

In my heart, I saw the Lord look at me… He looked at me with love. Then he said, “Michael, I am calling you to a different ministry. I am calling you to serve me in another way. From my earliest days as a Second Lieutenant. I had visions of becoming a Chaplain, Major General (senior USAF Chaplain). At times, I could see it very vividly. But was it where God was calling me to be? Nope! God called me to serve in another capacity. .

What we are called to be as Christ-followers? Aren’t we called to be servants? Aren’t we called to think of others before ourselves? May God help us, dear sisters and brothers to simply serve, no matter what the position we find ourselves in. Not for riches… Not for fame… Not for glory… Simply for Christ, may we serve!