One of the things I appreciate about real talk, is that it can be just that – real talk.
Sometimes in church company and certain settings certain language is used, certain phrases, certain gestures, certain protocol that keeps the status quo, but doesn’t necessarily reveal the real. As The Carpenters once put it, sometimes in church gatherings we’re lost in a masquerade. That’s why I love church gatherings where real talk takes place. Not talk that justifies sinful behaviour, but exposes it to the light and love of Jesus Christ. Not talk that makes out that everything is a testimony where all life is a success, but exposes ourselves to the power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead and is able to keep us from falling.
Recently I watched the movie American Gangster starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. (Just as a side issue, hasn’t Crowe been underrated as an actor – A Beautiful Mind, Gladiator and this movie really shows the guy has acting chops. May not have done so much recently, but the guy’s a good actor. As for Washington, well it should go without noting that the dude is The Consummate Pro, if I went into the acting biznez, that brother would be the model I’d want to emulate.)
It’s not the first time I’ve watched the movie – so you know I like it, because I chose to watch it again. What intrigued me in the story on this occasion was the turning point for the character played by Denzel Washington called Frank Lucas. Lucas is man who was mentored by someone who had community in mind and a level of integrity. When the mentor dies Lucas rises to prominence through getting his ‘stuff’ straight from the source whilst endeavouring to maintain key principles. Yet as with the best human tragedies, the downfall of Lucas is when he forgets his own principle. In a moment of indulgence while at the height of his powers he forgets his principle of discretion and flaunts his wealth in the form of a flashy coat and hat at the highly publicised Ali-Frazier fight.
Later as the repercussions begin to hit, Lucas regrets his decision and burns the coat and hat. By then, however, the wheels are in process and from a position of strength, he becomes increasingly insecure. Although he struggles to retain his principles, it’s too late and eventually his empire comes crashing down.
I have made some significant mistakes in my life. I have lost focus of God and His holiness and made some decisions that have caused pain and sorrow to those I love. Some of those decisions have been blatantly erroneous, others, however, have been ‘reasonable’ decisions for what appeared to be legitimate reasons, but was actually just a cop out for an easier life. Why go through hassle, when I can take things easy. Why make that sacrifice when I can take care of something else which won’t be as strenuous. Whether blatant or not these decisions have been made and whether at the time or sometime down the track those repercussions have come up and … taught valuable lessons about how to make decisions.
Sometimes like a computer’s file I wish I could just delete those decisions. You know, right-click the file, select delete and then empty the recycle bin, or better still press shift and delete and permanently delete the file. I wish I could do that and then nothing would be said and done about it and we could all make our merry way back to doing what we were doing.
Of course as some IT experts would inform me, even when I do that it does not erase the file from my computer – someone with the right programs and know-how could check the computer thoroughly and dig up those files. I’m not even convinced that God requires me to delete the files. He wants me to be clean – so He will cleanse me. That’s the power of the washing process, acknowledgement of the mess and taking part in the next step of wiping the hard drive so that it can be used for positive purposes, rather than the material that previously stank up the place. The files may still be there somewhere, but the drive will be clean, I’ll be in a position to download files and programs that can be used for what is right in His sight.#
I get the impression that is the process of daily prayers that asks for forgiveness and moves onto seeing His Kingdom come. Though it’s a daily occurrence and part of life’s ongoing devotion, there is also an element in which a season is rich for that detox for devotion purpose. You know when such a season is upon you when you notice that your focus is slightly amiss. The things come before the Person. The Power comes before the Person. Other people come in before the Person. It’s subtle, it doesn’t blatantly affect your rhythm of life, but you wake up one day and say to yourself, where is the love? (Not the Black Eyed Peas version, the Hathaway/Flack version.) When you ask yourself that question (and it’s usually not you, it’s your wife, it’s the look of your 18 month old daughter, it’s your reaction to a work situation, it’s your lethargic response to the cry for compassion aka It’s God) it’s time for that season.
When I sing Jesus is all the world to me, seasons like this help to ground the basics that return me to the essence of that song as a lifestyle. Those decisions help to go beyond deletion to the necessary detoxification necessary for devotion.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 