I just recently watched “The Book of Eli” which was a wonderful thing considering the first few movies I watched in this short while into 2010 have not been so good.  This movie was very good.  I’m a sucker for stories, and the story line of this film was so intriguing and spiritual, and not what I was expecting.  The plot of the film (which I will no go into acute detail for the sake of not spoiling the movie for those of you who have not seen it yet) is set in post apocalyptic Earth and the story follows a man (Denzel Washington) that feels he is called to take the last Bible in existence West where there is talk of a civilized society that is trying to restore humanity.  It shows his struggles of making his way westward, without actually having any clue where to go and the trials and tribulations that are in his way, such as people trying to steal from him and kill him for the book.  The movie is highly violent but riddled with spiritual Under and Overtones and for the sake of ruining the story I will end the plot description here.

What I took away from this movie is something that most probably should have.  The main point to me was to follow God’s lead blindly.  Without question, without complaint, we are called to follow Him, even if we don’t understand.  It kind of put that back into perspective to me for sometimes we forget that we are not the ones who should question the Lord, which we all do daily.  God uses people in so many ways even when we don’t understand.  Such as why did God chose two men (Allen and Albert Hughes) to direct “The Book of Eli” that have no real belief or faith in their lives currently, and it’s a movie based on believing in faith and spiritual guidance?  I think it’s because God knew they were best fit for it.  Either way it’s not for us to question.  If you were to be put in a position where you were supposed to blindly go somewhere without knowing where you would end, would you have the courage to do so without complaint, questioning or complete understanding for Gods will?  What feelings would have if you were told to go west and keep moving until you find what it is you are looking for?

When I was working full-time as a psychotherapist, I spent a good chunk of my work days helping clients that were struggling with chemical dependency.  The topic of pain was very relevant to the people I interacted with in counseling, both as folks still active in addiction and also as new travelers on the road to recovery.  Pain in this life is unavoidable, and I would frequently challenge people to see pain as one of the most underutilized resources on the planet.  Sound a bit odd?

I am currently on staff at an Evangelical Covenant Church (www.covchurch.org) and recently attended our annual Midwinter Conference (www.covchurch.org/midwinter) and Connection (www.covchurch.org/connection) in Denver, CO.  The theme of the Connection this year was “The Beautiful Struggle,” and there were a variety of great speakers and teachers that spoke in different ways on this notion of pursuing Jesus with our lives as being a beautiful struggle.  Sunil Sardar was one of the general session speakers that I was privileged enough to hear.

“Pain is a privilege.  Pain is a gift from God.”

These are the words of Sardar, an incredible man of God that founded TruthSeekers International (www.truthseekersinternational.org) as a vehicle to share the life-changing power of Jesus with seven hundred million lower caste people in India, a people that are set up from birth by the caste system more to exist rather than truly live.  He has been physically and verbally assaulted because of the work he is doing, and yet, he experiences pain of all types as an honor.  He also made a point to say that we do not have to seek pain for it will find us.  However, Sardar did mention the concept of “borrowing pain” from others.  Does this sound like someone else?

We are called to join in joy as our brothers and sisters celebrate a victory, and on the other end of the scale, there is this equally important call to join with those that are experiencing deep struggle and pain.

What does that look like for you?  It may be incredibly personal today, as in the pain may be inside you or someone that is very close and dear to you.

Look back in your story.  Is it possible today for you to see a struggle as something that is connected to real beauty?

We often claim to be people that desire growth, but if we are honest, we seldom are willing to do what it takes to go in that direction.  Just like farmers utilize manure to assist in the growth of fresh produce, we are invited to utilize pain, the “crap” of our lives, to assist in spiritual growth.

Last week’s sermon at our church began with a Winston Churchill quote:  “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”  It’s a great quote, and I’ve been thinking that this doesn’t just apply to buildings.  For instance, we shape (choose) our food; then it shapes us.  We shape our days; then they shape us.  The long and short of it is, we make our choices, and then they make us.

Our choices not only reflect who we are, they actually impact who we become in the future.

What brought this to mind is the realization that my current work has pushed me toward a prayer life.  I’ve always wanted more of a prayer life, and more of a prayerful posture toward life.  And suddenly I realize that I pray more than I used to.   Not because I consciously made a decision to really develop a prayer life right now, but because the nature of my work drives me to prayer.

I made a vocational choice toward what felt like both a calling and a longing, and that choice has begun to form me in ways I hadn’t expected.  I knew I wanted to develop and use some of my best and deepest gifts in a more intentional way.  What I did not know was that in doing so, I would be pushed toward fulfilling another longing — a longing for a more prayerful approach to my life.  It was a wonderful realization.

What are some of the choices before you right now?  How do they reflect who you are?  And how might they impact who you become tomorrow?