The Greatest Gift

Even so, while [Jesus] saw the possibilities of seed-sowing, sometimes He refused to  do it: "Great multitudes came to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. But He withdrew Himself in the desert and prayed. He refused to do good. He refused to do good in order to do a higher good - to Himself. His greatest gift was Himself, so He must keep that self at its highest. Hence the prayer hour was kept intact in order to keep a higher contact. In this He was realistic. (Is the Kingdom of God Realism? E. Stanley Jones, 24)

 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Jesus, Mark 8:37)

Such a simple switch,

A mere moving of words,

But when the ideas are planted

Their roots run deep,

Not easily pulled out.

Here it is:

"I must feel better

before I can get better.

The sickness of our world

Stands on this idea,

On these simple words.

And so, all the frantic

Activity and all the pills

And foods and diets and

exercises and bodily contortions 

and all the life-sucking

relationships and habits

Done in secret,

Done because I must feel better

First.

We are all sick

With it all,

So hard to see health

When the pain is so great.

It screams, "Just make it stop!

I just want to feel better!"

We are all sick

Which is why the first

step is not feeling better

but getting better.

Yes, I must get better

before I can feel better.

Recovery and repentance

First.

This is not about being sorry

and certainly not about

being ashamed.

Such feelings only exacerbate

the pain and throw us

back into the world's

sickness and corruption.

No, this is about

getting better.

Resting, reading,

Eating, smiling,

Seeking the comfort and help

from those who love,

God most of all.

This is about

Taking his medicines

And staying away from

sickness and sin and secrets

Until our immunity

Recovers and grows.

Goodness must do its work

In us

Before goodness can do its work

Out of us.

The pain must be killed 

And will be killed

Not by numbing addictions

or consuming relationships,

But by recovering strength,

Grace from God

Taken every day

In every way

Is the only way

To make it through today.

You will not find many

Friends in this way,

But they will show up

When you step out of the crowd

And really touch His cloak

Or raise your voice

Above the din:

"Son of David, have mercy

on me!"

 The world is a sick place,

but not really a place for the sick.

It is only a place for the dying,

not the recovering.

Step away, step out,

Do not be squeezed into its mold

Of feeling better

Before you can get better.

Join the sick

who seek true health.

That is why Jesus

came: recovery.

His message is clear:

"You must get better

Before you can feel better.

The kingdom of God

Is near to you.

Reach out

And live."