Gratitude, Conviction, and the Perils of Comfort

Monday morning as I settled in for my devotions I was really hit with a sense of gratitude.  In light of the tornadoes that passed through Indiana on Sunday, leaving devastation in their wake, I thought of all those without electricity, without water, without a home, without their loved ones.  I, on the other hand, sat with hot cup of coffee in my hand; home intact.  The dishwasher was running in the background, my loved ones were safe and asleep in their comfortable bed.  Our refrigerator and pantry were both stocked with an abundance of food.  I truly lack nothing.  What a contrast.

Yet, I didn't feel just a sense of thankfulness for all I have and a sense of loss for others and for those who suffer on a daily basis.  I also felt convicted because of my life of such extreme comfort and ease.  I live in luxury when compared to many who might live in poverty, without enough food, who suffer with chronic physical, mental, or emotional pain.  I wondered if the life I'm living, this life of ease, is really what Jesus had in mind when he preached to his Disciples.  I wondered if I wasn't more like the man who walked away after Jesus told him to go and sell everything and then, "come, follow me".   How attached am I to my life of comfort and ease? 

Matthew 19 NIV:

21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

I'm not saying this in a "Eat everything on your plate!  Don't you know there are starving children that would give anything to have that food!", shame inducing way.  I'm saying this in a  "Man, my needs are met and exceeded.  My life is blessed!  Who am I to complain about the stress in my life?  Who am I to complain about work?  Who am I to complain about my 'first world' problems?  Who am I to think that my life is somehow hard or a struggle?"  What a joke! 

So much of our suffering, our stress, our worries, and our pain is self inflicted.  Most of us have our basic needs met.  We have the time and luxury to be stressed about the things that stress us out - Shuttling our kids to all their activities and appointments.  Getting to the grocery store and still having time to make it to the gym before we need to be home for dinner.  Worrying about our cable being out during the football game.  Concern for getting a promotion at work, making a big sale or excelling in our career.  Worry over getting a newer, bigger, vehicle or keeping up with the latest beauty and fashion trend.  It's really no wonder we are a nation where many struggle with our compulsions and dysfunctions to the degree that we do.

When our needs are met, surpassed and in excess, we really don't have to rely on a Higher Power to get through our day or to get through our life.  Our comfort and ease becomes a stumbling block in our spiritual journey.  How much harder is it to develop a life of complete surrender and dependence on God when, in our mind, the only things we have to pray about is for our sports team to win, for a new job or promotion, for a relationship to work out in our favor, for God to relieve our "stress".  Is life really that stressful?  Are we focused on what we should be focused on?  Are we getting tripped up not because of our life, but in spite of our life?  Are we trusting and relying on the "I" rather than in the "I AM"? 

For the past 15+ years I have used physical training as part of my path for spiritual transformation.  Rather than just working out, I make an effort to use my training in the gym, the mat, the trail to gain insight and to help erase my own attachment to comfort and ease.  I use my daily life and physical practice as an aid in cultivating my relationship with God and reliance on Him.  I've found this to be an excellent arena for spiritual training.  How do I react when a workout becomes difficult?  Can I be peaceful and calm when the physical pain is pushing my brain to stop?  What do I learn in those moments that I find it more appealing to stay on the couch rather than attend to my practice?  Do I learn to rely on the Lord in these moments and not my own capacity?  Can I learn to surrender to the I AM and not my limited abilities and understanding?  Life can be hard so the intention isn't to make it harder or to somehow increase your suffering as though there were merit in that concept.  The intention is to create an environment where you get out of comfort and ease to learn about who you are, who you are not, and to connect with and completely trust in something bigger than yourself.  

Rather than compartmentalizing things in such a way that some of our activities relate to our spiritual practice and others seemingly do not relate, realize the connection and ways that you can link them together.  Use my example if you engage in a physical practice of some sort and make it part of your spiritual training.  Be mindful, prayerful and grateful when you are cleaning your home.  Can you bring your reliance on God into your work, into your relationships and even into your hobbies?  As a former teacher of mine, Steve Ilg, used to say - "Life is practice.  Practice is life.  There is no separation."

Peace and Gratitude,

Chris