The Season of Resolve

 

We are beginning our “season of resolve” through The Loft teaching series Blue Like Jazz. Donald Miller, didn’t like jazz music because it didn’t resolve—there wasn’t a final resolution, decision, solution, settlement, or call to change. Until…until he saw a man playing the saxophone and for fifteen minutes the man didn’t open his eyes (author’s note).

Miller went on to say that he finally understood…you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself; it’s as if they are showing you the way. Miller muses “I didn’t like God because God didn’t resolve” and then his personal journey continued…as told in Blue Like Jazz.

This Sunday, October 28^th, we will be challenged to understand that “Life Is Drama.” Miller tells us in Chapter Three of BLJ that writing or telling stories include three elements (1) setting; (2) conflict; and (3) climax---it does sound like life, doesn’t it? Of course, the ultimate climax for the Christ-follower is Jesus Resurrected; however, every day our “life-drama” is filled with times we must resolve to “follow Him” or follow the world---and so it goes…our setting.

Muse on this for a moment…

Do you see it; our life is drama. Our day-by-day routine “life” as well as those times we declare as “defining moments” do involve a setting (situation), a number of predictable (and sometimes unpredictable) conflicts—either through external circumstance or purposeful internal decision-making and a climax (call to decision or resolution).

Fully devoted Christ-followers are challenged daily through our regular routines (daily tasks) and “conflicts” as we face decisions to demonstrate devotion to Christ or surrender to the world. I don’t know about you…I’m becoming a little uncomfortable with this muse.

I’m not sure I like looking at life as drama. I’m kinda comfortable with completing my “to-do” list or checking off my tasks in Microsoft Outlook. As John Wesley taught us---“How is it with your soul today? Or, as we say today---what condition is your condition in?

And so it is…

Sunday’s teaching on “Life is Drama” gives me a clarion call to live a fully devoted life in community and to the practices of Acts 2:41-47. I am called to personally or individually (thus communally) live out my journey of faith. How shall I resolve to respond--- through a life of intentionality and personal disciplines… through worship, the sacraments, learning in community, service, giving and community with fellow believers… or just by going with the flow of everyday life? Selah.

How about you? Do you feel that life is drama? How are you doing in those every day decisions? How about those big decisions? Are you looking to Christ in your life every day?

Grace,

Bob