a ladder going down
I really appreciated Ray Blunt’s message to us on Sunday about vocation. He called us to consider the ladder we are climbing and the wall upon which it is leaning. Personally, I know that so much of angst and journal writing and late night worry comes from my fear about making it up the ladders I have built for myself. Climbing the ladders of greatness or significance are both familiar and unsatisfying. I appreciated the way that someone [Ray] who has had 70 good years [praying for about 30 more, my friend] and been to the top was able to say with integrity: ‘There is so much more. And you won’t find it up here. Don’t put the wrong ladder against the wrong wall.’
Instead, Ray offered to us the example of Jesus:
…who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
What would it be like to join Jesus on a ladder that went down? Instead of always trying to claw our way to the top, what would it be like to intentionally move down?
I was captivated by that question. It rolled around in my head for a good part of my run yesterday.
First, I realize that there are very few examples of this. I was trying to think– who has done this? And there were not many faces that popped in my head. Do you know any real people, fictional people, living people or dead people who have made choices to walk down the ladder?
Second, I realized I was not quite sure what ‘going down the ladder’ meant. 🙂 I can articulate what going up is like: more responsibility at work, a larger home, a better car, more exotic experiences, better schools for our kids, meeting the right person and getting married, getting an advanced degree, etc, etc… So do you know people who have said no to what seems like ‘everybody else is doing’ as they climb this ladder?
Third, I realized that just because Jesus did it, doesn’t mean I am motivated to do it. Let’s be honest. Most people don’t go down the ladder because life seems better at the top. So what would motivate us to get on a ‘down ladder’? I think Jesus came down because he wanted relationship with us. And I think the goodness that is waiting for us at the bottom of the down ladder is relationship as well. It is hard to invest in people when you are climbing those ladders. So maybe what God would have for you as come on down is friendship, time with family, even deeper intimacy with God Himself.
People, choices, and motivations. I’m curious if you have thoughts on any of those as we consider following Christ who did not find equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing.
-David
Want to read more about vocation and God’s calling? Bill Haley had a nice piece in the Washington Post yesterday. Byron Borger is one of the best ‘book recommenders’ I have ever met. I love his blog. [Thanks Steve Garber for these suggestions…]
September 5, 2012 @ 9:30 am
Do you know any real people, fictional people, living people or dead people who have made choices to walk down the ladder?
Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor, guiding hobbits through the wilderness and tending their wounds. (Fellowship of the Rings, JRR Tolkein)
Rich Mullins, giving up his fame/fortune in the Christian Music Industry to live, love and serve with indians (Rich Mullins: A Devotional Biography: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, James Bryan Smith)
Saint Fancis, Mother Theresa, “Rocky” Balboa in Rocky IV (leaving his house of luxury and training in a shack in the Siberian mountains)
Most people dont go down the ladder because life seems better at the top. So what would motivate us to get on a down ladder?
“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God..” Hebrews 12
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his JOY he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13
“…because of the HOPE laid up for you in heaven” Colossians 1
What would it be like to join Jesus on a ladder that went down?
Well, if “going up is like: more responsibility at work, a larger home, a better car…”, then going down is: less responsibility at work, downgrading (or staying with current) vehicles, living in a smaller home. That seems like a scary road/ladder to walk/climb down alone, or if this world were all that I could hope for (1 Cor 15:19). I look forward to working through my heart struggles (not believing in the JOY/Hope of Heaven enough to really climb) within my Restoration Small Group community.
September 5, 2012 @ 11:08 am
I don’t know why that showed up as ALL CAPS. Maybe instead of “less responsibility at work” climbing down would look more like “not seeking my ultimate worth, identity and signifigance in what I accomplish at work.” This is a good question I am wrestling with. Maybe I need to go running…
September 5, 2012 @ 12:15 pm
Great, thoughtful questions, David. As always you provoke us to think Christianly. I have wrestled with the idea of descending to lead and to live for at lest 22 years since the Philippians passage hit me between my blind eyes. Working for these last eight years to try to tell the story of Wilberforce, Jefferson and the uneven ending of slavery, has helped me to articulate this somewhat better. William Wilberforce, and indeed all of the Saints, lived such lives of descending from where they could have easily grasped. Jefferson had the same opportunity but chose party over principle; lifestyle over setting his own slaves free; submission to a false idea (rationalism) rather than to the truth of Christ. The Saints ushered in an era (Victorian) in England and in politics that in comparison shames our own “land of liberty” at precisely the same time period. Somehow a monarchy/oligarchy achieved what we set out to do in the world’s first republican democracy.
Jim Collins arrives at much the same conclusion through mining data on the most successful companies. He describes the few Level V leaders as exhibiting just what Christ showed us and taught and what Wilberforce and his colleagues lived–the twin characteristics of being deeply purpose-driven while also being transparently humble. All of these “great” companies and their leaders he writes of were materially successful, not obsequiously ‘umble like Uriah Heep. I would say almost any one of the leaders in Good to Great would resemble the downwardly mobile leader.and many were faithful Christians. Collins for all of his intelligence, cannot figure out, however, how to produce a humble, purpose-driven leader.
I hope as we push out our efforts of mentoring the next generation, we could put these issues squarely on the table. In DC, if we are to impact the culture around us, these issues are among the most difficult that people coming up wrestle with daily. Keep encouraging us.