In the history of creation, there is not a more significant event than when YHWH is incarnated among his people in the form of a helpless baby in the manger. Love comes near. Presence is the linchpin to redemption. The restoration of humanity comes when God takes his place in the nitty-grittyness of daily life.
God is found not in the temple, or in the mighty cosmos, but in the sweaty stinky filth of a manger. A perfect blend of sacred and secular. It is through the ordinary and the forgotten that salvation finally comes. The path is ignoble and not paved in gold. Those first reached are not the holy, but the mundane.
This is the mode of operation YHWH chooses to use. The incarnation points to the God we serve. It calls us to a way of living and loving in its simple form. Even now God uses a fallen people to be his agents of redemption. The mission of the church is reflected in this: incarnation. God is found in and among his people as they are found among the poor and marginalized. Presence.
Evil in conquered and hope is restored through the weakness of a infant born to teenage peasants in a world of oppression.
I am a discontent person. Just ask my wife or co-workers.
Its not that I walk around all day and mope about how life sucks and I got the short end of the stick; far from it. I feel incredibly lucky. I have a great family, a wonderful life and the freedom to do the things I enjoy.
For me, discontentment is not about what we have or our personal lives, but rather it is about the way things could be. I become discontent when I believe there is a better way. I am the kind of guy who can spend an hour trying to figure out the best way to do a 15 minute task. [Side Story: When I kid I was responsible for bringing up the firewood to the house. I tried every conceivable way to make the process easier but usually ended up carrying it up by hand. After a year or two I finally realized the shortest way was not the best way and was able to perfect “The Wheel Barrel Technique” and thus finally suceeded at finding “The Better Way.”]
I tend to look at the world in the same way. Sure there is a lot of good going on — especially in this country, but I refuse to be content because I know things can be better. I am convinced this is because of my understanding of the Christian Narrative. The story of God’s interaction with Creation and Humanity is not about a magic wand where all things are set right (I would even argue the cross is not the final solution). Instead, it a constantly evolving story of redemption where each generation is called to take the torch and continue to partner with YHWH in making the world a better place. The message of Creator-God is constant: I will bless my people so that they can be a blessing to ALL THE NATIONS.
Yes I am discontent. But, that is because I refuse to be content in a world where there is still genocide and human trafficking and corporate exploitation and racism and rape as a weapon of war and….
It would easy to curl up into a ball and enjoy my happy life. To be thankful that my family has healthcare and a warm home. To use my disposable income for personal pleasures and to ignore the plight of so many who do with so little. But I can’t. I can’t because I don’t believe we have yet arrived. I don’t believe where we are as a community, country, society, world is good enough. I am discontent because I believe there is a better way. I believe we have a long way to go and I want to be a part of getting there.
Below I have included a video (I am pretty sure you are going to have to go to youtube to watch it) and the lyrics from one of my favorite songs: Better Way by Ben Harper. He has one stanza that I often repeat to myself whenever I find myself moving from a healthy discontentment into cynicism: What good is a man who won’t take a stand // What good is a cynic with no better plan.
In looking to live out “a better way” I am constantly aware that it is not enough to simply be discontent with the way things are, but we must be active in bringing it about. It is like Gandhi said: “You must be the change you wish to see.”
Better Way – Ben Harper
I’m a living sunset
Lightning in my bones
Push me to the edge
But my will is stone
Fools will be fools
And wise will be wise
But i will look this world
Straight in the eyes
What good is a man
Who won’t take a stand
What good is a cynic
With no better plan
Reality is sharp
It cuts at me like a knife
Everyone i know
Is in the fight of their life
Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes
You have a right to your dreams
And don’t be denied