"AN INVESTMENT THAT COUNTS"
Monday, January 12, 2009
By Rev. Travis Franklin
In the past several months it has become rather clear to all of us the risk that each of us runs related to investing. When the economy begins to take a downturn it is important to know what to do when with the investments we have. Our choices related to such decision-making can make all the difference in the outcome. Timing becomes crucial and if we are not careful a slight hesitation or miscalculation can end up costing more than we would care to lose.
Life is no different. It is important how we invest our life. We only have one life to live and there aren’t any second chances. One of the risks we run in living is the temptation to become so absorbed in the means of living that we lose sight of the ends of living. One of Stephen Covey’s seven habits of highly successful people is beginning with the end in mind. Improving our means doesn’t necessarily improve the ends. Having some sense of where we are trying to go can make all the difference in how we choose to get there. Life must not be wasted.
The gospel reminds us in no uncertain terms that we lose life by trying to guard and protect and secure life. We discover life, so says Jesus, as we learn to let go, to risk, to seek new adventures. The gospel reminds us that we should sell all we have to secure the treasure in the field. What good is it to gain the whole world if it cost us our very own soul? If we seek to protect ourselves against the hurt and pain, we also shut ourselves off from the joy, growth, and from our usefulness. Affirming life must be our goal even in the midst of ambiguities and ambivalences. In the reality Jesus spoke of that is the only kind of life there is. Anything else is just pretending at life. The ends we hope to achieve justify the means we live. So many people today seem to think we can use whatever means we need without ever considering their consequences or the ends we hope to attain. The means must never justify the ends.
God, through grace, offers us freedom to risk, to adventure, and to let go. If we trust God with such living what do we really have to lose? Our problem arises when we claim to know more about how to live life than the author of life himself. We must accept the fact we are not going to get it all together just exactly the way we want it. Some wanted Jesus crucified while others claimed him as Messiah. Can we expect it to be any different in our own journey? We have one life to live. It is God’s free and loving gift to us. Our trust in God and the end God is leading us to can make all the difference in how we choose to make the journey. My prayer is that the investment we choose to make with this marvelous and sacred gift will make all the difference. It must because it is the only opportunity we have.
Travis