The Mother Load

CS LEWIS said “Think of me as the fellow patent, who having being admitted a little earlier, could offer some advice.”

So what advice would he offer? I think he would say, just like you, I have been through situations that people have burned me, hurt me and caused pain in my life. People have disappointed me and I have even had experiences where I thought it would consume my life. I have been at the end of my rope, biting people’s heads off. My blessings have turned to blisters of burdens and I want to go off the deep end. He and countless others might say that, geez if your human you’ll say something like this sometime.

Each day is filled with stress and pressure. We all carry loads in life, but there is a difference between being under a load and being at the point of structure failure. James tells us that we can live life well under pressure; actually he speaks of a joy that comes when under a load (James 1). So, it is possible to live with pressure, be healthy and gain Godliness. But usually our loads are from the wrong pressures and most of us are at the point of structural failure. We carry the wrong loads!

As a kid I remember seeing my mom do many things, help me with school, prepare my meals, give me money, work a professional career at the only bank in town and on top of all of that she became her own entrepreneur by starting and growing successfully the only flower shop in our small USA town (all others failed before her). That shop always amazed me and I know she carried many loads I did not notice. But one I did was her deep desire to see her kids serve Jesus.

As her grown up son, I am doing my best to follow the risen Lord that she still serves today. As a leader in my own right I know there has been many people that I have had unforgiveness towards and I am certain my mom had her fair share as well.

When it comes down to it we all have this choice to make. We are going to carry loads but which one will we carry? Will it be the load of responsibility, failure and success, progress and growth or the load of blaming, anger, frustration, envy and malice. The difference between the two is forgiveness. If you and I don’t forgive we risk loads of structural failure. Relationships that once were a blessing now become a burden. Unforgiveness causes us to clamp down on freedoms and we seek our selfish ambitions through efforts of control. And even your relationship with God will suffer under the control load of unforgiveness.

Oh an on top of all that it WILL affect your body! Don’t ask me how, (that’s for a doctor to explain) but I have seen too many sour faces, slumped over postures, and sickly people to rationalize it away. Maybe that is why this story links the two together, forgiveness and physical health:

(Matthew 9:1-8) “Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” ³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” ⁴ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

Authority for what? Authority to experience the freedom of forgiveness, the right to be broken free from the shackles of sin. As least think of this last thought, do not forgive people because they deserve it or to make them feel good, you forgive people so you can experience the beauty of forgiven freedom.