Recently I read a chapter of Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies memoir that once again caused me to look deeper at life and faith. Anne describes a friend—a mother who has an alcoholic daughter. This daughter lives at a shelter, and is constantly furious at her mother—yet still accepts the $1,000 a month her mother sends her for expenses. The daughter in this story doesn't seem to recognize her mother's love—the love which sends her money every month. It's in this simple story that I saw two important points to consider.
I realized there are two sides to this scenario, and it's all too easy to be on either one.
Scenario One: We're the mad, furious child who hates his parents but still gladly accepts money, food, and shelter. Scenario Two: We're the proud, arrogant child who refuses to accept money, food, and shelter from his parents. Both of these scenarios are very dangerous.
Have you ever found yourself in either one?
Most of us have probably experienced one side of this scenario, if not both. I find a lot of spiritual truth in these two scenarios. In the first, we're the selfish, immature child who has never known a life without handouts. In the second, we're the world-weary child who has fallen flat on our face, but still refuses a helping hand due to our own arrogant pride.
I see Jesus in these two scenarios, too. Either we choose to rebel, despite the continual forgiveness and acceptance he offers, or we're too proud to even acknowledge that we need his help. In the first scenario, the child doesn't recognize the love behind his source of money, food, and shelter. He just takes it for granted. In the second scenario, the child recognizes what he needs, but is determined to get it by himself—or die trying. The key for all of us is in finding the balance of recognizing our need for Jesus's forgiveness and also asking for it.
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