A method that is used in Lateral Thinking to stimulate creative ideas is to pick up a random word from a dictionary and write down any thoughts that the words brings to mind.
Recently, I sat down to reflect upon a period of spiritual crises that I was going through and I remembered this method of generating ideas. “Why not give it a try?” I told myself, “anything is worth trying if it can help get me out of my spiritual stagnation”.
So I picked up a book that lay nearby and I looked at the title. The word “Road” was the first that it offered me. And so I started off with a train of thought stemming from that random word.
A road is something that that leads somewhere. Nobody builds roads that don’t lead anywhere. Is my life like a road? Where is it leading to? Does it have a purpose? Why did God give me life?
Or could it be that I’d rather have a palace rather than a road. Am I seeking to settle down comfortably? But a palace, no matter how fine it is, does not lead anywhere. You’d have to leave it and take to the road to go anywhere!
What else...?
A road is laid down to be of service to others. It is there to be used, to be trampled upon and to be useful in other people’s lives. It is not there for its own fulfillment. And certainly it is not there to receive praise. Whoever uses it admires the scenery, is concerned about the traffic, thinks about his/her vehicle, about the destination or point of departure. Not about the road. Unless, of course it offers some sort of inconvenience!
Perhaps, could it be that I am being called to serve as a “road” whereas I’d rather be called to be a “palace”. Could it be that, instead of trying to serve, I’m more concerned with being served? Could it be that my present spiritual stagnation is caused by having lost this spirit of giving which has been replaced by a selfish attitude of “receiving”, or more gravely, “demanding...expecting...?!!
Jesus is quite emphatic about this: “Whoever seeks to save his life, will lose it. Whereas, whoever loses his life will find it.”
That, I believe, is the crux of the problem. That is the root of my present ill-being. Am I endeavoring to be the centre of the universe, expecting all creation to serve and satisfy me? If that is the case then, no wonder that I am feeling so spiritually run-down!
Get out of your self-centeredness if you want to find happiness! Go out and seek the well-being of others who desperately need a helping hand, a word of encouragement. Then you will be happy! But as long as you choose to brood about yourself, about how things could be better ........you'll stay fettered in the chains of sadness and solitude.
Jesus called out “Come out Lazarus”, and Lazarus stepped out of his grave. He is now calling to me to get out of the tomb that I dug myself into.
Come out to Life.........!!! Jesus is beckoning you.
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