What can I offer you? What can I offer to anyone? I'd like to think I am able to offer so much... tangible things and the intangible: all things from food, a place to hang out, a ride home or money to hope, encouragement in despair or love that doesn't hesitate.
In reality, though, I can't offer anyone anything except Christ. A friend of mine that I met this summer mentioned this truth in an email and since he said it, it stuck. In Christ, we can find sustenance, rest, peace and unstoppable love. However, I really have nothing except Him. This is really hard for me to think about because, as a business major, I can often find myself thinking in transactions: what are my assets, what can I offer to others, and if I am honest about it, what can I get back? It's sad because that is such a twisted way of thinking when you look at it.
Ultimately, although we think we have possessions and ownership of stuff, talents, time and energy, we don't have ANYTHING. But now for the amazing part:
"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:4)
Catch that? When we are perfect, whole and God is finished working us over, we will LACK NOTHING. And why? Because we have gained Christ. With and in Him, we are complete, perfect and done. So... my ability to offer others anything comes down to this: will I choose to offer them Christ since really that is all I have... AND, all they need? Hope so. Hope I will offer all He has given me so they may choose Him.
In a Donald Miller book, "Searching For God Knows What", Miller quotes Toni Morrison, an Nobel-Prize winning novelist, who was being interviewed about her successful writing career.
"...when asked why she had become a great writer, what books she had read, what method she had used to structure her practice... she laughed and said, 'Oh, no, that is not why I am a great writer. I am a great writer because when I was a little girl and walked into a room where my father was sitting, his eyes would light up. That is why I am a great writer. That is why. There isn't any other reason.'"
I imagine that Jesus looked at people like Morrison's dad looked at her. May I never stop looking to Jesus and seeing his loving eyes so I can be one who helps create value in others by offering them life, love, hope and Christ Himself.
Hm. It's all pretty incredible, isn't it? Thanks for listening to this crazy thought process that's still fitting together after a LONG time trying to figure it out. :) As time passes, though, I'm becoming more and more satisfied in not understanding it and simply experiencing it. Sorry for the brokenness, unfinished thoughts and wonders. I suppose that's what blogs are for.
