My Life at 36 vs. Ruby's Life at 92

As I write today I am celebrating my 36^th birthday.  I don’t know about you, but when my birthdays come I end up focus on two things:

1.       All the family and friends that clearly love and care about me and show it in ways big and small.

2.       What my life has counted for and what I hope it counts for in the years ahead.

My first stop this morning was at a nursing home to visit the last surviving founding member of our church.  Her name is Ruby Brown and she is 92 years old and most likely will not be with us on this side of eternity much longer.  There is a big difference between my self-examination at 36 and Ruby’s at 92 and not just because of the difference in our ages. 

Let me share with you what I mean . . .    

Our church began in her garage nearly 60 years ago.  On that first Sunday there were 8 other people meeting in a garage who had been sent out from a mother church in Houston to launch a new work in Pasadena.  There must have been great risk in what they did along with a ton of hard work along the way.  They had no large sum of money, no “expert” pastor to help them get started, no building, nothing.  All they had was their own collective dream of doing something significant for God with their lives and the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them, guiding them every step of the way. 

There wouldn’t be enough space to account for all the times where Ruby and those other people had to sacrifice for the good of others and for the benefit of the young church they were working to launch.  There wouldn’t be enough time to record all the heartaches that they have experienced over the years, all the disappointments and all the setbacks.  The point is things were definitely not easy for them.  Ministry was not convenient.  It took lots of their time, lots of their talent and a whole bunch of their treasure. 

I wish Ruby could have been with us on our first Sunday together in March as we joined forces with Burke Road.  When I told her the story back then she was so overjoyed that she nearly danced out of her bed.  I wish she could have experienced in the flesh all that we have witnessed over the last two months.

But here is what I know . . .

None of that would have happened if it were not for Ruby and those original people in that garage back in 1953.  How many have come to faith since then?  How many have been called into pastoral ministry or full time missions work?  How many have used their gifts to honor Jesus through one of the ministries and outreaches of our church?  I could go on and on. 

What a legacy she has left!

One more thing . . .

Even though Ruby has been in a retirement home or a nursing home for the entire 10 years that I have known her, she has NEVER allowed her age, stage of life, physical condition or anything else deter her from emanating the gracious love and spirit of Jesus, making the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel with anyone and everyone she comes into contact with.  That means other residents she lives with along with staff and family.  They naturally became the mission field she lived and worked in.  She was never used up, never finished, never useless in the work of Jesus!  She has a legacy because a church was birthed through her life and sacrifice.  But maybe even more inspiring, she has never lacked a ministry or mission because wherever she was, her life was available for God to use . . . and she let Him use it exhaustively!

As Paul writes what is arguably his last letter he says:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.  (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Ruby may not see 93 years old, but I hope and trust she can feel and experience all the love and care from so many friends and family around her and that she knows her life counted for something of real, eternal value!

May I be able to be like her some day!

Do you have a case anhedonia?

Christians are coming off the highest, most celebrated day on the calendar – Easter!  So much time and energy is spent, both at the church and family level, to plan and prepare for this special day.  And it is all VERY worth it!  We proclaim the victorious power of the resurrection.  We sing songs of victory.  We revel in the re-telling of the Gospel story.  With so many guests and family members in the crowd, worship attendance swells and there is an air of expectancy and hope.  It’s an exciting time. 

But then there is the Sunday after . . . and worship attendance, even for committed Christians who regularly attend church, craters far below the normal average. 

I wonder if this is a reflection of something much deeper, something that affects our worship life all the time whether we are aware of it or not.

I wonder how many of us are suffering from a case of anhedonia? 

Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure from the typical events of life.  People become so addicted to extreme forms of stimulation, that they become bored with the ordinary.  We continue chasing the next big thrill, but in the end never actually experience the pleasure we are seeking.

Archibald Hart says, “The endless pursuit of pleasure is leaving us numb.” 

Anhedonia effects every area of our lives by gearing us to expect and even demand to be thrilled and excited every step of the way.  If we aren’t thrilled and excited then the experience is simply deemed unworthy of our time and attention.  Here is an example: Check out a reality show and how the producers have to do more and more to get us to keep tuning in! 

Even in worship, if the experience doesn’t WOW us we are tempted to think God wasn’t present or that worship had no value.  Here is the problem.  There is nothing wrong with being thrilled and excited in worship.  It is a good thing to have an air of expectancy and openness in our worship.  That is a mature, God-centered posture.  What is dangerous is the temptation to draw an equal sign between our sense of being thrilled and God’s presence.

Here is why . . . I don’t find being convicted of my sin to be very thrilling, but it’s still an absolutely essential part of my worship life.  I also don’t particularly enjoy being challenged to take difficult steps of obedience that require significant risk.  It’s not very thrilling, but I can’t grow as a disciple without it.  Finally, I cannot draw strength and joy from the normal, repetitive and routine aspects of my Christian walk because those things – even if they are important – are just far too routine.

So what do I do to fight anhedonia when it shows up?  I must intentionally alter my perspective to value the small, ordinary and routine aspects of my walk with God and my worship life.  I must engage in disciplines that don’t make me satisfied with the boring, but instead give me the gift of taking great pleasure and joy out the everyday experiences of life with God.

How about you?  Where has anhedonia showed up in your life?  What have you done to combat it?