So Now What?!? Prt. 3: Asking The Wrong Question

Thanksgiving has come and gone, Christmas is less than three weeks away.  My 6-year-old son has already made quite a list for Santa, and as I write this it’s –3 degrees outside (I have shoveled our driveway and patio three times within the span of a week, and needless to say, despite the beauty of the snow, it’s getting a little old and I long for the balmy highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s!) 

We packed up the three kids in our mini-van and chugged our way to Texas for Thanksgiving week:  We saw tons of folks we call ‘family’, ate a ton of fried turkey and honey-baked ham, and made it back to Denver just in time to relax for a few moments before ‘normal’ life reared it’s awkward head and welcomed us with open arms.  Another Thanksgiving holiday week in the books….

So Now What?  What Next?

A few weeks later, having reviewed my last blog post, I was a little startled by how open and honest I was, and I feared the first half of my post was in danger of overshadowing my conclusion.  Regardless, the main point was simply, where your treasure is, there your heart resides.  And I was happily surprised as God showed me a simple and profound answer to the annoying question I keep asking:

So Now What? What Next?

Over Thanksgiving holiday I was fortunate and blessed enough to spend time with both my wife’s extended family as well as my own.  In fact, here they all are:

Susan’s extended family, on Thanksgiving day:

My parents and siblings’ families, the day following:

And just for good measure, here is my own family that same day:

Looking at these pictures, I start to realize that there is indeed a round-a-bout answer to “Now What? What’s Next?” question: The answer turns the question on it’s head: You are asking the wrong question – “Now what,” or “What’s next” is of little importance when looking at these family pictures, or any pictures I have of my kids, my wife, my friends.  Being surrounded by folks that love and accept me for who I am, not what I have gained or won or accomplished.  And if I am open to that love, then I begin to feel the love and comfort of Jesus Christ through those that are around me.  I love and serve them in return, and in doing so I am fulfilling Christ’s command.

Sometimes, your family quite simply drives you crazy: Family members can go from loving and great to awkward and annoying faster than a speeding misplaced comment.  And sometimes there are things beyond your control that might separate your relationship with friends and family members for awhile – it’s unfortunate and painful, but it does indeed happen.  But as it depends on you, always make an effort to make family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, even in-laws your top priority, just below Loving God.  Practice and Learn to love these people, even when they might not deserve it, even when they fall down, even when they make dumb choices over and over again. 

But to what purpose? Why exactly should we put folks who often appear to live for themselves on the top of our priority lists? Because its exactly what we were called to do, it’s the essence of our faith, it’s the command we were called to follow in the New Testament:

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13.34-35)

So, to conclude, I humbly ask that if you are living life in eternal wanting to the question, “Now what? What’s Next,” that you kindly drop it.  Consider living for others.  Begin and practice with your own family.  “Now What” is self-centered, “What’s Next” can be awfully selfish, for “Your life" is indeed not your own.

It’s the wrong question.  Perhaps the right one would sound something like this:

Who can I serve today? Who can I help?  Who can I show the love of Christ too?  How’s my family doing?  Who could use a phone call?

In Him,

Mark