A while back, I was privileged to listen to Scott Arbeiter, the President of World Relief, speak at a community leaders’ breakfast. He was quite inspiring and captivating. Nevertheless, something he said opened a door in my mind that led into one of those tangential moments. He shouldn’t feel bad about my daydreaming, because as someone with ADD, it happens in almost every situation of my life. I think it even happens when I give talks. 🙂

He made mention to the idea that he had hoped that what they were doing at World Relief, helping refugees and immigrants, would become viral (this was several months ago, so the current example of how a virus can travel was not on the radar yet)

Though I am completely committed to what World Relief does, my mind went to this formational question. The question that became almost like an irritating sliver in my mind was, what would happen if my life went viral? What would the impact in the world be?

The question is both convicting (ok, mostly convicting) and energizing.

It is convicting because of how far below the bar I view my life. Even though I have come a long way and have a semblance of congruity between my real life and what I hope for, being a self-flagellating personality, there is still an ocean between where I am and where I want to be. 

The apostle Paul wrote, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” For me, that is an absolutely dreadful thought. If I wrote it for the church it would be more like, “Follow me, and I will show you the way to perdition.” When I think of my life going viral, it is utterly frightening. My feeling is that if that were to happen, the whole bit of Christianity would go to smash.

Thankfully, Paul also said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” Now we are talking. Finally, a verse the rest of us can relate to. Another translation renders the word “worst” here as “chief” or “the number one sinner!” While that is just a little soothing to hear, I think that I may be able to compete at that sinner game with the great Apostle. #robforthewin

Still, I see that this viral idea must have a different accent point for it to make sense. The crux of the matter is not in the perfection of followership of Jesus. That will only be accomplished when all things are made new, and even then, when they get to be it might be a heavy lift. The key is in our humility and honesty regarding our hearts and lives. Hiding who we are will do no good. Our affections and actions certainly still need to me contoured into looking like Jesus, but it is in the grinding, the hard plowing of life that seems to be the thing that is attractive to the world. Seeking to love, yet falling short, is not a disqualifier. Acting as if we don’t or never fall short is the repellent. Being moved with compassion, yet not living completely into it may be bad, but it is real and honest. Hoping with all my heart to see injustice stopped is authentic and visceral, but my real life doesn’t always measure up to that hope. I am still being moved, even if it looks like stumbling. As a matter of fact, there are a few things that I do that are entirely consistent, but I think that’s ok. Don’t get me wrong. I do want consistency between aspiration and action, but I think it is how I hold all of it…in humility, it is what makes life attractive. Jesus is glorified in my life-ness, not my perfection. I am being changed. If you were to see me when I first started the journey, where I am today might even impress you, the distance I have come, but it is in the earnestness of the journey that I hope people see. In that part, they will almost certainly catch glimpses of a Savior who is constant, loving, and very, very gracious.

Ok, if my life went viral there would possibly be more…

1. Generosity – I can pretty easily give stuff and money away. That would be good if multiplied, right?
2. Concern for the margins – I am moved deeply by the pain in the world. It keeps me up at night. I grieve when those who are discriminated against, abused, injured by systemic injustice, and don’t have enough to make it are taken advantage of. Truism: Inequity is bad.
3. Sarcasm (and a little more laughter) – I like trying to get people to laugh and sometimes it works, but sometimes that can have an edge… Then I have to apologize. I have to apologize so much that it makes me tired.
4. Tears – related to #2, tears are ok and tell a story…and they escape from my eyes frequently and without shame. I know it is hard for some folks to weep, but if you can, let’em out. They say things that your words can’t.
5. Basketball – that is just the truth. Deal with it. God created it and there should and would be more of it if my life went viral. Although, Duke would always lose.
6. Conversation – I so value being with people and hearing their stories. I’m not always the best listener, but I try really hard. I’d be a crappy monk.
7. Honor of God – I don’t mind saying that I do try to acknowledge God with my words (praise) and life (actions) and contribute a lot of my time and effort trying to be faithful, even though, as described above, I am not always super good at it.
8. Honesty – in a way, I am describing self-effacement. Through I can be arrogant, it is usually out of insecurity or some other kooky broken part of my soul, but after I get my wits about me, I generally can end the charade and act humbler.
9. Life-Long Learning – learning would be elevated, encouraged, accented, expected… I can’t think of other words, but wherever we are today, because of a commitment to learning we’d be in a different place tomorrow, next week, next year. People would read more books and listen to fewer podcasts. Ok, boomer.

The last one is why I might have a different list next month, but if my life were to truly go viral, I really hope the world would be better and Jesus would be liked more.