We Bought a Big Mac For a Homeless Man
the life we long for is in the life we have
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There may be spelling / grammar mistakes in my articles that make it through my editing, and that’s on purpose. I’m a recovering perfectionist (who was once VERY hard on himself) and one of the ways I’m learning to be compassionate on myself is by allowing mistakes to just … be.
Friends.
What if the life we long for is buried within the life we have? What if the MAIN EVENT we’re waiting for is actually happening … right now, as we speak? And what if by constantly looking to TOMORROW for the good we hope and long for, we’re actually missing out on the good of TODAY?
That’s the idea of a book I’m currently reading called “This Is the Main Event” by Joshua Luke Smith. The book releases towards the end of July and he’ll be joining me on the podcast to chat about it in a couple of weeks.
But.
MAN.
This idea really has me hooked because how often do we think that we’ll be happy or we’ll finally be able to calm down or everything will be better WHEN …
A.
B.
Or.
C.
… finally happens.
Right?
Like …
I’ll finally be able to relax when I make 5 more dollars an hour.
I’ll finally be happy when I get married.
I’ll finally have arrived when I land that job.
I’ll finally have some time to breathe when the kids go back to school.
I’ll finally feel good about myself when I lose that weight.
I’ll finally fit in when I ________.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
But, here’s the thing: the life we long for with the peace and relaxation and happiness and good feelings about ourselves isn’t in some far off dreamy place.
No.
Instead, it’s RIGHT. HERE. RIGHT. NOW.
Joshus says it like this …
“Your life is not waiting somewhere out there to start. We’re so easily tempted to unshackle ourselves from the here, imagining freedom is always found in the there. But when we arrive, it is simply another here.”
And this is one of the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I think. The Gospel writers (for the most part, anyways) paint of picture of a Jesus who went confidently to his death because he knew that buried in the NOW of his death was the HOPE of his resurrection.
Right?
Maybe?
I think so.
Because it was only by going into the crucifixion that he could tap into the resurrection - there is no resurrection without a crucifixion. And so even though he sweat blood and asked that his Father devise a different plan, he moved ahead with confidence anyways because resurrection and new life was buried within the terrifying moments he was living.
Friend - resurrection and new life are buried within the life you’re living too … no matter how terrifying it may be.
I don’t intent to make light of your situation;I truly believe that.
This is one of the mysterious message of the Scriptures, I think, and a message that is woven into the very fabric of the universe:
Just as winter leads to spring.
Just as night leads to day.
Just as rain leads to flowers.
Just as crucifixion leads to resurrection.
So this moment that you’re in will lead to something new. And so rather than resist the now, you can embrace it. Rather than run from the scary thing, you can face it. Rather than push away, you can draw near. Rather than wait for the thing you want, you can recognize what you have.Mind if
NOT because it’s easy to do so.
NOT because what you’re facing isn’t hard.
NOT because we’re downplaying your circumstances.
BUT.
Because this wintery, dark, rainy crucifixion will lead to a springing, bright, flowery resurrection - good that might come rushing into your life with tons and tons of good news and change or (much more likely) good that might trickle in with bits of good news scattered here and there throughout your upcoming days, weeks, months, and years.
Today Jordan and sprinkled some good into somebody’s life.
We were driving home and were sitting at a red light when a homeless man came walking by the car with a sign asking for money. Jordan INSISTED we help him, but I had zero cash on me and so we drove to McDonalds to order a Big Mac, large fries, large soda, and a bottle of water. Then we drove back to where the homeless man was, rolled down the window, and gave it to him.
I said, “hey man, we don’t have any cash on us but we saw you standing out here and picked up an extra meal for you at McDonalds. And since it’s so hot out, here’s a bottle of water too - make sure you stay hydrated today.”
He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, “may God bless you. Thank you so much.”
Did we change his life? No.
Did we turn his whole life around? No.
Did we solve the problem of homelessness? No.
BUT.
We trickled a little bit of good news into his day that hopefully helped him feel seen and loved, that hopefully gave him some strength to keep pushing on, trusting that resurrection (even if it’s just a sliver) looms in the very fabric of his everyday life.
And for me and Jordan?
It was tempting to just drive home and assume that the “main event” would come the next time we saw a homeless person and actually had some cash on us to give him/her.
BUT.
The reality? The reality is that the main event was that moment where we could do something with what we had and buy a meal for someone who was clearly hungry, thirsty, and in need of some sustenance on a hot, 100 degree July day.
Yes.
THIS IS THE MAIN EVENT, friends.
Right here.
Right now.
This moment.
This day.
… let’s not let it pass us by as our eyes stay locked on tomorrow.
Much love,
Glenn || SUPPORT / ART STUDIO