Speaker: Pastor Tristan Sherwin
"The Dutch priest and writer, Henri Nouwen pointed out that the temptation is to let our needs for success, visibility and influence dominate our thoughts and actions. In turn, we go through life unhealthily competitive, bitter, angry, hopelessly restless, not at ease, seeking ‘the next big thing’ and basically unhappy because we are “ordinary” and made to feel that ordinary is a negative.
Nouwen goes onto write that, ‘It seems nearly impossible for us to believe that any good can come from powerlessness…’ or lack of visibility. ‘We cannot imagine that any good can come from giving up power or not even desiring it. The all-pervasive conviction in our society is that power [, influence and visibility are] good and that those possessing [those things] can only [rightly] desire more of [them].’
And yet, as Nouwen and many others have shown time and time again, the way Jesus taught and embodied leads in the opposite direction. That instead of seeking the high places, we take the lower positions. Instead of forcefully taking hold of life, we selflessly give ourselves away.[ix] Instead of grasping for position and asserting ourselves, we empty ourselves. That we follow Jesus on his ‘downward path’.
Such an idea rubs right against our instincts, I know."
Tristan shares his sermon notes on his blog, you can read them here: RHYTHM | IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU (LK 14:7-14)
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