“Many of us want to go deeper, but we find ourselves spiritually treading water on the surface. We try to live like Christian amphibians — half in, half out — but Jesus wants all of us, or, put differently, to give us all of himself.”- Rich Villodas
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”- G. K. Chesterton, What’s Wrong with the World?
In Chapter 1 (“Unexpected Disasters: The Broad Path”) of The Narrow Path, Rich Villodas talks about the time he took a wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii with his wife Rosie. Rich extensively researched scuba diving versus snorkeling. In the end, he quips, his internal resistance to the dangers of scuba diving turned him into a frightened cuttlefish.
So, even though Rich knew a beautiful world awaited him in the depths, he chose life on the surface. Yet, Jesus knows nothing of half-hearted discipleship. Hence, Jesus stated that we have the choice of two paths, narrow or broad. On the narrow path we follow the cruciform way of Jesus. That path leads to renewal and healing.
But, Rich notes, something holds us back. Because, Rich states, we:
- fear that following Jesus summons us to a way of life we either don’t prefer or find hard to sustain.
- keep Jesus at a ‘safe’ distance. Because we assume following Him leads to a joyless, confined existence. As a result, we think we’ll take on a mechanical, religious persona.
- worry what others think of us if we really follow Jesus; that they’ll view us as religious fanatics.
- avoid the narrow path because it requires that we face ourselves, that we look in the mirror with honesty and vulnerability.
In conclusion, Rich counsels:
“To journey through a narrow path takes time. It requires you and me to slow down. At some point, we all must face the parts of ourselves we don’t like. And you know what? Sometimes it’s easier to avoid this invitation altogether. Maybe you’re afraid of going deep because seeing more of Jesus means him seeing more of you. . . . Jesus isn’t repelled by human brokenness; he’s attracted to it.”
Today’s question: What prompts us to live as Christian amphibians? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A stranger to yourself?”