Faithful With The Small Things!

CONTENT: [Kuhn-tent] satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

Dictionary.com

Michael Jordan is one of the best basketball players of all times. Oddly, he was also deemed one of the top 10 quitters of all times according to Time Magazine. By 1992, he had won three MVP awards and had topped the NBA in scoring for seven consecutive seasons. For some reason, he saw greener grass in minor league baseball, quit his career and swung the pine for a few years. When Jordan realized that hitting a curveball was hard, the green grass of the diamond faded. He quit again and went back to jump shots, slam dunks and lay-ups. After a couple more MVP awards, Jordan decided to try his hand at ownership. He bought the Wizards in 1998 but by 2000, Michael Jordan renounced ownership, and put a Wizards jersey on. Nearly 40 years old, he had to face the cold reality that contentment was not found in any of these grand adventures. By 2003, he was entirely done with basketball. By 2006 he was done with his seventeen year old marriage. By 2011 he was remarried to a cuban-american supermodel.

Not sure about calling him a quitter though. Among his quotes he says "I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." and "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." These aren't the words of a quitter. He is just like everyone else; looking for contentment! He has also proven that resolve brings reward. While he has quit at many things, he has certainly tried at many as well! Which leads me to the main thought of this article; contentment is an elusive thing! It is the primary motivator for every being on the planet; the quest of every soul; the desire of every heart; the drive of every person! 

Having taken posts in several different locations with several different ministries and now one secular career, it has become clear to me that contentment is what has invoked the change every time! Greener grass in other yards feeds the lie that life would somehow be better somewhere else, in some other situation. Less difficult, less cumbersome, less monotonous, less...well, the picture is clear! It would be great to live in the mountains or the prairies, or in another province, or closer to family, or further from family. It would be fantastic to have a job that matters, or one that doesn't; or to be in a marriage that has more or less intimacy...greener grass! I've heard it said that "if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, then it's time to water you own lawn!" That is just what time it is! Time to take a good hard look in the mirror and address just what the driving force really is! Contentment! 

In a recent Google Forms survey on contentment, I asked a series of questions about people's level of contentment. Based on the subcategories of employment, marriage, social life, leisure activities and community involvement, people were asked to rate themselves on a scale of 1 to 5 (one being very discontent and five being very content). The results were very interesting and one thing quickly became clear; most people said that they were genuinely content. In fact, the majority of the people surveyed were "content" to "very content" in their everyday lives. They all had something else in common, they were all discontent to very discontent in at least two of the sub-categories (marriages, work, social life, religion, etc). 

The Apostle Paul somehow figured something out regarding this! In Philippians 4, he says that he has discovered what it means to be content in any circumstance! Whether it is in poverty or wealth; freedom or prison; healthy or sick, he figured out what true contentment is! His strength was not his own, but he could do all things through the one who strengthens. Contentment isn't in some magic formula, or hidden mystery; it is unequivocally tied to belief!  Belief is directly connected to effort, and effort is contingent upon need. 

What do I believe about myself? What do I believe about God? What do I believe about how to measure happiness? Whether I'm making tents or making disciples, true contentment is not something that can be measured. To be content in a difficult situation as well as an easy one comes when we change what it is that we believe about ourselves, God, and the world around us. 

I CAN!
Paul said "I can do all things..." His confidence was unwavering in this. He knew what he was capable of, and in that knowledge he changed the world. Being content in all situations requires this self-belief. Our "through-a-glass-darkly" view of ourselves makes it challenging to overcome this. We look so deeply into our own reflection, at our own weaknesses and shortcomings, that to be content seems a distant dream. Paul didn't just know what he was capable of, he believed that nothing could stand in his way of doing it. He knew that there was no enemy strong enough, no burden heavy enough, no obstacle big enough to keep him from his goal. It was in that awareness that contentment became possible. 

I'm sure that there was a time when Michael Jordan believed the exact same thing about his ability on the court. Likewise, there are times and situations in each of our lives where we believe the same of ourselves. Our most successful days of contentment are usually inundated with self-confidence and brimming with belief all while swimming in a deep pool of burdens.

HE CAN!
Belief in self is certainly an imperative for contentment, yet without a steady faith (a surety of hope and a certainty of the unseen) it quickly becomes empty arrogance. Accompanied by faith, contentment is not only more accessible, but it becomes lasting. Faith allows for imperfection, it allows for moments of hurt and frustration. Faith leaves room for mistakes and growth, which is essential for true contentment (as indicated by my short survey). Paul knew that his contentment in all circumstances was contingent upon this abiding faith. Without it, all he had was confidence, and he was afforded every opportunity to have that confidence wane! (whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, etc.) In all of those, seemingly insurmountable moments, Paul stood firm in his contentment. Faith was the key! Did he enjoy the hardship? As much as anyone enjoys stubbing their toe on the furniture in dark room...I have yet to meet a single person who is happy about pain! There are very few on earth who look forward to frustration and failure. In fact, the majority of our population work hard to avoid it. When it is present, we work hard to relieve it. And when it is unbearable, we work even harder to escape it. But what if we didn't? What if, instead of running away, we chose to embrace it? 

Our belief in God's ability to overcome leaves us with only one recourse for hardship; Learn! One of my favourite quotes from Dr. John C. Maxwell is; "Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn."  This paradigm shift enables us to "consider trials as pure joy"! Failures and obstacles become opportunity for personal development. 

Without the strength of God, bearing up under the weight of these becomes impossible. We are only victims and not pupils. The 'I can' quickly wanes and becomes 'I  think I can, but I really don't want to.'

THE MEASURE!

Lasting contentment, when accompanied with belief in our ability and confidence in God's strength, is attainable. It is not measured by the standards that our society proclaims. The "if-I-was-rich" principle does not apply! It is not in the better job, better marriage, better house, better friends, greener grass mentality that true contentment is found. It cannot be measured by the things we have or the situation we are in. Nor can we create a situation where we will be happier. 

Ultimately what it comes down to is choice. The choice to embrace hardship and failure as essential for our growth. The choice to work diligently in any situation or career regardless of the challenges they provide. The choice to take ownership of our own lives, the consequences of our decisions, the relationships that we have strained, and the problems that we have created. The choice to trust in a strength that is not our own. The choice to believe that we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Lasting contentment IS attainable and surprisingly accessible.  

Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, work at it with all of your might..."

When we put our heads down on our pillow at the end of the day, and sleep comes easily; when our mind is at ease and we can say, "I've done all that I can today, I've worked hard, I've failed some, and I've learned"; it is then, that we identify contentment.