January 21, 2008
101 Cups of Water
This book had me on the first page. "I can't live the Christian life. Don't tell anyone, but I've tried and I've tried and I can't. I haven't loved God with all my heart, soul, and mind, and I certainly haven't loved my neighbors as myself. It's that simple."
Don't tell anyone, but I can't make it work. I have trouble making anything work. My classroom, prayers, listening to other people (which I used to think I did so very well), my responsiblities, my living situation, my whole freakin' life. I put my hands on it, you name it, and it just kind of stops.
"So, yes, I admit that I can't make my Christian life work. Praise be to God, who has freed me from the trying."
"So what do I do? I bring it all to the cross. And when the good news of God's love pours over me, it is then I realize, with my heart filled with gratitude, that Christ lives through me."
C.D. Baker has written 101 short, tiny, understandable, munch-them-down-one-at-a-time meditations on his own screwups and needs. The book is 101 cups of good stuff, like a cup of grace, focus, love, mystery, forgiveness. Each page a cup of something I need. For instance--rest. For example--confession.
It's kind of relieving to have proof that someone struggles as much as I do. This book works because it is not directed at me, he's writing to himself. I sure as heck don't need one more person telling my how deficient I am and how successful I'll be if I "do" their formula. Quite frankly, I'm tired of doing. I really just want to sit in a corner and love Jesus for a little while.
It's an honest book and tells the truth. My soul is tired and thirsty. I am tired and thirsty. So I kinda need this book right now.
Posted by mike at January 21, 2008 5:12 PM