Grandpa Joe and the FartSack Nazis

     The kid who found the Golden Ticket had a dilemma.  To use it, he needed an adult go with him.  His parents (I seem to recall—been 40 years since I read the book), worked a double shift in the toothpaste factory, so they were out.  So he turned to his grandparents.  They had nothing better to do—all four spent their days in bed.  You would think the kid’s problem would be that they ALL wanted to go to the Chocolate Factory.  Only natural.  Why would  anyone prefer a day in the FartSack to a day in the Chocolate Factory?  But, you would be wrong.  None of them wanted to leave the FartSack for the Chocolate Factory—except Grandpa Joe.  He was willing.  Afraid, but  willing.  Now, here’s the really weird part.  The others, the ones too afraid to leave the FartSack, didn’t applaud Joe’s courage, they discouraged him from going.  My childish mind could not comprehend why they were afraid to leave the FartSack, and I really couldn’t get why they tried to keep Joe from leaving.

     Now, as a grown up, I understand.  The non-Joe grandparents were FartSack Nazis.  At some point, probably so long ago they couldn’t remember it, they had chosen surrender to the FartSack over the challenge of living,  and with each passing day they lost a little more of their ability to undue that choice.  Perceiving the world outside of their FartSack as gradually changing in ways beyond their comprehension, they became afraid of it.  Ultimately, the Fear ruled what was left of their lives.  Grandpa Joe’s intention to leave the FartSack for the Chocolate Factory was either an act of extreme nonconformity or a declaration of war against the Fear—either way, it was something the FartSack Nazis could not tolerate.  Prisoners are like crabs in a bucket.  They can’t stand to see another crab escape.

     Today, we can see the result of a Nanny State that has been singing the soft song of the FartSack since the mid 1960s.  Gradually, one-by-one, people have surrendered to it.  First learning to prefer the lukewarm breakfast of gruel that the Nanny State delivers to their beds to the idea of going into the kitchen themselves to make some fresh bacon and eggs, and then discouraging the Free from making their own breakfast.  “It’s too dangerous and scary.  Be a good FartSack Nazi and eat your gruel you non-forming bastard.  I’d rather see you die than see you make it out of this bucket.”

     This morning, I rebelled a little.  I told the Bojangles guy to go ahead and Bo-Size my Cajun Filet Biscuit.  What the heck, everybody has their own Chocolate Factory.   Take that Michelle.

Little Things

     When I turned to Christ I did it  for the Big Things.  The Big Things were the demonstrable sins in my life that were incompatible with (ahem) polite society, that is the accepted mores of my tribe.  And true to His word, the Lord freed me from the Big Things.  And how sweet that freedom is.  But here is the rub:  He did not stop at the Big Things.  He began convicting me on the Little Things as well.  You see, I came to Him “pre-convicted” in a sense with regard to the Big Things, because even the non-believers in my tribe demanded change.  But the Little Things?  No, I was not convicted as to them.  Nor did my tribe demand change with regard to the Little Things.  In fact, it is the other way around.  My tribe resists change of the Little Things.  What are the Big Things and the Little Things exactly?  Well, I am not going to say—for two reasons.  First, whether a Thing is Big or Little depends wholly on  the identity of the tribe to which one belongs.  Thus, the Big/Little of a tribe of pimps is quite different than the Big/Little of a tribe of accountants.  Second, the Lord cares not for man’s attempt to divide disobedience to His Law into neat piles of Big and Little.  His Law is love and we are either with Him or against Him.   

     So, here is my struggle this cold morning with conviction over some Little Things.  Paul tells us that “among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” Ephesians 5:3-4.  Since obscenity, foolish talk and coarse joking takes up about 85% of my conversation base on any given day, how can that stuff be Big Things?  I mean, what is wrong with a little manly banter when the ladies and kids are  out of the room?  Nothing is wrong with it, except that my Lord says not to do it.  So, I have the free choice of all who are indwelled with Him.  I can either obey because I love my savior and am eternally grateful for his relationship with me and His sacrifice on the cross, or I can hold on these Little Things because they are good to go with my tribe.  The choice is mine.  

Today

I am going to focus on today Lord.  I am going to give my thoughts, my efforts and my concern to the day I am in.  You will feed me today.  You will clothe me today.  You will love me today. You will give me the skill to perform your will today. You will give me the strength to resist temptation today.  The only other day with which I must concern myself is the day upon which I am delivered into your arms.  That glorious day.  Until that day, I have only today.  And in this day, today, I must only obey you.  If I am in you today, of what else do I have need?

I want to learn this as Paul did:  contentment in all circumstances. (Philippians 4:11).  I can only learn it from you Lord.  You alone can teach it to me.  To find it, I must seek you today.  So, I ask you now, in humility and hope, that you will guide me to it.  

My discontentment flows from my perception that I must obtain my sustenance and significance from the World, when both in fact can only be found in you.  I cannot self-provide. Nor will the World provide. But you do provide.  You have promised me so.  Like a sparrow in the field, you will give me the food and clothing I need.  As you have accounted for every hair on my head, you have made a place for me.  You love me and care about my needs and heart.  Even now, as I write these words, I am not alone.  You are with me, in me, crowding me out. When I am finally gone, then you alone remain. What more than you will I need today?