When Did You Decide To Be?

When Did You Decide To Be?

In his book, Run with the Horses, Eugene Peterson recounts the story in which American poet and pacifist, William Stafford, was once asked in an interview, “When did you decide to be a poet?” He responded that the question was wrongly put. “Everyone is born a poet—a person discovering the way words sound and work, caring and delighting in words. I just kept on doing what everyone starts out doing. The real question is why did the other people stop?”

To put it another way, Stafford was doing what everybody starts out doing. Being human. And he didn’t stop.

I have two great grandsons, Corbin and Finnegan, each of whom, while expanding their vocabulary, do it while conquering new territory, entertaining one another and the adults in their lives, and delighting in the repetitive sound and shape of ‘first words’ along the way. They are being human and they’re not stopping.

With Stafford’s quote still on my mind, the boys make me think that “being” may well be one of our greatest challenges as we age. There was a time when we were excited about “being.” Is it still true for today, like it was for Stafford?

When did you decide “to be?”

We hear this question often, only it doesn’t stop there. It goes something like, “When did you decide to be a pastor? a writer? a mentor? a teacher? When I was young, I wanted to be a cowboy, a policeman and a pilot. Worthy ‘wannabe’s,’ but when I grew up, they faded while the process of “being” didn’t stop.

When did you decide to be a Christian? To follow Jesus? 

Your new birth, your spiritual beginning, forgiveness of sins, acceptance of the sacred gift of God’s amazing grace. Deciding to be.

Maturation has first to do with being … and then becoming.

The Apostle Paul spoke of “becoming” as arriving at “mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Maturing in faith, as in life, is a process. Some days I feel like I’m breaking up rather than growing up. That’s when the Apostle Paul and Eugene Peterson and William Stafford and Corbin and Finn, all remind me that being a child of God involves the simple act of accepting the already purchased gift of saving grace found in Christ.

It’s where every true follower of Jesus begins to be.

Was William Shakespeare (Hamlet) thinking about you and me when he wrote the immortal line, “To be or not to be, that is the question?”

The truth is, while some continue in the maturation process, exercising faith, serving, worshipping and growing in Christ, others do not. The difference is some keep on doing what we all started out to do. The real question is why did the other people stop?

Do you know why? Is it someone you love? A spouse? A son or daughter? Or is it you who stopped?

There is One who decided in eternity past to be the source of redeeming grace … for you and me and everyone who decides to be … and he hasn’t stopped since!

When will you decide … to be and to become?

 

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On September 9-20, I will be leading my second 2017 Foundation of Faith Tour to Israel and Jordan. A few openings remain, but hurry. Register before July 9 to confirm special airfare. Fly from Seattle or any major city. For full information, email: ward@wardtanneberg.com.