Playing The Ball Where The Monkey Drops It

Right out of the chute, I want to apologize if you have heard this story before, (in fact, if you are a follower of christian blogs you have probably read or heard this illustration a bunch of times). 

Quick recap, In Calcutta, India, a British company designed and built a golf course. However, there was a problem – monkey’s surrounded the golf course – there is confusion about the appeal but whatever it was about the game of golf, these monkeys really enjoyed both watching and taking part in the game of golf. So when one of the golfers took a swing and knocked the ball into the fairway, these monkeys would run along, grab the ball, and start throwing it around.

Obviously, the golfers didn’t like this, so they tried doing a few different things to solve the problem.

The first thing that they did to try to control this situation was to build high fences around the golf course – not such a great idea considering it’s was monkeys that they were trying to keep out! 

Not surprisingly – the monkeys just climbed the fences and carried on with their game.

The next thing they tried to do was to lure the monkeys away from the golf course but the number of monkeys made this a no-win proposition. The same failure occured when the plan shifted to capturing the monkeys, for everyone they managed to capture there seemed to be a dozen to take its place.

The British finally acknowledged that they couldn’t solve the problem and decided that they had to bring about an innovation – and the innovation was a ground rule that said – ‘We play the ball wherever the monkey drops it.

The Avoidance of Pain

If you are like me, as you journey through your life, you seek to avoid pain. This is true about the great and the least, and if you don't believe me check out this quote from Thomas Jefferson, “The art of life is the art of avoiding pain; and he is the best pilot, who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals with which it is beset.”

With all due respect to the genius of one of our founding fathers, he is wrong.

Jesus makes it clear that if we are to follow Him, we will encounter pain. This world is broken and we are linked to this destruction with an unbreakable bond. But He also makes it clear that pain and suffering are a gift, a pathway to connecting with others that would be impossible without that experience. “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statues” - Psalm 119:71.

Hang on, we're just getting started . . . 

Starting Over . . .

It was not my intent, but I do find it interesting that my last post was titled, "Why Don't We Get The Story We Want?"

You see, my belief in that statement is even stronger now, than when I wrote those words almost seven months ago. 

It is not an understatement to write that my world, my life, looks radically different than it did then. And in this crazy, fallen world, I don't think I'm alone in my circumstances. 

You see, seven months ago, I was married. I owned a house. But I also lacked peace. And joy. And worst of all, I had long ago jettisoned my dependence upon God.

Let me be clear, my lack of peace and joy were my choices. And I was very much aware that I was helpless to navigate the challenges that were before me. I was calling upon Jesus on a regular basis to deliver me from the numerous challenges that I was facing. And I very much believed that the Bible taught that even in the middle of challenging circumstances, God will always provide a path that leads to peace and joy. However, when in the throes of chaos, I still sought my way before seeking Him.

And my way will never lead to true peace and joy.

Why Don't We Get The Story We Want?

"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Romans 8:20-21 KJV)

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:20-21 NIV)

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:20-21 ESV)

Truth is sometimes hard to hear, no matter the translation.

Romans 8:20-21 is a great example of that kind of truth that is difficult to absorb, no matter the number of times it is read. Why? Because at the heart of this verse is a truth that few of us really want to hear, which is that this world, was not primarily designed for our personal satisfactions, dreams, ambitions, and relationships. 

Instead, we are told by God, that in this world we are destined for frustration, discomfort, and pain, so that in these insurmountable challenges, we will recognize our need for redemption. And after coming face-to-face with our need for deliverance, that we would accept the free gift of grace that God offers, which provides that only path for us to be freed from the shackles of our sin and to live in glory with God forever, and ever.  

That also means that in the "now", the reality in which we all live, we are not going to get the story that we feel like we deserve. We are definitely not going to get the story that we have all dreamed. So the easy, reflexive action is to blame God, or disavow any knowledge or allegiance of said God, who would have the audacity to not allow us the live of comfort and ease that we all deserve. 

Yet in the darkness of our hopelessness, pain, and fear, God calls to us to move our lives from the temporal to the eternal.