We’ve been tackling some much-needed cleaning projects here on the hill, and it feels good to move furniture, vacuum up accumulated dust, and throw away the things we don’t need. Big jobs require time and a certain amount of elbow grease, but the results reward the investment.
Routine tasks are less exciting: wiping down the counters after a day of ordinary meal prep, keeping up with the laundry and the dirty dishes, sweeping up the detritus around the woodstove. While these mundane tasks don’t deliver a big dopamine rush, if we ignore them, the results will soon be pretty obvious.
The same could be said about our spiritual life, the “housekeeping” of our hearts. Regular communication with God, confession of sin, and receiving daily grace for the “normal” Christian life doesn’t look very heroic. It can even seem monotonous, stale, and stuffy. But this is how we “wipe down the counters” and “load the dishwasher” in our following life.
The Tragedy of Moral Collapse
I was saddened to read Philip Yancey’s confession of an extramarital affair that had been ongoing for eight years. It’s always disappointing to discover that one’s idols have feet of clay. His books have been one of the steady voices in my ear for over twenty years, and I’ve quoted from and recommended a number of them in my reviews.
I don’t usually interact much with the comings and goings of the news here, but I feel compelled to point out that moral collapse happens in the same manner in which Ernest Hemingway described bankruptcy: “Gradually, and then suddenly.” A series of seemingly small compromises will undermine the bedrock of years of faithful living.
A series of seemingly small compromises will undermine the bedrock of years of faithful living.
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Perhaps Yancey’s parting gift to the evangelical world as he withdraws from public life will be the realization that there’s not a one of us who is immune to the siren call of sin. Every one of us needs to examine our own hearts and pay attention. At age 63, I still have plenty of time to make an unholy mess of my life.
By grace, we can finish well. We can add our voices to Paul’s in this pledge of allegiance:
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
Grace to finish well will come to us through humble, routine habits of holiness. Wiping down the daily grime and exposing the dust of our disordered loves protects us from the tragedy of moral collapse.
The prize is not a good reputation or a stellar legacy. The prize is Christ, and the commitment to pursue that “upward call” produces the benefit of a life well-lived. Thanks be to God for the cross, our sacred starting place and our only hope for a faithful finish.
Holding You in the Light,
Grace to finish well will come to us through humble routine habits of holiness. Wiping down the daily grime and exposing the dust of our disordered loves protects us from the tragedy of moral collapse.
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It brought me so much sadness to read this news this past week.
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I think sadness is our only right response. Certainly better than righteous indignation or sneering cynicism. Then, maybe a splash of godly fear because of our own feet of clay….
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“Grace to finish well will come to us through humble, routine habits of holiness.”
Such good practical perspective to describe it as simply as”Wiping down the daily grime and exposing the dust” Another great post! ~ Rosie
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Grace to finish well, yes God. Grant me that as a frail human with many faults. Perfect for any time in this world of ours. Have a happy week.
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Moving my spiritual furniture and cleaning out the dust bunnies!
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I have not read Yancey, but I was sorry to hear of his news. It is my hope and prayer to finish well, too. It’s so true that it is often the little, everyday things that either build us up or lead to a fall.
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This has made me so sad this week.
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It’s me, Linda Stoll . . .
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I so appreciate you addressing this sad news about Philip Yancey and the discerning perspective you bring to this. We are all susceptible to falling and your analogy about regular tidying up is masterful in how you bring home to each of us how to guard our hearts. May we use this tragic story as a reminder to tidy up our own spiritual lives diligently rather than to point a finger of judgment with no awareness of our own condition.
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The storm of words around this event reminds me of Jesus, reply to his disciples about the tower that fell. His response was that this is a warning to you to guard your own heart.
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This is the first I’ve heard of this news about Philip Yancey Michele which is indeed sad news. I think it highlights that we are all sinners saved by His Grace alone & that any one of us at any time can err, especially if we take our eyes off the Lord.
I love your following statement;
“Grace to finish well will come to us through humble routine habits of holiness. Wiping down the daily grime and exposing the dust of our disordered loves protects us from the tragedy of moral collapse.” Amen!
Blessings, Jennifer
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Certainly, we are all grace dependent. I think it’s the people who don’t realize that who are in most dangerous of falling.
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The word diligence kept coming to mind as I read your words today.
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That’s a good one!
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Thank you for your wisdom and insight, Michele, in light of this recent tragedy. I’ve heard regular confession described as “keeping short accounts with God.” I pray the Lord keep me mindful to do so!
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That’s my prayer as well, Nancy.
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The visual of “wiping down the counters” and “loading the dishwasher” is such a holistic image – reminding us of the daily fails – how little particles of dust, little ketchup splotches – build up (if you’ve ever tried to clean ketchup from a dish that’s sat out too long – you know what I mean). When I was little and gave my life to Jesus, vowing to follow Him all my life, be faithful all my life – I was overwhelmed with the lifetime commitment – how can I be good for soooo long. Friendships sometimes break. Families Break – how can I in my failing little self sustain this vow. I’ve failed. For a season, I was mad and wouldn’t talk to Him. I’ve spent a lifetime of failing Him in my commitment in all sorts of ways (drive a mile with me at school pick-up time) – yet He doesn’t give up on me. He continually calls me to come sit with Him, telling me to not give up! He’s there to help me have this relationship for eternity. What a Good! Good Father we have!
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It seems as if one of the most important lessons I’ve had to learn and relearn as an adult has been the importance of little things. Little acts of faithfulness little routines, Little habits of holiness. We’re building a character, And we do it slowly and incrementally.
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I was dismayed and saddened to hear the news about Yancey. It was a reminder that we are none of us immune to temptation or sinful choices, and that daily faithfulness in spiritual disciplines and staying in step with the Holy Spirit is key to guarding our hearts and minds. Thankful again for God’s grace and forgiveness extended to each one of us.
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I think you’ve put your finger on the crucial (cross-shaped!) response we. have to embrace whenever we get that kind of news.
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[…] Your Only Sure Protection from the Tragedy of Moral Collapse. “Perhaps Yancey’s parting gift to the evangelical world as he withdraws from public life will be the realization that there’s not a one of us who is immune to the siren call of sin. Every one of us needs to examine our own hearts and pay attention. At age 63, I still have plenty of time to make an unholy mess of my life.” […]
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