My daughter goes through obsessions. When she was three, it was Steve from Blues Clues. I went for an entire year calling her “Steve” instead of Savannah. “Savannah clean your room.” “My name is Steve!!!” “STEVE! CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!!” It was a little exhausting at times. Then she went through a Shaggy phase (from Scooby Doo). Green t- shirts and brown corduroy were pretty common during that period. Then came Star Wars (to my great excitement), the Phantom of the Opera (to my wife’s excitement) and most recently Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with Johnny Depp). And yes, we like the Gene Wilder version too.
We were recently watching this movie together and I noticed a quote from Grandpa George that was pretty epic. Grandpa George is the grandfather that stays behind, not the one that goes with Charlie to the chocolate factory. Charlie has won the final golden ticket and is contemplating whether or not he should actually go. If you remember, his family is dirt poor and his house is crumbling around him. As the excitement escalates in his house about him winning the final ticket, Charlie makes it clear that they need the money more than a bunch of chocolate.
Here’s the comment that got me. Grandpa George says: “There’s plenty of money out there. They print more every day. But this ticket, there’s only five of them in the whole world, and that’s all there’s ever going to be. Only a dummy would give this up for something as common as money. Are you a dummy?”
I LOVE IT!!! I think that’s our problem so often times. We are willing to trade what is common for what is extraordinary. We are willing to trade a “thing” for a once in a lifetime experience. I know this is where my relationship with Jesus often takes a hit. I am satisfied with just having knowledge about Jesus rather than giving up my life for Him. I am content with criticizing someone else versus actually doing something or getting involved in a solution. I am happy with business as usual and I don’t risk everything and do the one thing I know God has made me for to participate in His plan. In short…I’m a dummy. Are you a dummy?
Luke 9:23-25 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
mlsnellings 