Living Large
“Uncle Paolo, We are sorry. Gina and Don”* These words were posted on the huge billboard of a hockey rink on busy US 1 just north of Boston, as we drove to Logan Airport. Thousands of drivers passed that sign daily on their way to the many strip malls, restaurants and businesses on Route One. It intrigued me greatly to imagine the magnitude of the offense that warranted such a public apology. Gina and Don were certainly living it large when they posted those words for all to see.
I was once the recipient of a dozen roses from an unknown admirer. These red beauties arrived in my dorm room with a sentimental note but no name attached. I scratched my head for quite a while over the puzzle until the truth came out. Now, years later, I imagine the suspense with which the admirer lived, waiting for word from his chosen. Though he did not receive from me the word he wished, I admire how he lived large.
Back when I was a teenager, my mother lived large when she splurged and bought me something I desperately wanted, but she couldn’t really afford on her LPN’s salary. The $78 price tag of that maroon velour and satin housecoat seems high even thirty years after her loving sacrifice. I felt like a princess every time I wore it. I kept it for more than ten years and only gave it up when the cuffs frayed beyond repair.
To live large implies a risk. To live large implies extending yourself beyond security. And, to live large often implies revealing your inner thoughts not just to one, but to many.
To live large implies a risk. To live large implies extending yourself beyond security. And to live large often implies revealing your inner thoughts not just to one, but to many.
Country singers croon about it. We go over the moon about it, when it reflects a gesture whose affection we can reciprocate or admire. BUT by living large, we also sometimes find ourselves living with rejection. Risk vs. reward. Rejection vs. affection. Incognito vs. coming out.
Did God ever live large? Did our awesome God ever risk rejection? Consider these words about Christ Jesus:
He had equal status with God but did not think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all! When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human. having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - and the worst kind of death at that - a crucifixion. Philippians 2: 6-8 The Message
All this to get our attention. Has it gotten yours? All this to reveal His true intentions. Have you ever gotten intentional with God? If not, why not try so this week. I have a hunch he’ll reciprocate. Go live large!
You are familiar with the generosity of our Master Christ Jesus. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us - in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 The Message
* I cannot recall the actual names on the billboard. These are made up. Any similarity is purely coincidental.