Transcend or Detach

In light of Jesus’ resurrection and the spiritual battle for every soul that has ever lived, I have long strived to transcend the trite challenges, annoyances and even deep pains of this life. I was recently convicted that I have often opted to detach rather than transcend.

To transcend is to rise above or go beyond the limits. It is to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of life.

To detach is to separate, to release from something that engages.

Buddhism teaches that by mentally and emotionally detaching, we can weather the inherent suffering of this life unaffected and thus achieve peace and contentment. I confess that I have been more Buddhist than Christian when it comes to dealing with suffering.

How do I repent of detachment and embrace transcendence? They seem so similar and yet are so opposite. To detach is to avoid, ignore, disengage, and passively not care. But to transcend is to face suffering, to engage and triumph, to kinetically care without bounds. To love invincibly.

Is it possible to vulnerably love without limits and not be destroyed or overcome by the pain and suffering associated with love and loss and failure? I suppose that is where Jesus comes in. Right? I mean, as a Christian that is what I am supposed to say, but I think I believe it too. It has to be true. If it is not, then I am forever lost.

Jesus succeeds where others in my life do not. My family and friends are great, but they die and fail and hurt me. Jesus doesn’t die (or if he does, it doesn’t last for long). He is always there for me, always loves me, is always faithful. So instead of not caring about others, or pretending I don’t care, or trying to guard my heart, I can love with reckless abandon because of the security of God’s love in my life. That sounds good. But it sounds scary too…

Flagstaff

Last weekend I visited my friends Chris and Angela in Flagstaff, AZ to celebrate their church plant’s five year anniversary. They have been through much hardship in those five years, including losing founding members, financial challenges, and much more. But they are still there, and are not going anywhere. They have not given up; they have stood up.

I was reminded of Psalm 18:25 that says God is faithful to those that are faithful. As I looked around the room last Sunday morning in a coffee shop hosted church service, I saw God’s faithfulness in this church. From the couple with new child that have served in leadership for five years to the young lady that just arrived from Los Angeles. God is telling a story in this community of His faithfulness and love for all people, and it was beautiful to get to see it first hand.

It rains a lot in Flagstaff, but what is unique is that it is almost always sunny, even during the rain. It served as an appropriate metaphor for this young church. Chris and Angela, may God continue to shine through the rain and prove Himself a faithful Refuge for the brokenhearted.