I just have to share a story I heard today, as told by my good friend, Jo-el. I will probably be guilty of embellishing it just a smidgen, but the original thought came from him.
I hope it makes you think, as it did me.
Oh, by the way, and not to be vulgar, I may use a three letter word to denote:
“any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals smaller than the horse and having long ears; especially: an African mammal that is the ancestor of the donkey… ass.”
After all, it is used in the Authorized Version.
Okay, here’s the story.
It begins with the story of the Triumphal Entry, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey.
Now I’d like to pretend, or assume, the donkey is telling the story from his perspective and opinion. Why? Because sometimes we act like we’re God’s gift to the world. We can think the whole plan of salvation revolves around us. We can picture ourselves as so attractive, popular, and praiseworthy; yet fail to see that prancing and strutting before others doesn’t enhance our image.
Here’s the passage from the bible…
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:1-5 KJV)
Can you picture the donkey, looking and sounding a bit like Francis the Mule? Imagine yourself as the donkey, and you’ve just taken your first step into Jerusalem through the Golden Gate, with Jesus sitting on your back.
At first, you are just so proud and humbled to be carrying the Lord Almighty on your back. Just the thought that you were chosen by God for this special, once in a lifetime duty makes your legs feel a bit rubbery. Wow!
But then you hear the shouts of praise and feel the palm branches under your hooves, suddenly it’s as though you no longer have a rider. You are now the center of attraction. You are the important one. You’re so caught up in the moment, irritation begins to rise when someone doesn’t pay attention to your show.
What began as a humble ministry to the Lord turned into a silly exhibition of ego.
I believe we all need to remember this story.
Because, folks, it really is that easy to make an… uh, donkey out of ourselves.
Agree?
Jan Grace 