Measuring the Immeasurable

"What gets measured gets done."

I don't know who coined that, but I've heard it most of my life.

If I want to get in better shape, it requires measures...blood pressure, cholesterol level, heart rate, body mass index, etc.

Measurement is essential for us to mark and map our path.  However, as Nouwen points out in "Measuring Our Worth" today, measurement can become unhealthy.  It becomes unhealthy when we use it to separate ourselves from others and elevate ourselves.  It becomes unhealthy when we strive for our own ambitions, not God's will.

We're reading about dying to self and becoming poor with the poor and being a servant.  But when I browse Christian bookstores, I don't see many books about this.  I see tons of books on how to become a better Christian.

It's as if we've made this descending way we're called to, a source of pride, measurement and separation.  It's as if we have set up our own alternative Christian world and are encouraged and rewarded for pandering to our own grade-givers.

Contemporary Christian musicians are not rewarded and recognized for their artistic accomplishment.  They're rewarded for fitting into the established expectations of consumers.  Christian authors are not applauded for challenging our faith and culture.  They're rewarded for churning out another feel good self-help book or defending a vocal group's doctrine.  Because, in both of these cases, sales volume is the measure.  And the bestseller lists are the grade-givers.

Faith, hope and love can't be measured.  Discipleship can't be measured.  Servanthood can't be measured.

One of my greatest struggles is ambition.  I want to make things happen.  I want challenge and change things.  But I can't get out of my own way so that God can steer.  I can't tune out the grade givers, because I have a deep desire to measure myself for improvement.

Nouwen writes, "Being is more important than having." (page 68)

I like that.

I hope I can get there one day.

Wonder how can I measure my progress? :)