As I was growing up, the comic strip options were not as varied as they are today. We had our Blondie (and Dagwood). We had Dick Tracy. And of course, there were others. But probably the most popular at the time was the Peanuts gang by Charles M. Shultz. (There was even a bestseller called The Gospel According to Peanuts, in which the author connected Peanuts to the Bible). Each day Shultz would come up with a new “adventure” for his gang- Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Pigpen, Beethoven, and others. He would often feature Lucy at her five-cent psychology booth, where Charlie Brown would stop for “advice.” I had issues with Lucy anyway, particularly with her insistence on getting Charlie Brown to trust her, and then pulling the football away at the last minute. So having a “pop” psychology stand rubbed me wrong. 😀
In this one particular strip, Lucy waxes “wisely” to Charlie. “Life is like a deck chair, Charlie. On the cruise ship of life, some people place their deck chair at the rear of the ship so they can see where they’ve been. Others place their deck chair at the front of the ship so they can see where they’re going.”
She looks at her puzzled client and asks, “Which way is your deck chair facing?”
Without hesitating, Charlie replies, “I can’t even get my deck chair unfolded.”
Been there done that??? I’m not ashamed to admit there have been times I have not had it all together. I have been unable to get my deck chair unfolded. Charlie and I have been soul mates from time to time.
But you know what? I’m okay with that. And I believe Jesus is okay with that as well. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, “Every Christ-follower must have it all together, all the time.” The Christian life has its ups and downs just like a life lived outside of Jesus’ influence. Nobody (except some whack jobs) says life will be all peaches and cream. The truth is that life is like a batch of roses, because even with roses there are thorns.
I made a point this past Sunday to say this several times:
JESUS IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS TO REFORM LIVES. HE IS IN THE BUSINESS TO TRANSFORM LIVES.
Mary Magdalene. The Gadarene demoniac. Saul/Paul. Me. You. Thousands, maybe millions of others. Not reformed, but transformed. Still deck chair-challenged from time to time, but working on getting them to stay open. 🙂 I don’t know about you, but I’ll take that!
Is your deck chair open? What direction is it facing in? Are you trying to reform or have you been transformed?
I think I’m with Charlie Brown. 😀
And the apostle Paul:
This verse: “Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”
Transformation is not something I can achieve. All I can do is be available and let Jesus do what needs to be done. It’s all His work.
So true Susan. It is His work in us that transforms us. i want that more and more.
So much of ‘how-to’ Christianity is nothing more than rearranging deck chairs…on the Titanic.
As Jesus said…we need to die.
He’ll take care of the rest.
I had that thought (deck chairs on Titanic) but cut due to length. 🙂 Need to die. Yes. He’ll take care of the rest. Yes!!
Tonight in small group we talked about how it is ok to not always be ok. I think that is the heart of what you’re saying. Life is definitely messy sometimes.
Most definitely is the heart of what I am saying larry. I, above all others, am in need of “work.”
Heck, I feel like I am trapped in the boiler room for most of my life’s cruise! Rats.
Some people do spend a lot of time in the heat Daniel. Come on out where it is cooler! Least you can feel the wind blowing in your face.
I think I’ve finally got my deck chair unfolded and facing toward the wide open view of the ocean at sunrise. It’s taken me years. But it still slides around from time to time. And sometimes I forget to sit down and relax.
What a great analogy Dan. So glad you are able to sit in your deck chair. Hope you find your chance to relax. 🙂
I’m so thankful God is transforming me and helping my chair face forward! I must admit though, there have been plenty of times my chair was either closed, spinning in circles or facing back…but God loves me through it all! Sometimes I think He must laugh at me 🙂
The analogy of your chair spinning in circles just rings in my head. I cannot begin to count the times I have felt like that. And for the record: i do believe God has a sense of humor. 🙂 Thanks for the comment TC.
I got mine already unfolded and ready…now I just need to get into it without Lucy being anywhere near…
I love this Ed! The picture of Lucy…naaah never mind.
I’m a Peanuts lover too. Thanks for sharing that cute story. My deck chair is at the front, facing forward, anticipating all God has in store. But that means I have to stay on the altar – Romans 12:1-2. Sometimes I start crawling off, or my deck chair starts sliding backwards, but God is faithful to pull me back.
I can so agree with you Lyn. I keep crawling off as well, thinking I can rearrange my deck chair all by myself. So glad He is faithful.
Your “reform” vs. “Transform” analogy was a good one. The way I see it, I’m way to busted up just to fix. I needed a whole new outlook — a new “me”. Transformation is way more radical, but in the end more satisfying and productive than just a trim.
I’ll stand with you David and go for the radical also. Painful, sometimes lengthy, but worth it in the end.
I’m looking down at my smashed and bloody finger that got caught in the folding apparatus of my deck chair!
It really is about having faith in He that knows the outcome of all our circumstances. When we begin to believe that we have things under control down here, a big lesson is heading toward us like a tsunami swamping our deck chair, regardless of which way it’s facing! When we look from our deck chair toward our Father things become quite clear and peaceful regardless of the state of the water we’re passing through. Excellent post, Bill. I’m being transformed…
All in our view and perspective Floyd. Well said Floyd. I get swamped when I decide I can do my own chair. Thanks for the reminder.
Count me in with Charlie Brown…and when I did get mine opened and ready to sit down…God up and moves the chair. It’s only been after this last move He has let me sit down. By now my deck chair is pretty feeble due to the storms of life yet it still have the strength to hold me. The transforming still takes place just at a slower pace which means I get to enjoy looking at the Son. Great anology brother…
Evidently God didn’t want your chair to become too stationary. 🙂 Now is the time to enjoy the scenery, unless he decides He has more for you to do. Thanks Betty.
Great post and cartoon. It’s great knowing God does not require a perfect life but a ongoing transformed and repentant one.
Thanks Dan for coming by. I agree about how great it is knowing God does not require perfection. What hope would there be for any of us?
Your welcome.
That’s pretty good. 🙂 I definitely understand not having it all figured out, not firing on all cylinders, and any other number of metaphors you could use. Funny thing is when I stop and try to figure it out, it’s oppressive and I believe that’s so because when I stopped, I had to pull back from following Jesus. That desire to understand is strong, but I can’t let it dictate how I follow Jesus. I have to trust! Thanks Bill. Great post.
I think sometimes Jason we are not supposed to figure it out,nor even try. I think God simply says, “Trust me.” Thanks for the comment.
I couldn’t find mine for the longest time, then remembered that I put it away because I didn’t like the view from the back of the ship. I have since brought it out, gave it a good hosing down, and have now placed it in the front of the ship. I feel I have been transformed, but refuse to rest on my laurels. Keeping my eye on the prize these days.
So glad your chair is looking forward Mike and your eye is on the prize. What a view!
Going deep with Charlie Brown!
I want a deck chair with wheels so I can face it backwards for a short time and then turn it around to face forward.
That might make me seasick though.
Good post! I never really thought about transformed vs reformed. I think I expect people and myself to be reformed sometimes. That’s not so good.
I guarantee that would make me sea sick. Guaranteed!! I like transformed better than reformed. It is more inside work.
Thank you for sharing about the difference between transforming us and reforming us. That blessed me. And also that Jesus never said we should have it altogether, or always be able to unfold our chairs. God bless you!
You’re welcome Deb. I am glad Jesus never told us we had to have it all together. i would be a huge disappointment.
My prayer is, and continues to be, that God would transform me into someone he can use. That involves a lot of reforming too, haha. But I think it’s a comprehensive and whole work.
LOL Loren. You had to get me. But I do agree…it is a comprehensive and whole work.
I’ve definitely been transformed. I thought I just needed to be reformed and that a Ph.D. in psychology would do the trick. Nope! In fact, it couldn’t help me solve any of my problems. I had to quit trying to unfold my deck chair, before God could give me the rest I so desperately needed.
That same principle goes for religious learning as well Melanie. It is easy to think “the more I know the better I am.” Not so. Only He can unfold our chair. Glad you found that rest. 🙂