You-have-GOT-to-be-joking!

Had one of those You-have-GOT-to-be-joking! experiences this week. You know, those ones where you're convinced you have made yourself absolutely plain and clear yet the outcome would suggest you couldn't have done, you have been so totally ignored.This was not some insidious plot by evil people; this was just good people doing what they thought was right but I was so-oo frustrated.I have often wished that frustration was one of the Holy Spirit's fruit, but it isn't. Have you ever read Paul's list of the Spirit's fruit(Galatians 5)?  The inner characteristics of love, joy and peace express themselves outwardly as patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness - and the clincher, self control. Ha! Paul also lists in Galatians 5 the "fruits of the flesh" - the person following the world's way. That was me!My frustration this week was, on reflection, born out of a lack of control. Self control is very different from just wanting to be in control.  It's being in control of self.You may recall last Sunday in Mark 8, Peter proclaims that Jesus is not just the messenger of God's salvation plan, he is the Christ, the giver and executor of the plan. Then Jesus (Mark 8:31) spells the plan out plainly: relinquishing control, suffering, misunderstanding, judgment, shameful death - but three days later, resurrection.Peter decides Jesus’ plan sucks and tells him so.  Jesus says, "Peter, that's Satan-thinking".I sat in my frustration with a member of the Parish Council who helped me process my Satan-thinking. After a while I saw it clearly. It was as though Jesus was saying to me,"Bit frustrated are you? It won't do you any good. You said you want to be my disciple but I'm not sure you do?""What do you mean?", says I."Discipleship and real freedom start with denying yourself not having a plonker when things don't go your way. Who are your eyes on?""Me and my situation I suppose!""No kidding. Your frustration is just control denied. This is your cross today. If you're my disciple, pick it up!" (Mexican standoff ensues.)"Ok, if I stop sulking (coz I was) and pick it up, what's in it for me?" "You'll only know that if you pick it up."Well, I'm not sure if I picked up my cross or laid down my right to control, take offence and feel irritated and frustrated but something inside me just gave up - gave up the right to hold on to my right."Now follow me," Jesus said.The result was that the frustration (believe me or not) in an instant, stopped being my problem. It was as though Jesus took it and said, "Don't you worry about that; that belongs to me. Now you just get with my programme and follow me". Very strange but very true.This is when preaching is fun: when you preach Mark 8 and it's just what the preacher needs to hear. (See, it is all about me after all.)With you in your adventure.Malcolm