When working in outside sales years ago, it was all about getting new
business, and growing the old. Through various methods, including termination,
you were encouraged to make cold calls, and generally do all the things you were
told would make you a successful salesman. Looking at the "old" guys, you saw
nothing special about them, but you could always tell if a new hire had the
potential. And since it was "your" route, it was yours to grow. Rarely if ever
did you get a lead, or ever have an account turned over to you. And when you
did, at least in my case, they had been abused so bad, you were the mop and
squeegee committee, if they didn't take the mop and use it on you. The old
accounts turned over to you were worn out, didn't know you, or did know the last
salesman. And some would still do business with you anyway. But the new
business you got on your own, this was always your best bet. You got to build
it with them, and you had no one else to blame. We had been told that your best
accounts were ones you cultivated yourself from new, and they were right. We
were also told the worst ones would be the ones turned over to you. No matter
how large, and how successful they were or would be, somehow they weren't
yours. Your heart was never in them as much, and as much as you hated to cold
call-you needed it to grow the business to make an income. It came down to
relationships, ones you built from scratch, not inherited and tried to
maintain.
Sometimes it would work ok. It was like wanting to date a girl who was
seeing someone else. You would watch to see what made her laugh, made her mad,
and what she liked. Then you would tailor your approach for her, based on the
other guy's experience. Hoping it would work, but often failing. You never saw
the intimate parts that made her like the other guy, you only saw the external.
You were trying to build a relationship based on someone else, and not you-or
her. And it would inevitably fail. "Be yourself," you were told, which wasn't
always easy. You saw the zits that could only be covered by combing your hair
different. You knew all the bad habits you had, and set yourself up to fail.
Not knowing she had a set of her own, and thinking no boy would go out with me.
She was too pretty, or worse yet too... And when it finally occurred to you to
be yourself, and the two of you build your own relationship, then it was
special. You got to know her, and when you finally went to hold her hand, you
assumed she would, because you had gotten the time to know her. And she finally
had the answer to her question of "what took you so long?" Win or lose, it was
your relationship-no one else's.
That is why religion is so impersonal. Read this, attend this, recite
this, and don't do this list of things. Just like you've been told. Then Jesus
comes along. And it's all different. You find the freedom to be you, and
marvel as a potential you never knew you had appears. And as your relationship
with Him grows, you find yourself wanting to be like Him. Something no laws,
classes, or previous religious experience could teach you. This time it was
personal-and it was all about you and Him. Just you and Jesus. No one else's
mistakes to deal with, Jesus was dealing with yours-with you. And you found all
the advice the world had given you, and all the rules religion had given you,
didn't work when love came on the scene. It was that personal.
And so it was when I first met Jesus. I was so wild and rebellious I hated
rules and authority. But when something, really someone touched my heart, I
told God I would give Him a try. With no idea what I was getting into. With
one condition-partying was still ok, and I could sleep with all the women I
wanted. His answer surprised me-"OK." But a strange thing happened, my heart
was changing and I no longer wanted to. I wanted to please Him, and wanted to
be like Jesus. Where all the things the world offered-money, sex, drugs, and an
all about me existence were hollow, Jesus showed me things of substance. He
loved me as I was, and was excited about who I would become. It was all abut
Him-no rules or regulations to hold Him back. I had a hope and a future-and He
was it.
Struggling-try Jesus. Stuck in religion-trust Jesus. Bad at
relationships, let Jesus show you how. Successful but feeling empty, He is the
piece missing from your life. No rules, just a bit of faith. Followed up by
some trust. Then a bit of obedience, and watch out! You're a Christian!
You've been born again, and heading to heaven! With someone to walk with you,
and guide you, so you are never alone. A victory you don't ever have to win
again, but someone to go to when the battles that will occur in life do. You
have fellowship with the creator of the universe.
A hope and a future-just for you, from the creator of the universe. Who
loved you so much He sent His son to die and take your sin. You are loved! A
relationship without religion, a freedom without laws, and a God who loves you.
Make the best of it-trust Him! And watch as dreams you never had come true!
All that, and heaven too! No prior experience needed.
You can have your religion, I'll keep Jesus!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com