Take our way of talking, for example. After we've exhausted ourselves in an angry outburst that feels really good (otherwise, why do it?) he reminds us: "Now consider this: "a gentle word can break a bone (Proverbs 25:15)" - not to mention, a hard heart. Hmmm. So "pumping up the volume," and looking more intense doesn't actually fly to win arguments? Or change my kid's behavior? (Not that I've given up on it altogether, you know.)
Or how about this one: "Humble yourself before me, and I will lift you up (Jas. 4:10 )." Now there's one that really goes against the grain! Does he really mean to imply that "the way up is actually the way down" - down to your knees? Yep, that's what he said!
Pixar's new movie Up provides a great opportunity to talk about such upside-down realities. Carl Fredricksen, the leading man and octogenarian in the film (now there's a novelty in a youth-obsessed culture) can actually float his house away with thousands of balloons, but it seems he can't lift his own heart. Grieving the loss of his beloved wife Ellie (and their beautiful, word-less montage of a life spent together at the film's beginning is worth the price of admission), the widowed, childless Carl (Ed Asner) believes that riding out his time in solitude and despair seems like a perfect idea. After all, to his mind there's just no way "up" - or is there?
Things are Looking Up
But "up" does come when (surprise), a small boy named Russel (Jordan Nagai) winds up on Carl's door-step, trying hard to earn his Wilderness Explorer service badge. (Take note whenever someone small shows up in a storyline. Remember how Frodo, Middle Earth's smallest guy, is the one who ends up as the ring-bearer; not to mention a certain baby who begins life in an animal feed-trough - then purposely chooses the weakness of a cross to triumph?)
Thrown together "by accident" when Carl decides to float away from it all, Russel (the son of an absentee-father) ends up with a most unpromising challenge: earning a service badge with a crotchety old man. At the same time, Carl is faced with the most unappealing - and humbling - prospect of coming out of himself to love again. The friendship that ensues between the two brings a whole new adventure that neither had in mind at the start. What could be more upside-down - and delightful - than that?
Knowing and Being Known
A story like this hits close to home and even brings tears, because we all relate in some way to Carl or Russel. Haven't we all experienced these heart-losses of some sort - whether of close relationship, or status, or even (like Carl) health-changes slowly leading to being more dependent on others (or at least a metal cane with tennis balls on the feet?) Why not just crawl safely inside our houses and hearts and slam the door shut tightly on the rest of the world? Who needs the challenge of real relationship anyway - of knowing others, and being known by them?
You do! This Father's day especially, see this important picture: like Russel, even if you are deeply missing a father who isn't around, know that there is One who invites you to share with him your heart. One who calls himself "a Father to the father-less, a Defender of widows" (Ps. 68:5). Here, in the true God, is a surprisingly-present Father who holds out to you the "give and take" of honest relationship. One who invites you to actually speak and cry out to Him about your struggles and joys, for his ear is always attentive to your voice.
And this is how He works: He resists the proud, but reveals himself to little children, even to little "Russels" like you - who in turn can help melt the heart of a proud "Carl." This Father's undeserved grace always flows downhill - to the humble sinner on his knees - which is everyone who admits their great need and submits themselves to be loved. This Father is "full of compassion," and never tires of lifting you up in His embrace and renewing your tired heart with his prodigal ("extravagant") love. And this Father has forever written his love-letter of kindness and grace in the Gospel, for Jesus said, "to see me is to see the Father." So go ahead, call Him Abba ("daddy") Father:
"So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)
Yes, this Father promises to literally turn your world upside down - but for your great good. The important thing to remember is that you deserve none of it, but he has left all his comforts to come down to you, and endure great pain, so you could be known. And so you could rise up, as a loved son or daughter. Old hearts of stone made soft - now what could be more upside-down than that?
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