i 4 n i?

You know when people talk on chats or over facebook and how it just seems easier not to capitalize “i”? When you refer to yourself commonly? To slug your pinky all the way over to the shift key; to work with gravity and against your muscles just seems so much work when everyone understands the meaning of the word even if you fail to include proper capitalization. What if “i” were to take that a step further and elaborate on what “i”‘ve been thinking as of late?

For the past little while, i have (horribly so) been neglecting to read the Good Book. i know it’s dreadful and should be condemned for it, but it slipped my mind for the past little while. But when i left to come out to BC, i decided to take it with me. We’d only be gone a week, but its such a comfort to have around… to know it is there and to feel some sort of reinforcement from it. Today and yesterday particularly, i have opened ‘er up to where i last was: (i have been attempting to read the entire bible through. i gave myself incredible congratulations when i made it through Numbers in one piece… wow that one’s a little rough to get through) Isaiah. Okay, now this guy is quite the prophet… or as i have been referring to him more commonly and frequently (both) the “seeing dude”. i mean think about it: how cool would it be to be a mouth for God? To have Him talk to you directly and take His messages and plans and wishes directly to the people and give them the 411 on what was going on in the mind of the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE? Judging from what we know about Jonah (and getting swallowed by a jumbo fish? wow, don’t disobey God… you might end up as fish-flakes!) it was probably difficult to set yourself on the track to telling the not-so-cool news, but Isaiah really keep at it.

Now if you don’t really get the full picture of Isaiah, let me summarize. He was basically an average-joe guy, set apart by God to be His human messenger. Pretty sweet job description if you ask me. He went around, talked to God’s people (those who both knew it and those who didn’t) and pretty much railed on them for what they were doing. Some was good, some was not. As my little excerpt at the beginning of the book puts it “In the days of Isaiah, it was not uncommon for God to communicate primarily through prophets– men and women who listened [super] carefully to God and delivered messages to his people. Isaiah was such a man, and the messages he delivered were not very popular at the time. Still, Isaiah faithfully and carefully spoke the truth even though many [both] ignored and persecuted him…”

Think about it for a sec. You are known by the people as someone who talks so personally with God, that He trusts you to keep the truth up and spread what He says. Mind you, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness… (this means YOU Isaiah!) … for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. (Matt 5:10) This man put everything aside for God and expelling His amazing plans and emotions to the people who were created in His likeness. That is so selfless.. I mean the dude could make money: he could be a politician (the way he is confident in talking.. nothing on Moses, pff) or a priest (who swung around incense and sacrificed critters to ask God to save people) or a SHEEP farmer for heaven’s sake, but he puts worldly possessions aside and takes up God’s mission for him. I read earlier today that the Lord commanded Isaiah to take off his “sackcloth and sandals” and just walk around stark. Not only did the messenger do it, but he did it for three years. (Isaiah 20:2-3) That’s kinda a big deal in the desert; I mean, think about it, there is that killer sun for 1… he would have some super dreadful sunburn and don’t even get started on the gnats and the mosquitos and all that jazz. Wow, Isaiah must have been totally for God’s mission and what was being taught or he wouldn’t have followed so closely.

Okay so now what on earth does this have to do with “i”?

i was thinking about this the other day. a constant prayer that i’ve been going for is for 1. patience (good grief, this one can be totally brutal) 2. selflessness (its hard in a 1st and materialistic world to shove it all aside like Isaiah) and 3. humility. Isaiah seems to cover most if not all of them. Listening to whining people about how life is unfair and how things suck has gotta be trying and he must’ve had the patience of a saint (pun totally both intended and anticipated). He followed God entirely, placing his health, well-being and overall existence in His hands with faith that he would keep him safe.. and God did. He expressed humility in the knowledge that he was dealing with the divine CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE and realized and applied that the glory of knowledge about things that would come to pass had nothing to do with him, but everything to do with Him.

so when i was talking to a friend of mine and i told him about the struggle i was having with these three issues, he elaborated on the whole small “i” deal.

(finally, you say. here we go onto what this was about)

we as Christians are called to be like Him: to show people His mercy and His love. we have this fantastic nomination, designating us to fling ourselves out there like Isaiah and do what He wants. In this world, it doesn’t matter what gender we are, what colour we are, what race we are. we have this purpose that is so drawing and so important that we need to just get out there and “just do it” (courtesy of Nike). we (like Isaiah) need to also realize that no matter what we do, the love that we show, the stories that we tell, the miracles that we may witness and maybe even perform are all credited to Him.

God is love. (1 John 4:16)

So why capitalize “i” and take the credit?