"The tall blade of grass gets cut first."
–well-known Eastern proverb
"Be yourself, everyone else is taken."
–well-known Western proverb (often attributed to Oscar Wilde)
So which is it?
Is the path to the good life found in the Eastern way? In conforming, losing your self in the group, working towards the greater good and for a higher purpose?
Or, is the path to the good life found in the Western way? In standing out, caring most about your own personality, working towards self-actualization?
Jesus says: both and neither. He does want you to have an individual, unique life. However, the way to find that life is not to find your self, but to lose it—for his sake.
What does that mean? A lot! You could ponder this verse for a lifetime. But start your pondering here: Jesus lost his life to find eternal life for us, so we can lose our life, our self, to find eternal life in him.
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
–Matthew 16:25
For meditation:
How does Jesus’ death and resurrection for me reframe how I think about my self?
For prayer:
Dear Lord, You did not seek what was best for your self, but instead sought what was best for me. Give me the ability to have selfless desires, so that I can seek you above all else. In your name I pray, amen.
