Seen On a Church Sign

Let me preface this post with two statements:

(1) I am NOT perfect… far from it.  So in no way is this post placing myself on a high horse in which I will break my neck when I fall…

(2) I’m not in the most chipper cheery mood these days, but I’m striving to get better…

Now, on with the post.

I love church signs.  I really do.  I think some of the most thought provoking statements can be found on the marquees, no matter how fancy they are.  The church around the corner from me makes me think daily and because the messages are there for at least a week and sometimes longer, I’m able to see them, read them, meditate on them.  This particular church has my most favorite message of all time.  Many years ago, when I didn’t even know this side of town existed, I was driving over here with my boss and we passed this church and their sign stated:

“Stop, drop and roll doesn’t work in hell.”

I don’t know why that struck me.  I wasn’t even saved at the time, but it stuck with me and I’ve repeated that same message to many throughout the years.  They’ve had other good ones, but none that stuck with me like that one until these last few days.

Coming home every day I’m faced with the sign that says, “The dictionary is the only place where success preceeds work.”

Think about that for just a moment.  It should be completely true.  It should be that rewards come at the cost of hard work; that success is measured by the effort that you put in.  But that’s not really the case with society today.  We live in a land where people think that they are owed something; where they feel that just because they show up for work, they should collect a paycheck.

But that’s just not the way that it is. As I look around me and my circumstances, I’m mad.  I mean, down right, ready to spit, mad.  Seriously.  I’m sick and tired of busting my butt and robbing Peter to pay Paul.  I don’t live in a fancy house.  I don’t drive a fancy car.  I don’t wear designer clothes nor do my children unless I’ve picked them up at a second hand shop.  We don’t eat out often.  We tithe.  We are living to the best of our ability based on my salary.

But…

I drive past the projects, the low income housing and I see the clothes that the people there are wearing.  I see the cars that are sitting outside their doors.  I see the “bling” adorning their bodies and I sit there and wonder why they have more than me.  And I get jaded.

I’m tired of working two jobs to pay the bills, to save, to do some fun things while I watch people trot their happy butts all over town doing what ever they want without a care in the world.

I’m tired of it.

Sick and tired of it.

But you know, it’s funny…

The other side of that church sign?

Wanna know what it says?

“When was the last time that you made God smile?”

Today. Because I’m doing the right things.  I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.  Every day.  And yes, I’m angered by the circumstances that I’m in and what I witness around me, but I’m not giving in.  I’m not.  I’m keeping my chin up.  I’m trying to tackle every day with a smile.  Because that, my dear readers, makes God smile.

And in the end?

That’s all that matters.  When I stand before him and I hear him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant,” it will be worth it.

So worth it.

That’s what success is and yes, that success takes work.

So very very worth it.