what is your why

What is your why?  Have you ever stopped to think about that?  Have you ever stopped to consider why it is that you do the things you do?  Whys matter.  They really matter.

Just look at Jesus. (John 13:1-17)  He was getting ready to leave this world.  He was staring at loneliness, abandonment, betrayal, sorrow, suffering, torture, and even crucifixion.  Of all the times when it might seem appropriate, or at least understandable, to do something for yourself, to be motivated by need, he was still thinking of others.  He still chose to be motivated by love. 

All power and all authority had been given to him by the Father, so he set it aside.  He chose to put a towel around his waist, pour water into a basin, and stoop down to wash the disciples’ feet.  Why on earth would he do such a thing?  How on earth could he do such a thing?  The answer to the first question is because of love.  And the answer to the second is because he didn’t need anything from them.  Therefore, he was totally free to love and to serve. 

And the scary thing is that he calls each of us to do the same.  Oh, not merely to wash feet, although that very well may be part of it, but to be free from need in order to love, whatever form that may take.  You see, freedom is not just the ability to do whatever we want to do, it is the ability to become all that we were meant to be—to live and to love the way God intended.

So let’s begin to pray to that end.  Let’s pray that God would give us the strength and the grace and the courage to let our why be love, instead of need.  After all, if it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.  Right?

Lord Jesus, help me to be like you.  Help my why always to be love.  Amen.