Chris Howlett

What's On the Inside?

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” – Duke Ellington

Imagine you’re holding a cup of coffee when someone bumps into you, causing you to spill some. I realize for some of you losing any of your morning coffee is a triggering, painful prospect, but bear with me. If this happened, you’d spill coffee. You wouldn’t spill tea, grape juice, or cola. Whatever is inside your cup is what will spill if your cup is bumped or shaken.

Every one of us is a vessel. Looking from the outside, it’s difficult to know what we “contain.” But when life bumps up against us or shakes ups up, whatever is inside will come outside.

What’s in your cup? Is it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Is it anger, bitterness, impatience, harshness, or a lack of discipline?

Life can be challenging. Prepare for it. When difficulties come its a great time to let love spill out on those around us so they can see Christ and learn to trust him in both the good and bad times.

Climbing the Mount of Transformation

“Spiritual formation is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” — M. Robert Mulholland

Climbing Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, is a daunting and challenging task. Climbers face the dangers of sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and a low oxygen environment. The latter is the most life-threatening. Altitude sickness leads to fluid in the lungs and a swelling brain. Many who suffer altitude sickness on Everest die.

Even the world’s most experienced climbers need Sherpas to assist them to reach the summit and return safely. Sherpas are a unique people who, for generations, have inhabited the Khumbu Valley at the base of Mt. Everest. They developed the capacity for surviving at altitude and capabilities for mountain climbing. Sherpas are gifted climbers who assist others to attain their goal of summiting the highest mountain in the world.

On our journey of discipleship, we need spiritual “Sherpas,” those who have developed the capacity and capabilities of spiritual discipline and discernment and actively model their lives after Christ. It can be a daunting journey up the Mount of Transformation, because everything in the world teaches us to live for self and place ego needs ahead of all others. The process of allowing Jesus to reign in every area takes time, energy, and the investment of others ahead of us on the journey.

As we develop the capacity to love God and others and the capabilities of spiritual discipline and discernment, we invest in those who are behind us, growing a family of missionary servants who learn to reflect the image of Christ for others. No one accomplishes this on their own. We need spiritual “Sherpas” to assist us as we grow and develop our desire and ability to bless others.