Shifting the Saviour complex.

In our family, a favourite before meal time grace is the Superman grace. This involves singing the Superman tune as well as a nice little ditty about our thankfulness for food. Standing on chairs and Superman poses are optional. Grandma, in particular, is a seasoned pro at this form of thanksgiving. The Ashfords are just cool like that ;)

Why am I writing this and why does it matter?

Because this year, I’ve learnt a huge lesson. In our wonderful, hilarious, colourful, broken and hurting world, there are often so many issues, complexities, problems. You don’t have to look very far to come across someone you know and love struggling in some way at some point with something. Bit depressing but this kind of has been my experience this year and I see it amongst my friends and others I know.

I began this year wanting to solve the problems of other people. Without wanting to sound big headed or super spiritual, I’m quite a pastoral person and that’s just how I roll. Maybe I was hoping for some magic formula, some jackpot idea or for certain situations just to miraculously and immediately turn around. Just maybe I wanted to see myself as some relational superhero who, with all the good intentions in the world, sorted out a few issues and generally made the world a better place (cue Incredibles theme tune.) I wonder how many of us can identify with this? I know I do.

I’m ending this year remembering that there is a Saviour and it is not me. So often, I feel as if I need to have all the answers and all of the solutions. But the beauty is, I don’t. In fact, it’s pretty arrogant to assume that I may even come close. I guess that links in to where our identity comes from – I just finished Graham Beynon’s book, Mirror Mirror, on this and it may have just blown my brain and heart to bits (in a good way!). Read it! What I’ve learnt and what I’m learning to love is that my role is simply to point others towards the one true Saviour – my incredible Jesus – who took care of our biggest need and deepest problem – our sins that separate us from God. Surely He is big enough to take care of any other issues, problems and concerns that we face?
  

As Psalm 27 so brilliantly says,

‘Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord’.

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In a very weird way, I’m so grateful for what this year has been and am looking forward to the one to come!

Have a beautiful summer!