Hating Monday

Finding it hard to jump start your system? Your get up and go… got up and went? Try this in addition to your coffee….

Many years ago, we had Gordon MacDonald speak to our staff. Gordon shared a story from his days pastoring in New York City. Over time, Gordon befriended many N.Y.C. bus drivers and occasionally had a few over to his home for breakfast. One driver commented how Gordon had an interesting job helping people, but all bus drivers do is drive dumb buses. Gordon replied, “I have an idea for all of you…Look, I believe that God will make any job interesting if we believe He wants to use us. Now here’s what I suggest. Tomorrow morning before anyone gets on your bus, close the door, face all the empty seats, and say loudly, ‘In the name of Jesus, I declare this bus a SANCTUARY for the next eight hours. And I declare that all the people who enter this SANCTUARY will experience the love of Christ through me, whether they realize it or not.’” At first the drivers thought Gordon was crazy, because it is peculiar to think of New York City buses as SANCTUARIES. But after the shock, one by one each of the drivers affirmed, they would give it a try.

When Gordon saw his friends over the coming months, he’d ask them what they were driving, and they’d always smile and say, “A SANCTUARY, man, a SANCTUARY.” One bus driver commented that this new sense of call had changed his life and perspective. He said, “Well, you know, this SANCTUARY stuff. I’ve been doing it. And it works. Each day I’ve been turning my bus into a SANCTUARY, and it’s made all the difference in the way I do my job. Why, the other day a guy got on my bus, and he was so mad at me because I wouldn’t let him off at a stop that was illegal. He cussed me out something awful. And you know what? There was a day when I think I would have gotten up and let him have it. But not in a SANCTUARY.” “So, what happened?” “I let him off at the next stop and said, ‘Hope you have a good day, sir. Nice having you aboard.’ And a lady behind me said, ‘Charlie, how can you be so nice to a jerk like that?’ I just muttered to myself that it wasn’t hard if you were driving a SANCTUARY and not a bus.”

Gordon has told this story many times over the years. He has discovered that some pilots fly SANCTUARIES instead of 747’s for Delta, and some surgeons operate in SANCTUARIES and not operating rooms. I’ve told this story a hundred times. I know teachers that don’t teach in classrooms anymore but SANCTUARIES.

God saved us to serve and we “are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Who are you? You are a plainclothes agent in the Jesus Revolution, the only revolution that will ultimately endure. You are a full-time servant of God who happens to bring home the bacon by being a carpenter, sales associate, banker, or whatever. Getting the concept of SANCTUARY motivates good attitudes and promotes sustainability, particularly when it’s easy to quit.

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!

Dr. Michael Sprague is the Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures. Michael does life with his wonderful wife Donna and resides in Mandeville, LA. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God.” You can find more information about Michael here.