But at all costs, avoid one thing:

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This entry will be brief. As we reflect upon the cross this week I would like you to ponder this quote by Thomas Merton.

“Be anything you like. Be madmen, drunks, and bastards of every shaped and form. But at all costs avoid one thing: Success.”

Thomas Merton was a monk.

Why would he say something like this? It’s crude, its offensive to us, its so out of place for a nice peace loving monk. But although I’d like to admit otherwise – I think he’s right. (Understand he's using irony here to prove his point so I'm in no way condoning being any of these things - please understand the point he is making.)

Our culture is driven by success. We want to be successful so very much – we long for it because success gives us validity in other people’s eyes – it gives us power and prestige. It propels us to be “important.” It shows us how deeply unsatisfied we are with who we are.

More Twitter followers. More blog hits. More book sales. Bigger churches. More money. Better office. Bigger house. Nicer car.

Why is this so bad?

Why would Mr. Merton be so against it?

Maybe because the more driven by success we become the more we think about ourselves and the less we think about others. The drive to be successful does some weird things to us – namely it makes us selfish and self-centered. And the more we focus on ourselves the sicker we become.

I know I struggle with the desire to be successful. The culture around me tells me to climb the ladder, to move on, to go to the next thing. This is success it tells me.

But Jesus is telling me something different.

Jesus is telling me to die to myself and my dreams and follow Him. To pour my life out on behalf of others – to invest in the lives of the marginalized and powerless – to live simply so I can give more away. To be content with who I truly am.

This week I’m reminded that Jesus rejected success. He could have led a rebellion or been Caesar or had more Twitter followers than Lady Gaga but he chose another way. This week I’m reminded that He died a humiliating death as he hung naked and bleeding as a condemned criminal. I’m reminded that Jesus understood the only way to bring life was through the door of death and self-denial.

Jesus was so not successful. By all accounts he failed.

But then again…

#resurrectioniscoming

Maybe this is what Thomas Merton means…