LADDER

In the movie Pulp Fiction, starring Uma Thurman and John Travolta, there's a scene that was evidently taken out before final production where Thurman tells Travolta that she needs to find out what kind of man he is before she goes out with him.  She says:

'There are two kinds of people in this world - Elvis people and Beatles people.  Beatles people can like Elvis - and Elvis people can like the Beatles.  But nobody likes both equally.  Somewhere you have to make a choice and that choice tells me who you are.'

Interesting and indeed.

You could tell me certain things about yourself that would help me understand who you are:
You like to skydive.
You like Pepsi One.
You go to drive-ins rather than indoor theaters.
You read mystery novels.

But let me ask you another defining question: When you read the Bible, do you read it as a way to better yourself - climb up the moral ladder --- or do you read it as the story of God coming down to you as a broken person?

The answer to that is self-incriminating because one describes a ladder and the other a cross.  You get on a ladder to go up.  The cross, however, symbolizes God coming down to you.

We seem somewhat addicted to ladder-climbing.  We think the next rung brings freedom.  It means we get to make our own decisions, move at our own pace, hold our futures in our own hands.  And if I climb high enough, I'll be somebody - who I've always dreamed of being.  I'll achieve something - what I've always dreamed of achieving.

Part of our ladder-climbing is directed toward which rung everybody else in our system is on - a lower one than us, hopefully.

This road to supposed freedom is really the opposite.  It brings bondage -- blown expectations -- empty dreams -- false worth -- hollow accomplishments -- constant performance.

God isn't at the top of your ladder like Jack in the Beanstalk shouting: 'Get yourself up here.'  He's at the bottom - on a cross - whispering: 'I did it all for you.'

And be blessed.