San Diego, California, United States - First United Methodist Church - In Real Life for Friday, 18 April 2014 "Eh…. Don’t forget to brush your teeth!" by Richard Annett

San Diego, California, United States - First United Methodist Church - In Real Life for Friday, 18 April 2014 "Eh…. Don’t forget to brush your teeth!" by Richard Annett
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"Eh…. Don’t forget to brush your teeth!" 
I started this book the other night titled Christian Proficiency, by Martin Thomton.  I haven’t read the entire book yet, so I can’t recommend it, but so far it’s a great read.
Thomton writes, that as Christians we try so hard for these mountain top experiences, and we expect these experiences on a weekly or daily basis. I know, sometimes I do too. But let’s be honest, they don’t always happen. He has opened my eyes to that this isn’t what we should be striving for; rather we should be striving to become proficient in Christianity.
It’s like brushing your teeth, it’s not always an amazing experience, unless you go somewhere and you forget your toothbrush and then you get home and brush… ooh that’s an amazing feeling. Anyways, it’s not always fun, but you do it because it’s good for you. You’ll be healthier and live longer. Thomton is trying to make the same argument for our Christian faith walk. Every so often we have amazing morning devotion, but not always, and that’s okay. We do it because it is healthy for us.
Once I read this, my mind was blown, I dropped the book and just started to think and reflect. I realize that it’s okay to not have mountain top experiences. I realized that being a Christian and following Jesus doesn’t have to be mind blowing every Sunday morning. All of a sudden I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. As I continued to read this book,  I was also reminded that I still need to pursue it though. Just because I am free from these mountain top experiences doesn’t mean I am free from brushing my teeth.
You see, this hit me so hard because this Lent has been, well honestly, eh for me. There have been no mountain top experiences yet and I started to feel like I was doing something wrong. I actually prayed: God, am I doing this right? 
I realized that I don’t need to have mountain top experiences every day, week, month, or year. Rather every day I need to wake up brush my teeth and go on with my day trying my best to please Jesus.--Richard Annett, Director of Student Ministries
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