This has been another season of learning by experience what I’ve known academically.  Of course, I “know” that God calls us to be humble and to follow Jesus’ example.  And I am, and I do.  Kind of.  But Jesus has been making it clear that my cooperation has been half-hearted.  For example, when I was in India, rejoicing at being able to minister to “the least of these,” my heart was pierced with the realization that I do not want to be one of them.  I am convicted by the extent to which Jesus was willing to not just love and serve the “least,” but to also identify with them, become one of them.

Thankfully, God has a bigger picture of His world and a bigger picture for my life than I do.  While I have been wanting to have “more” impact, be “more” valuable, eager to do “more,” He keeps restraining that, at least according to my definition.  It’s been very clear that this is a season for “small” work and that I am to learn the value of it, but honestly, it’s sometimes been a struggle.  However, I’ve found encouragement from a very unexpected source – magnetic bacteria.

There are certain mud-dwelling bacteria that thrive in the depths of the mud.  If they get too close too the surface, they die.  They have little chains of magnetite crystals that orient them to the magnetic fields in the earth; following the arc of the fields, they dive down into the mud.  Any time they are disrupted, they automatically reorient down and dive.  This relentless diving to me is a picture of Jesus uncompromisingly pursuing lowliness (from heaven to earth to hell, from crown to cross).  Whenever I’ve gotten discouraged about my “small” place or find myself wanting to “ascend,” I picture those bacteria diving down (automatically) and Jesus diving down (intentionally), and it helps me keep my aim in line with his.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.  2 Corinthians 8:9