the means to transform my social life 4

The fourth means to transform my social life is to “pay it forward.” A film of that name, starring Haley Joel Osment, Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey, and Jesus (well actually James Caviezel, “Jesus” of The Passion of the Christ and, therefore, I keep seeing him as Jesus), shows what might happen if you reach out for the sake of another.

The idea is to do something “big” for someone else, and then tell them they have to do something “big” for three other people who do it for three other people, and so on. In other words, you can’t pay them back, you have to pay it forward. Critics didn’t buy it. Here is Roger Ebert had to say.

That's the theory behind "Pay It Forward," a movie that might have been more entertaining if it didn't believe it. It's a seductive theory, but in the real world, altruism is less powerful than selfishness, greed, nepotism, xenophobia, tribalism and paranoia. If you doubt me, take another look at the front pages.

Well, Jesus would certainly beg to differ. It isn’t that willing the good of your neighbor and taking action on it, “love thy neighbor,” can’t be done, it is more that we just don’t try it enough. We don’t realize where the chain of good begins. Jesus tells us.

John 15:9-12 (NLT)
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. [10] When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! [12] I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.

The Trinitarian love Jesus experiences, is given to me, and I pay it forward to someone else, who in turn will be influenced by my action, and they have the opportunity to pay it forward. Apologies to Roger Ebert, but this theory works in the real world. The real world is where God rules, God’s Kingdom, and if all the parties involved are living transformed lives, pay it forward is as natural as selfishness in a world that doesn’t recognize the transforming power of God.

As we reach out in love to someone else, and they are under the same power of the Holy Spirit they will bless us as well as bless others. Can you imagine what it would be like if we all lived in communities where people were transformed disciples of the living God, Jesus? Pay it forward would be no big deal.

It starts with me.