Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Sometimes,
sacrifice is 
quiet.

Sacrifice - "an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy."  What a concept.  As humans, we're inherently selfish creatures.  Our own self-interest is an adaptation that has protected our species from the beginning.  At the same time, our ability to sacrifice may be what defines us as humans.  The animal kingdom can be a pretty rough place.  Not often do you see one animal saying, "You know what...go ahead and eat me, so that this other animal can get away today."  In our human society...we've got entire professions dedicated to sacrifice...up to and including not coming home at the end of the day - military, law enforcement, fire service.  

It's often
what others 
won't do.

When we think about sacrifice, we want to be assured that our sacrifice, our contribution, our gift to others is worth it.  Picture the quintessential war movie...people dying all around the main character as they storm the beach, castle, or fortress...wanton slaughter.  In the fairy tales and storybooks, the sacrifice results in the slaying of the dragon and the rescuing of the princess.  In real life, many young (largely) men over the millennia have bled and died on unnamed hills only to give the hill back the next day...and retake it the following...and give it back.  

Sometimes,
just a little
braver, longer.

As our modern world seems to slip further and further from the universal truths that our forefathers and ancestors held dear, I worry about our ability to sacrifice.  My grandparents' generation toiled, struggled, suffered...sacrificed.  Their generation (and those before them) freely poured their blood, sweat, and tears into building the foundations of our families and nation at large.  Now, we all have people in our circles who are unwilling to sacrifice the remote control or the climate controls in the car.  The truths that root us to our Creator are perhaps the underpinnings or prerequisites that allow us to say (and believe), "this ideal is more important than me."  "This thing is bigger than me...and worthwhile of my offering."  Good.  Evil.  Love.  Hate.  Freedom.  These big truths allow us to set aside all that we have to help preserve those ideals.  

Many times it wears
a uniform.

In parts of our world, we have Christians who are living a life where they're (by their choices) writing the blank check that may get cashed any day if they're found out.  The check that says, "I'm going to be bold in my faith.  I'm going to spread the gospel...even if it kills me."  Perhaps even more scary, "even if it hurts really bad for a really long time."  There's a peace in death.  Sometimes sacrifice demands a longer fortitude, like our prisoners of war.  For the tippy-part-of-the-spear in our military and some of our first responders, they write the same blank check and have it hanging over their heads when they go to work.  

It can be 
patient.

As a public safety guy, I can get my head around sacrifice, ultimate sacrifice.  In our culture, there's a heroic "at least I died running into a burning building to save a baby" or "I dove on the grenade to save my teammates" ethic.  We present medals, bestow honor, and hold up the heroes who were braver longer than all those around them.  Those who were willing to stand in the breach and were willing to sacrifice all...over and over again.  Having served big chunks of my adult life in professions where pain and death were possibilities...I've got a sense of sacrifice.  I've seen it firsthand.  I've heard of it second hand.  We've all watched it on the big screen.  

It can be
generational.

As a dad, I'm not sure I can get my head around sacrifice.  There are situations where I can say, "boy, if I were there, I'd take a bullet for them" or "man, if I had to trade my life for theirs...I would."  I've never had a situation or a thought, "may I'd trade my child's wellbeing for someone else"...not once...not for a moment.  When you think of the kind of sacrificial "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" love.  Wowzer...if that doesn't make you a believer, I don't know what would.  I can't get my head around sacrificing my child.  Myself, sure.  My co-worker, sure.  My boss, sure.  My friend, sure.  My child...not so much.  

Sometimes
it wears a
cape.

As we tone down the message here for a minute, can I/do I/would I/will I sacrifice my ego...my desires for the greater good of taking care of and providing for my family.  Meeting their needs before and above my own.  That's our calling as parents, as spouses.  As Christians.  Perhaps that's the definition of adulthood, or our mile marker that tells us that we're mature.  Beyond the "hard" physical sacrifice where we trade blood (a little or all of it) for a greater good, there's another, slower-burning kind of sacrifice.  Think about the parent or caregiver who sets aside their own dreams, hopes, or hobbies to provide for their family.  I'm not certain which one requires more fortitude or bravery...the sudden sprint onto the bloody beach or the day-in, day-out lifetime slog.  

...or a hero 
mask.

As we wrap it up, this week's challenge is to "sacrifice" your football time, hobby time (or money), your ego, your dreams...for your loved ones.  If we start practicing on the little stuff today, "honey, what would you like to watch," it helps us build the heart and habits of being able and ready to sacrifice on the bigger stuff.  Always wanted to be the vice president of your company?  What about when that runs counter or at too great a cost to be the provider, protector, parent that you've been called to be?  Sometimes that's much harder than our hard-wired catch a bullet for your kid sort of sacrifice.  Practice on the little stuff...so that you can rise to the occasion on the big stuff.  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Pick out three things you'll sacrifice this week or this season.  Set aside yourself for a minute...lean into your loved ones.  
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) can sacrifice to grow in your love and faith this week.  

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Mark and Jill Savage - Sacrifice at Home