This is a picture of a man’s brain. And a Western man’s brain at that. What you would see if you could see it the way we live it, is a vast array of little compartments. Little drawers, all subject to the man-brain rule:
Never open more than one drawer at a time.
Women are generally different (surprise!). Their brain resembles a large, open chest, where everything is integrated into one. Open up her heart or brain, and you’ll find the kids, the husband, the friends, the fictional relationships she has with TV or book characters, money, God, dinner, shopping, home stuff, and whatever else – all wonderfully blended into a single life and heart. That’s why women multi-task so well.
Men? Forget it. It’s not that we can’t…
Well, yeah, it is.
Back to the drawers. Imagine that each of these represents a different component of a man’s heart and brain. There’s a God drawer. A sports drawer. A sex drawer (it’s spring loaded). A kids drawer. A money drawer (usually diametrically opposite the God drawer).
When a man is at his flesh-worst, he compartmentalizes. That’s why a man will tell his wife with a straight face that he loves her (and mean it), while at other times, when another drawer – an illegitimate one – is open, he may act like he isn’t married at all.
That’s why it was a man who said, “Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11).
That’s why James referred to a double-minded man (James 1:8).
When a man is at his Spirit-best, he learns to open the God drawer and leave it open. Everything else becomes integrated through that filter. It’s the masculine version of walking in the Spirit.
Why is this important? Because a vast majority of challenges and situations that present themselves to us are spiritual challenges, dressed in other kinds of clothes.
Case in point: Our silent champion, Zerubbabel is a civic leader – a governor – charged with a huge building project. He’s living in the land of bricks and sticks, naughty neighbors, and inexperienced refugee builders. And he gets a memo from God that reframes his entire situation:
“It’s not by might or by power, but by My Spirit.”
“Uh huh. Okay, thanks, Lord, for the tip. I’ll think about it some more when I get to the synagogue on the Sabbath. But I’ve got some beams to lay right now.”
“And where do you get the resources to acquire the beams?”
“You’re serious, aren’t You?”
Yes. I think He is.
Okay, it’s the house of the Lord and all.
Okay, it’s a critical time and an important message God was doing in history.
But at the end of the day, it was a construction project. It took labor, materials, and money – none of which are particularly spiritual.
But they are.
Western thinking – and boy thinking – compartmentalize life to the point that we see no connection whatsoever between our spiritual lives and relationship with God and any other facet of our lives.
Left unattended or undisturbed, we will live that way until we die.
Maybe that’s why God does a little disturbing (or allows our enemies to).
Zerubbabel’s building project had everything to do with his spiritual life, and vice-versa. His lack of might – a spiritual issue, too. His lack of power – ditto.
This was such an integrated thing that God saw to it that on the cornerstone of the temple were seven eyes, representing the seven eyes of the Lord, roaming the whole earth. I would contend that His stamp of ownership is on virtually everything, if we search for it. Our physical bodies are made in His image. Our work is a reflection of His six days of creative labor. Our relationships and longings are reflections of His heart and design.
Okay, so maybe you aren’t in a building project. Here’s a random sampling of other things for you to consider on your road to integrity:
What’s so spiritual about changing diapers?
What’s so spiritual about eating lunch? (Kinda sick that I started with those two together, eh?)
What’s so spiritual about remodeling the house?
What’s so spiritual about taking your wife on a date?
What’s so spiritual about paying bills?
What’s so spiritual about listening to music?
What’s so spiritual about reading the paper?
What’s so spiritual about sex?
What’s so spiritual about disciplining your children?
What’s so spiritual about driving a car?
What’s so spiritual about writing a blog?
What’s so spiritual about laughing out loud?
What’s so spiritual about voting?
What’s so spiritual about running for office?
What’s so spiritual about opening a savings account?
What’s so spiritual about speaking out against sin or injustice?
What’s so spiritual about taking out the trash or washing dishes?
What’s so spiritual about fishing or playing golf?
What’s so spiritual about giving money away?
What’s so spiritual about talking to friends on the phone?
What’s so spiritual about having a baby?
What’s so spiritual about going home alone after a funeral?
What’s so spiritual about remembering the past?
What’s so spiritual about dealing with criticism?
What’s so spiritual about… (your turn now).
