The Wide Open Life

Leaving behind the smallness within.

Another day of work and another flustered morning, scrambling to get to court on time. I had a special appearance at the downtown courthouse, which is not where I regularly appear for the cases I handle as an attorney. On this day I was headed to the “big house”, the main civil courthouse for Los Angeles county. I always enjoyed appearing there, as the courthouse building was much larger, the courtrooms more expansive and numerous, the case load voluminous. And it was where not only routine matters were heard but complex civil cases, some of note, were litigated. Though I was working, being downtown was a field trip of sorts, something I always looked forward to. In my mind, this was the “LA Law” of the 80’s.

However, as is often the case, on this day I was frantically trekking across town in traffic, weaving around cars like Danica Patrick, to get into court on time for my 9:00 a.m. appearance. One of the downsides to this courthouse was the dearth of affordable and proximate parking. I had long ago surrendered to the use of a lot that was across the street from the courthouse, despite the usurious cost. It was convenient and saved me from walking a great distance, should I be late — and to save my dogs! There weren’t many spaces in this cramped lot, and the few there were awkwardly placed and angled on slopes with pot-holed surfaces. It took a a deft hand to maneuver my SUV into the tiny spaces, and a waist size of Twiggy to then squeeze out of my car without hitting the car beside me. But, it served my purposes and it had been my lot of choice for years. Like Pavlov’s dog, I dutifully made my way there every time.

So, there I was on that day making my way to the lot, touching up my hair, putting on my rouge, and inventorying all I would need to grab from my back seat before I launched into a mad dash. I had calculated arriving there by 8:55 a.m., squeezing into one of the tiny spaces, and sprinting across the street to arrive in court at 9:00ish, praying for a late start by the judge that would allow me some leeway. I approached the lot anxiously, my mind already inside the courthouse. As I turned into the driveway I was met by the shock of the dreaded “LOT FULL” sign. I argued my case with the lot attendant, pointing out corners I thought my car could squeeze into by force,with that aforementioned deft hand, to no avail. He was unable to make room for me that day. Crestfallen and flummoxed, I pulled away to consider my options, while watching the minutes tick away on my dashboard clock. All I could see was me bounding into court later than my late, to be met by the furrowed brow of an irritated judge, which would not bode well for my case.

I left in a panic and headed out to scour the area for alternate parking so that I could somehow get into court at a reasonable time. I turned the corner from the street my lot was on, and headed up about 75 yards where I discovered another parking lot. I checked the posted sign and noted that the parking cost was slightly less than what I had paid at the other lot. The attendant motioned me in, opened my door, greeted me with a broad, warm smile, and took my keys. He then parked my car in one of the many spaces that were freely available. In fact, this lot had a plethora of wide parking spaces where cars could easily fit without fear of being damaged by an errant door swing. There were no sloped hills, pot-holed terrains, or Houdini-like maneuvers required. As I left, the attendant warmly engaged me in conversation, wished me well and told me he would see me later that afternoon, assuring me that I could take my time and not worry about my car. I left there scratching my head, as I scurried to the courthouse. In all these years, how could I have missed this parking oasis that was literally right around the corner.

As I drove home that day — having been greeted enthusiastically upon my return by my friendly lot attendant — I began to think about the spiritual dimensions or parallels of what had happened that morning. And how it might translate into how I am living my life and, more importantly, how it might be a window into my trust in God.

When I think about what was at work in that circumstance, I see myself taking the same path for years — going to that same parking lot because it was easy and convenient. I had convinced myself that this was all there was for me; that this was the best that was available and that I needed to surrender to that. It was a path fraught with uncertainty, chaos, and smallness. I could never be certain there would be space available to me on the day I appeared. And if there was a space, I had to maneuver over rocky roads and cram my car into awkward, small spaces with the skill of Steve McQueen. I was forcing something that in the end actually had no joy, ease, or peace.

It brought to mind all the other times in my life that I had settled for something, and that perhaps, I wasn’t looking up the road (or elsewhere) to see what God might have for me. I was content with the chaos of what I had or where I was, and not realizing that God did not intend for me to live that way.

In 2 Corinthians 6:11–13, Paul speaks passionately to the Corinthian people. He shares how much affection he has for them and the hard details of his ministry journey. He has been a spiritual father to them and he asks them to open their hearts also and show affection towards him. He is viewing them as living cramped, small lives and not opening their hearts wide. The Message version relates the verses this way:

“Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!”

It is important to look at this verse in context and understand what it is saying. Paul is imploring the Corinthians to be open to the affection he has for them. However, they are unable to see a path forward and have closed themselves off, accepting things the way they are. They can’t see beyond the current circumstances.

What is so striking about The Message translation of these verses is how the writer relates the basis for the Corinthian perspective: “The smallness you feel comes from within you. You’re lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way.” And that’s what we often do as believers. We take the narrow view and don’t trust that God may have something different and better for us. We have accepted that we are saved, but don’t live out the benefit of that salvation now. Yes, we should look forward to eternity but God wants us to enjoy what He has to provide for us here today. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:1, we should not receive God’s grace in vain.

In the oft quoted John 10:10, Jesus says “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” Here, Jesus is not talking about prosperity. He’s talking about an abundant life in Him. A life characterized by the fruit that comes from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, understanding the hope to which we are called, living in obedience to the Word, and connecting with God through prayer and meditation. It comes from grasping hold of God’s promises and trusting that He is faithful and good, and remembering, in praise, what He has done. And it comes from living a life that is completely surrendered to His will and leading, knowing that there is no good thing that He will withhold from His children (Psalm 84:11).

To be sure, we cannot expect to live wide-open lives that are trouble-free. In the seminal teaching of John 16:33, Jesus tells us clearly that in this life we will have trouble. As we live and breathe, challenges, pain, and frustrations will surely come. But, our perspective can shift when we are centered on the hope we have in an unchanging and faithful Father. When, because we know God intimately, we rest in the assurance that we will never be forsaken or left to fend for ourselves.

That perspective keeps us from living, as Paul says in Romans, a resurrection life that is timid and grave-tending (Romans 8:15–17 MSG). Instead we live expectantly, trusting in God’s expansive powers. We don’t live lives where we shrink back and are destroyed, but as those who have faith and are saved (Hebrews 10:39). Such a perspective can keep our eyes focused on a God who is sovereign and help us to see those Red Sea moments that only He can bring to pass.

When we are truly living out our faith in these ways, we can’t help but to live the wide open life that Paul describes. We move from that smallness that comes from within to the fullness of life in Christ. We know that just around the corner, a mere 75 yards away, God can move us from our cramped, pot-holed, and bumpy existence to something that is far beyond our imagination.

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