Frustrate or Facilitate?
When I was in college, a Muppets-based breakfast cereal came out called “Croonchy Stars,” inspired by the Swedish Chef. The box was hilarious. Among the many ridiculous things written was a contest to find out how many times you could find the word “rutabaga” on the box. You were to send your answers in for some kind of prize, I think. The instructions, however, made it clear that the word did not count in the actual instructions for the contest given on said box. You had to find it elsewhere. Ah, there it was, in the lines, “This is a perfect rutabaga you see, but it doesn’t count when it is in poetry.” Scratch that. It also had “rutaba – almost.” There was one inside the box – no go, that was not on the box – crazy prepositions. Even thinking about it right now after all these years I’m laughing, and I’m afraid my wife is going to ask me why!
What is not funny is when you find yourself in some type of situation that is more serious than breakfast cereal with real barriers. It’s exasperating when the goal is clear but the way is blocked. I consider these “bricks without straw” situations, like when Pharaoh told the Israelites they had too much time on their hands and were thus forced to make the same daily quota of bricks without the benefit of the previously supplied straw. They had to get it themselves. Jesus Himself excoriated the pharisees for shutting the doors of heaven in people’s faces, not entering themselves and not allowing others to enter.
Obviously, some things carry more weight than others – but while I’m here pondering these things, I may as well ask – how easy do I make it for people to reach the things that are truly necessary for human flourishing? Do I frustrate or facilitate? I don’t mean ensuring everyone gets what they want – rather that I do everything possible to help others thrive in God’s goodness, taking joy in theirs. Far be it from me to stand in the way of that!
