Living from Overflow

As I read over my weekly notes this morning one idea rose to the surface.  That idea is that our self-sacrifice should come from fullness.  Here these words from L. William Countryman's book, Living on the Border of the Holy after he dispels the value of martyr or co-dependent self-sacrifice:

"That is not to deny the reality or the value of genuinely self-giving love, generosity, and altruism.  It exists, and when we find ourselves in its presence, we are moved with wonder that this splendor could be a part of human existence.  This is the kind of self-sacrifice that flows from a sense of great fullness, of having riches to share-riches of energy, wisdom, property, even life itself.  It is not pale, helpless, or self-pitying, but impresses us with its vitality and openhandedness."

As I sat reflecting on such an wonderful idea, and of course wanting to experience this kind of giving in my own life, I thought of the old hymn  "Spirit of the Living God" and looked up the lyrics of the chorus:

"Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.  Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.  Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on me."

I thought about Jesus and how he left the riches of heaven to come to earth.  Did he not lose in a sense his place next to the Father (melt me), and become a man (mold me), determined to do the Father's will (fill me), and walk on the earth doing good to all (use me).  Surely the self-sacrifice of Jesus was of the healthy type Countryman talks of. 

This week I had an awesome opportunity to spend time with a younger woman I have known since she was in utero.   I could recognize during our conversation that I wasn't just shooting from the hip, the conversation overflowed from a fullness of the life I have lived.  You can't plan out conversations like this.  It overflowed the borders of my soul and yet I left her house all the more overflowing.  I thanked her for the life-giving conversation.

In contrast I had a woman over this week who is about my age.  She told me of growing up in a Christian home and going to church each week.  And yet, there was no overflow of God into her home life.  How I'd describe it is God was tacked onto life but did not pervade life.  And today that woman wants nothing to do with religion. 

My conclusion of thought for this post is this:  Keep reading, keep thinking, keep getting with people, keep asking God to melt you, mold you, fill you, and use you.  You will overflow with Him to others. 

I want this to be happening all the time, don't you?