The 23rd episode of the Neighborly Love Podcast featured a special guest, Yenner Karto. If you have not yet had the opportunity to listen to it, please do. Twenty-nine years ago, Yenner came to America from Africa to go to college. On the podcast, he testifies how the first act of kindness he received deeply affected him, shares his heart to serve others far and near, and tells how he’s called to build relationships that lead to service, especially with people from different backgrounds and circumstances. I’ve reflected over the past week on Yenner’s calling. He made beautiful statements that warrant a deeper dive into building relationships that lead to service. Specifically, I’d like to focus on what I’ll label his “fuzzy dependency.”
Yenner has a dream and a vision, however, he can’t see it with clarity yet. That’s ok with him because it forces him to depend on God. He contrasts his vision with a map of a mall. When you go to a mall and are unsure where a certain store is, you look for the mall map. It tells you what direction to go. However, in life, a calling is fuzzy. You can understand what it is, however you’re unsure of the direction. There’s a fuzziness to it, and that fuzziness forces one to depend on God. It’s fuzzy from our perspective, but not God’s. Yenner states he needs dependency because if he had a map, then he would go too fast and trip over himself. Plus, he would think he did it on his own power and give himself the credit, neither of which God wants. God sees it crystal clear and Yenner needs to depend on Him.
This “fuzzy dependency” is a process by which we become sanctified, i.e. set apart for God’s purpose. It is a lifelong process. As the Word of God and the Holy Spirit work in our life, we are being santified. In other words, we’re progressively maturing in our faith and God’s call for our life. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Advocate on this journey, and He works through God’s Word to renew our mind. However, to complete the journey, we must cooperate in the process by being dependent on filling our mind with Scripture.
None of us will be perfect this side of heaven, but God shows us how to think and act so we can lead a successful life worthy of our calling. Yenner is well on his way, and I’m grateful to have a relationship with him. We share a “fuzzy dependency” that yokes us to the same Advocate, who ensures in all things He will work for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose for us.
In this context, success is the progressive realization of our purpose. This means we are here on earth not to chase after pleasure and personal gain, but to love and serve God by building healthy relationships with others.
MindWolves 