We have a cat that lives in our house – Rookie. When I say we, I actually mean my wife and daughter have a cat; the cat has little affection for me and I for it. Rookie loves my wife Jan and follows her around like a lost puppy. When Jan isn’t around, it loves my daughter Madison, and will sleep in her room when she is working simply to be near her. When only I am at home that cat is nowhere to be found, unless it needs food, then it will rub my ankles until I give it food, after which it no longer has any use for me.

For years I have chosen to not have any responsibility for the cat and its well-being. Jan and Madison feed it, pet it, talk to it (the cat has 5 distinct meows, each with a different meaning) and, most importantly, clean out the litter box. Now the first three aspects are simple to take care of since it is often the cat that is initiating the response. However, cleaning the litter is not always that noticeable since the box is in the basement and unless you remember to go there, “out of sight, out of mind” kicks in.

For a long time I have simply chosen to “nag” about cleaning the litter box, at times successful, but I’m sure for the most part it has simply made my family more aloof to my comments.

A couple of months ago I asked myself the question I ask many people I come alongside (warning: be careful when you expect from yourself what you are asking of others), how is this related to my discipleship?

If you are around me often you know that I have a standard line: “It’s all about discipleship.” Many people roll their eyes at me when I say this but in reality, shouldn’t it be? When I’m riding my bike with friends and perhaps we encounter a tough hill, I’ll say that “it’s all about discipleship” so let’s tackle this hill. When my daughter has a touch assignment she’s working on and wants to give up, I’ll say “it’s all about discipleship” so step in and just do it.

So as I thought about the litter box and my less than stellar reactions in the past, I decided to make it about discipleship, MY discipleship, not theirs. As such, for the past while, every day I make it my responsibility to go to the basement, scoop up whatever needs scooping, and move on – 3 minutes tops. And each time I do this, I think to myself, “Matthew, this is all about discipleship, about commitment, about doing for others, about taking on what you could argue is really not your responsibility, about putting the towel around your waist and washing feet, the lowest of tasks. It’s all about discipleship.” As such, I have been pondering “cat litter discipleship” these days.

How do you see your life? Is it all about discipleship?

For the past few years, I have also chosen to make our bed. I know that I don’t do it as well as Jan does (how she gets all the wrinkles out I will never know, not my gift) and yet I do it. I partly do it to serve my wife, and that is an aspect of discipleship, but I’ve also chosen to use it to remind myself of God. In the beginning God formed the earth, he created beauty out of what might be referred to as chaos, the earth was formless and empty, and God brought order to it.

As followers of Jesus and as those that come alongside others, we are called to help people bring order out of the chaos of their lives, to guide them in to good spiritual disciplines that will help them have lives that are anchored no matter what storm this life might throw at them. And when I make our bed, I think of these things. It reminds me that I am to bring order out  of chaos, and by ordering the sheet, blanket and pillows on our bed, I set my day on a course that reminds me to bring order out of chaos – “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” – it’s all about discipleship, even making the bed.

So, how do you see your life, your everyday life? Cat litter, making the bed, etc? Are these simply activities you go through, or can it be more? And as you lead others, how can you lead by example so they see that, in the end, “it’s all about discipleship”?

May that phrase resonate in your mind each day.

For the kingdom

We are embarking on a new year, and even though practically speaking it is simply another 7 day week, culturally speaking, January has a unique way of forcing us to reflect on life and perhaps make changes to some aspects of our life.

So let’s stop and think about your role as one who guides others on the path of discipleship. How was last year? Was it successful? How would you define success?

Here are a few thoughts to ponder:

1) Were you consistent in connecting with those you committed to leading? I mean being physically present. Looking each other in the eye and having meaningful conversations. Did you consistently pray for each other when you were together?

2) Did you pray for them when you weren’t together? Were they on your mind during the week? Did you take time to present their concerns to God? Did you pray for things that you were noticing about them?

3) Did you intentionally guide them in the scriptures? How did you do this? Do you believe that they love the bible more than they did previously? Was it simply bible information or was there life transformation?

4) Did you lead them into new aspects of faith? Did you attempt new spiritual disciplines to stretch you, even if they felt unnatural?

5) Has your heart grown for them? Do you love them more? Does your heart ache for their growth and development in loving and following Jesus?

6) How are you doing? Do you still have a passion to see others grow? Has leading others on their journey of discipleship become boring or exhauating? Do you resent the time that you give to this aspect of your life?

What will 2016 be like for you? What do you need to change to ensure that those you have chosen to lead are getting your best, that you aren’t cutting corners and simply going through the motions? How do you need to fill your tank so that you are leading from the overflow of your heart?

A lot of questions to ponder and I don’t expect you to necessarily have answers to them all. Perhaps you have questions of your own that you’ve been pondering.

The big thing is this – reflect, think, ponder. It’s a new year.

For the kingdom.