Rugged Is The Way
A few weeks ago the boys and I drove our truck to go look at trucks. We weren’t looking at trucks to buy but rather we revisited the “truck show” that takes place at our local fairgrounds. We hadn’t been there for a few years and with an open Friday afternoon we drove in hoping to catch a glimpse of some cool rides.
Vehicles and vehicular modifications are part of our DNA I believe. I love vehicles and have always tried to make them a touch different than when I obtained them. I can tell the boys are the same way. I’ve had a few Jeeps, a few Toyotas, and I even attempted to make Jan’s minivan “cooler” when we had that Mom-mobile. So going to the truck show is pretty natural and we were interested to see what was new and unique about the trucks on the showfield.
We parked our truck outside the gate…our truck looks decent for what it is but it’s not a showpiece. It’s practice. It’s used. It does work. So we found a spot and walked into the land of chrome, shiny paint, and half the world’s supply of tire shine.
We putzed around for 2 hours and took some pics. We commented on things we liked. And didn’t like! It’s amazing at what you learn about your boys when they get to tell you what they like and then I sound like the Boomer Dad when I say that’s pretty ugly! Haha! They are in a different generation, but they have their likes and I have mine!
After we walked a few miles we started for the exit and made our final comments. There was some cool stuff there for sure and there was a lot of sweat and dollars on that show field. But we all agreed…everything started to look the same after a while. And for all of the trucks that were there it was really hard to relate to that world because, well, we are used to a truck getting down and dirty and going out and about!
I’m glad we went and we had some great observations, but thinking about the contrast of show trucks and daily driver/work trucks really had me thinking. While there were many trucks that looked the part of having speed or offroad capability they were all sitting there idle. They were idle idols!
As we got back in our truck I couldn’t help but recognize that I have spent a lot of time trying to make it look nice but there was definitely a ruggedness to it’s being. It’s rugged not by parts but because of the stories and situations it’s been in and through. It’s pushed small logs out of the way with bumpers. Carried firewood in the bed. Unfortunately it’s had a few run-ins with deer. There’s little dents and dings, not from looking for them but from just living life. Ruggedness isn’t a look to be bought, it’s an attitude of living!
I confess that in my own personal life that sometimes there’s a longing to have things shined up and be just so. To be shiny and sitting out there for attention. It’s a position like a show truck. To pursue that takes dedication and hard work but the outcome isn’t really where we are supposed to land. After a while it’s just a look. And that “look” really starts to look like everyone else that is posturing and positioning for the same stance.
May I suggest that we aren’t to commit to a performance of posturing for placement and attention but to really seek a way that creates ruggedness?
Jesus said for us to “carry your cross and follow me” several times. And when I think of the physical cross I think of the old hymn “The Old Rugged Cross”. There’s that word again. The cross was rugged. Our cross will absolutely be rugged as well!
How crazy is it to think that a life with Jesus will include a cross that’s shiny and for display when the very cross He carried for you and me was…rather rugged? The rugged things create rugged individuals. The ruggedness is the visual depiction of making choices that had sacrifice and created a steadfast, durable, and complete relationship with God. We are not to choose and then plop ourselves for others to oogle over. We weren’t meant to be idle idols of our own design after checking the Jesus box.
There’s a lot that I wrestle with on the way to be rugged. There are many things that are just tough to deal with, tough to wait for, and tough to continue to believe in. But walking it out with the gift of the rugged cross makes me rugged. It’s not comfortable. It’s not something that you can polish up and put on display. The development of carrying that cross brings a testimony that is rugged and that’s what makes it so great and beneficial for others to pursue the same. I’d argue that ruggedness is a more authentic attribute to having everything appear to be perfect and shiny!
There’s a reward to ruggedness. It just happens to look far, far different than what we typically expect.
The rugged life. It’s not a bad life. At all. If you are feeling a bit rugged and wrestle with the rugged way that God is calling you, I’d like to encourage you to embrace it. It’s the Way even when we are feeling out of place and overlooked. Your presence carrying the cross is met by God’s presence. Don’t escape the rugged road for a path of seemingly stationary shininess. Ruggedness is the go in a world of show!
1
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
