HomeJohn 3:30 "He must increase; I must decrease."
If you're like me, you've quoted this verse at least a dozen times. It's short, simple, and to the point. It's the kind I eagerly embraced in my pursuit of verse memorization trophies, free fries at MacDonalds, and a spot on the bus to Six Flags. I used to quote it in a sweet voice of feigned spirituality with a peaceful smile on my face. I was quite pleased with myself. But as the years rolled along, I started learning about the surgery & painful amputation that being decreased actually demands. I started learning it requires that you get your heart ripped out, your head chewed off, and your nose boxed in. I started learning that it requires you get your back stabbed, your butt kicked & your brains fried. In other words, it takes pruning. Painful pruning. Yep. It's a scary verse, and I now quote it with sobriety. And with deep, deep gratitude.