When someone's castle starts getting bigger

Your castle might get bigger one day.

Maybe you start making way more money.

Maybe you meet the love of your life. Start a family.

Maybe you suddenly have more access and conventionally powerful people in your life.

Maybe you get the white picket fence. The notoriety.

Maybe you just suddenly understand what it means to experience true peace. Nothing really changes but you suddenly “get it.”

Boy do I pray you stay as humble as day one. I pray you don’t look in the mirror and fancy yourself better than others.

I pray you touch grass.

I pray you reach back consistently.

I pray you never put yourself so high on a shelf that no one can reach you anymore.

I say this because it happens all the time. And the bible has talked about the dangers of building walls so high that actually what ends up happening is you invite destruction. Ethier through danger and angst or destruction of the heart— no longer warm, giving, humble, seeing yourself as equal to others.

Enjoy your castle, yes. But understand it could all be taken from you in a moment.

Understand that if you are no longer humble, no longer reachable, no longer in tune with the real world, you have missed God’s point. You have elevated yourself when, who are you to elevate yourself?

Even Jesus himself stayed humble.

Your neighbor may not be of benefit to you, but hopefully you still take out their trash when they need it. You still help them load something into the house.

That person may not be able to advance your career, but if you see a way you can help them, do it.

That other person may not be able to do you any favors, but I still hope you do them favors if you feel it in your heart God is asking you to.

May status and money never drive you just for personal gain. Again, enjoy it but may you stay tethered to more important things— community. May you steward your blessings well.

I hope you get away from tough situations.
I hope you celebrate your wins.
I hope you relish in easier and more exciting days.

But I pray you never elevate yourself above another. I know it’s easy to do. Fight it. Recognize we are ALL imperfect people.

We all know someone who left us in the dust once their castle got bigger.

We all all know someone who didn’t reach back once they achieved success, even though we were on the journey with it.

We all know someone who started making us feel less than.

Life is so much more sweet and enjoyable when we don’t become that person. Don’t do that to someone who is undeserving of it.

Treat people amazingly well. Give them your best. Individualization is a disease and robs you of joy.

Enjoy the castle, don’t let the walls get too high. <3