Dateline: January 4, 2010—The Burj Dubai (the world’s tallest building) opened today.
Almost two years ago, my wife and I were in Dubai when we visited our son Joel who lives in neighboring Abu Dhabi. As we approached Dubai on the highway, we could see what looked like a giant finger raising and pointing upward in the sky. On almost any day, people from miles around will see this building as if Dubai was proclaiming: “Here we are!”
Our son told us that the leadership of the United Arab Emirates, which is a father and his sons, have determined the approximate value of all resources of their country and are planning and working to make sure there is a sustainable income and value to the region for many years to come. They greatly admire the United States and are emulating us to some extent, hence their name. Their dreams do include a raised standard of living for everybody, not just themselves, and they are working on creating that kind of environment.
What future are you, I, and we planning for and working toward? As disciples of and for Jesus, is it a future, and a present, that raises a finger high enough for all to see that proclaims “Jesus is here!”?
Yes, part of the motivation in Dubai is to make things bigger and better than anywhere else. Are we proclaiming a life and inviting everyone to join us as we build a life modeled as Jesus taught, which is bigger and better than anything else, anywhere?
Do we emulate Jesus above and beyond anything or anyone else as we pursue happiness in life?
Three words that will guide my life this year are: feed, love, and share. Feed on God’s love, Love God, and Share God’s love with everyone! Nothing else really matters.
