Take The Stairs

There is no elevator to success,
You have to take the stairs,
So profound when written down,
Just hope that someone cares.

So many feel entitled,
No need to work or try,
Just give me all that I deserve,
A big piece of the pie.

Others have to do my share,
I’ve already given time,
Give someone else the daily grind,
It’s on someone else’s dime.

I went to school. I worked so hard,
No entry level me.
Right to the top where I belong.
Just you wait and see.

They don’t even realize,
How much they all need me,
Waiting there with baited breath,
I’m creative and carefree.

My gifts are what they’re waiting for,
It is so plain to see,
Their surest ticket to success,
Is the one and only me!

Entry level? Really?
That just cannot be,
I went to school…got my degree,
You need someone like me.

Work my way up the ladder?
I’m a top rung kind of guy,
Take my time to get there?
I ask you now…but why?

I’m not your average tortoise,
Slow and steady wins the race,
I’m a hare, who’s always there,
Can’t walk a snail’s slow pace.

When I’m at the top, I’ll show you,
Give me a leather chair,
Prepare a corner office,
It doesn’t matter where.

Isn’t everyone a winner?
Don’t we all leave with the prize?
The brass ring’s mine…I’ll take it!
‘Cause, I’m oh so very wise!

Then a rude awakening
The last are now the first,
The striving is all over,
Gone now our endless thirst.

There’s a truth-packed adage.
Think no highly than you ought,
Put others up above yourself.
Because of Him, you have been bought.

He is the Ladder You will climb,
Spanning from Heaven to earth,
Angels going up and down,
This is what you’re worth.

Don’t walk on other people,
Don’t ever brag or boast,
Unless it’s Him you elevate,
Talk of Him the most.

You are not entitled,
To the good life that you seek,
His Kingdom will be seen by those,
Who are humble…who are meek.

There is no elevator to success,
You have to take the stairs,
When you reach the top, you’re sure to see,
That He is waiting there.

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Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place! This is none other than the house of God: this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:10-17)

We talk about climbing the ladder to success.
Many think that they can reach the top without much hard work.
Take the elevator to success.

There is no such elevator.
Nothing is handed to you.
You need to take the stairs.

The ladder that Jacob dreamed about bridged heaven and earth.
Jesus is that Ladder…that bridge.

We have it all backwards.
We climb for ourselves…we jockey into position.
Jesus shows us humility, meekness, and strength through suffering.

Jesus never elevated Himself.
He always pointed to the Father.

Ladders of our own making never last.
They easily topple.

The Ladder, that is Christ, stands…firm and secure.
The invitation to take the stairs is a blessed one.
No striving…just walking along…with the One who called you your name.