Failure, Fatigue, and Futility

Business professors Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad have written about an experiment that was conducted with a group of monkeys. It is a vivid story of failure. Four monkeys were placed in a room that had a tall pole in the center. Suspended from the top of that pole was a bunch of bananas. One of the hungry monkeys started climbing the pole to get something to eat, but just as he reached out to grab a banana, he was doused with a torrent of cold water. Squealing, he scampered down the pole and abandoned his attempt to feed himself. Each monkey made a similar attempt, and each one was drenched with cold water. After making several attempts, they finally gave up.

Then researchers removed one of the monkeys from the room and replaced him with a new monkey. As the newcomer began to climb the pole, the other three grabbed him and pulled him down to the ground. After trying to climb the pole several times and being dragged down by the others, he finally gave up and never attempted to climb the pole again.

The researchers replaced the original monkeys, one by one, and each time a new monkey was brought in, he would be dragged down by the others before he could reach the bananas. In time, the room was filled with monkeys who had never received a cold shower. None of them would climb the pole, but none of them knew why. (Adapted from Failing Forward by John Maxwell)

Here is a modern retelling of Psalm 23 that reminds us how exhausting our lives can be. “The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest. It makes me lie down only when exhausted. It leads me into deep depression. It hounds my soul. It leads me in circles of frenzy, for activities sake. Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done, for my ideal is with me. Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me. They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule. They anoint my head with migraines, my in-basket overflows. Surely fatigue and time pressures shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration forever.”

Our struggles with failure, fatigue and futility make the words of the carpenter so compelling. Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are heavy-laden and overburdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).” Why should we listen to him? As Max Lucado points out, “He offers the invitation as a penniless rabbi in an oppressed nation. He has no political office, no connections with the authorities in Rome. He hasn’t written a best-seller or earned a diploma. (Six Hours One Friday, from the sermon, “God’s Formula for Fatigue”)

Why should we listen to him? He says we can trust our financial burdens, relationships, desire for revenge, holding on to unhealthy baggage from the past, work-a-holism, unhealthy addictions, recreation opportunities, the P’s (power, possessions, parties, and prestige) all to him. What he wants is for us to trust him? Can you? Why should you? Why should we consider giving up control of our lives?

Consider that throughout the ages the people have come with their burdens. They have come out of their huts, tepees, igloos, homes, the woods, the pastures, and the giant skyscrapers. They brought him the burdens of their existence, and he gave them not religion, not doctrine, not systems, but rest and salvation. As a result they called him Lord. As a result they called him Savior. They all found rest. They found out that Jesus was the only man to walk God’s earth who not only claimed to have an answer to our burdens, He actually does. Come to me, he invites each of us. My prayer is that you will find rest from the Failure, Fatigue, and Futility.