Downward Is the Way Up
The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record—that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place!
Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.
—Henri Nouwen, The Selfless Way of Christ
The world teaches us to climb—higher status, greater influence, more recognition. We’re told that success is measured by how far we rise and how many notice. But Jesus turns that ladder upside down. His path wasn’t toward the spotlight but away from it. He chose humility over applause, service over status, and the cross over a crown. His life is a quiet invitation: follow me, not up—but down.
This downward way isn’t defeat—it’s the doorway to the Kingdom. Jesus shows us that true greatness is found in lowering ourselves to lift others up. It’s in unseen kindness, gentle courage, and self-giving love that we begin to reflect the heart of Christ. And when we walk that path—choosing last place, backstage, and the towel over the throne—we don’t lose ourselves. We find life that truly lasts. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics