It should then follow that my husband and I should have more time on our hands. Should. However, we still find ourselves tumbling (sometimes, literally), exhausted, into bed. How can that be possible? We are still busy; it's just a different kind of busy. (And although I am loath to admit, we aren't as young as we used to be either. We get tired faster and have less endurance than we used to).
Even so, with this new stage of life, I feel a definite responsibility to get involved. Both Mike and I more or less put volunteer endeavors on hold while we were running after and alongside the kids to the high school finish. A few ideas concerning volunteer service have been percolating, and the other day, I followed up on one.
And I was shot down. Told "no thanks" even though an earlier conversation had led me to believe that my services might be useful and even appreciated.
I'm not going to lie. Initially, I was mildly peeved, a little taken aback, and a tad disappointed because I thought this was really something God wanted me to do. Not much, but enough that I shared by frustrations with a friend of mine. Her response got me to thinking: "Maybe God's giving you a breather to enjoy fall for once. . .after 20 years of sports."
The more I read, the more I live, and the more I grow in my faith, the more I understand the power and necessity of "abiding." The word itself means "to continue to be sure or firm; to endure. To remain in one place. To wait patiently for." Therefore, abiding means patient and consistent prayer and Bible study. Equally important, abiding means just being silent and listening for God's voice.
"Abide in me, and I will abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4
It's no secret that the physical world in which we live is a direct inverse to the world that awaits us. In our day and age, we, as a society, value "busy." From a very young age, kids are involved in organized activities, and parents pay and run right behind them. Sports, church, civil organizations. . .they are all "good" choices. I know; I have been there and done that.
However, the fact remains that it is all classified under the blanket term, "busy." There is no time to just "abide." Even when we have down time, we fill it with mind-numbing entertainment - phones, movies, music, etc Enjoying silence, thinking deeply, and yes, abiding, is a foreign concept.
The bottom line is that the journey to fulfillment, purpose, joy, and most importantly, spiritual growth, begins when one sits down instead of takes a step. Abiding - in prayer and by listening - is the first step after welcoming Christ into your life. You have to spend time with Him - through prayer, Bible study, and silence - to develop a relationship with Him.
In that silence, God directs what He wants to have happen next. It is our choice whether or not to obey. As we obey and continue to abide, a new door or window opens. . .and as we obey and move in the direction He asks, another door or window opens. . and the process continues.
When we don't obey and don't abide, we get off track and are frustrated. We spin our wheels and whine about our purposeless, exhausting, and unfulfilling lives. Our disobedience and busyness result in missed opportunities for God. Ultimately, we miss out on the blessings He has planned in advance for our lives and the lives of others.
As I sit in my chair on this beautiful fall evening, I am content to watch the hummingbirds chase one another across the yard. As a dragonfly lands on my chair, I watch the squirrels leap recklessly from tree to tree, and I can't help but think it's a metaphor for the life God intends for each of us. This is not a waste of time; it's an investment.
As I ponder the door that recently closed, I am thankful for God's wisdom and the way He makes sure that I stay on the track He wants me to follow. He knows better than I where I can best serve Him, and I am humbled that He cares enough to intervene. I think I will hang out here a while longer and see what He has to say.
"God will give you the blessings you ask if you will not go any further without them; but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into the marvelous understanding of Himself. You will find that God has trusted you in the most intimate way possible, with an absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure because He saw that you could stand a bigger revelation" (Oswald Chambers).
No comments:
Post a Comment