Skip to main content

Turn Now

              This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17)

                W…D…AAAA… You’ve read my cries and heard my request: wisdom…direction…ATTITUDE. Some people think I have a bad attitude, or even a chronic one. There are so many ways that an attitude can be bad, so if I don’t have one now, give me 0.972 seconds, and I probably will. Bad attitudes are easy. Good attitudes take work.

                The current attitude issue boils down to control, as it so often does. On my walk this morning, I found myself in familiar territory. I’m not afraid of surgery. I’m afraid of recovery. I’m not afraid of death; I’m afraid of the process of dying. And no, I don’t feel in immediate danger of the latter; it’s just an observation. I believe God is directing me in the way I should go. I believe He will use the next six months to teach me what is best for me., but it’s as we face the road signs that take us in ways that interfere with our sense of godhood, or at least that require us to take off the mask and cape that we imagine we’re wearing, it’s easy to get anxious or angry. The truth is that taking the way God says we should go often requires some measure of death and mourning, if only of the lies we have believed.

                Another factor in God’s directing us in the way we should go is that God isn’t a GPS unit. We can’t scroll through the directions in advance. More often than not, He doesn’t announce that we should turn right in half a mile…a quarter of a mile…500 feet, etc. It’s closer to “Turn right NOW.” Sometimes, the directions can feel like a detour because we missed a turn, but be the plan all along. God doesn’t always work that way. There are times when I can see a change of direction coming, but can’t tell when I’ll reach it. The past couple of weeks had an example of that. I asked a question that led to a referral, then a phone call, then an appointment, and the process has begun. A month ago, I probably would have deferred the whole thing to a later date. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more