So about 3 months ago, we bought a house and since that time I’ve found little thing after little thing that needs my attention. Initially, I was happy to just get the boxes unpacked. That was a huge success! After that it was making sure we got a lawnmower because the grass was CRAZY out of control. Then it was some plumbing issues, then it was some lighting issues, most recently it was a ceiling fan and a exhaust fan in the bathroom and yesterday it was a drainage pipe. I mean it’s been kinda non-stop the last bit. It’s not quite a money pit yet, but it’s a constant tweaking from left to right. Needless to say I’m a bit tired.
It got me thinking though. Following the Mission of God is similar. If you think about it, if the Mission of God is to restore Creation to it’s original splendor and grandeur, then there is still a long way to go. It takes plot corrections and shifts constantly to be a part of that kind of restoration. It takes a while not because of God’s inability, but because God chooses to use the likes of you and me. God chooses humanity to be a part of this massive reclamation project. So, when it comes to global impact it takes massive minor changes on behalf of the participants. You and I are part of that shift and as we endeavor to join this project we gotta realize we too are in need of the constant redemption. We are part of what is being reclaimed and restored.
Now it would be easy to feel this is a long, tedious and hopeless case – kinda like the house. I joked with Joy yesterday that when we finally finish all the tweaks it’ll be a great house for someone else. It’d be easy to not find rest here because of all the things that “need” to be done. But if I did that, I’d miss the joy of this place – my kids playing on the slip-n-slide, relaxing in the porch, sleeping under my new ceiling fan! If I missed those things I’d miss a lot. It’s similar to my spiritual journey; I realize I got a long way to go – tweaking and being open to the change, but if I think of it as oppressive and as part of a JOB then I will miss the presence of God in the midst.
As we journey to a place of fully knowing and pursuing our God-breathed footprint in the Vision and Mission of the Holy, we have to be open to see the shifts that need to be made AND we have to rejoice in the beauty of God’s plan coming to into focus. We challenge ourselves to have our eyes open to see and we also rejoice that God’s is alive, well and active within and around us. It’s like coming inside after mowing and drinking that Ice Water – refreshing and a great kinda of tired.