Written December 12th. 2009.
Lord, I'm kind of busy at work right now . . . Lord, I just can't take time . . . Lord, I am not the one who should be apologizing . . . and on and on I go, arguing with God. When does arguing with God ever accomplish anything?
A few months back someone in my family acted in an inappropriate, mean, and most un-Christian way towards me; I was hurt and surprised, but considering a lifetime of selfish behavior from this person I have no idea why I was caught off guard.
In retrospect, I think I was stunned because I am generally the peacemaker in my family; besides, we are orphans, all grown up and beyond past misconceptions and hurts, or so I thought, and with age comes wisdom, doesn't it? Each of us has reached an age in life where we've been tempered by the bumps in the road, time spent both in the valley and on top of the mountain. I thought we had all matured and no longer fretted over who was loved more, given more, had more opportunity, went to a better school and whatever other chip clung to our shoulder from childhood.
I no longer carry baggage from childhood; in my maturity, when I look back, everything that has occurred in my life has refined me into the person I am today.
When you're standing in the middle of a storm, it's hard to see the good that will come from it, but when God is holding tight to your hand, and you to His, you know that He work it all out for good. To me, that's faith. That's trust.
I think that I was most surprised by the incident because I am doing my best to live life as a transparent authentic Christian, therefore I truly have no agenda but the Lord's. I'm just along for the ride, living an adventure and waiting day by day to see what happens next. I will tell you that at times it is thrilling, but never ordinary.
Not long after the unkindness, the Lord God blessed me greatly. Abundantly. My cup was literally overflowing, and some weeks later God directed me to go over and offer the proverbial olive branch to the broken branch of the family. Dutifully, without arguing, I made the commitment to Him that I would go the following Saturday. It was just something that I knew I had to do.
The scripture that kept coming to my mind was Matthew 18:21, 22
On the appointed day, I went on my assignment. Before going to the door I sat for a moment in my car and quietly said, "Lord, I am here because you have asked me to do this. Put the words to say in my mouth, help me to stay calm, and prepare the way for me so that this person has a receptive heart."
Well, God was at work, He put the words in my mouth, I fulfilled His request, and as I left, I knew that God was pleased that I had done what He asked. That was all that was required of me, nothing more, nothing less.
Maybe two or three months have gone by and still there has been no acceptance of the olive branch from the broken branch of the family. Birthdays have passed. Thanksgiving is over . . .
Another family member has attempted to reach out to this family member without result. We have never gotten along, and it's likely we never will, yet we continue to try.
What I've learned during my faith walk is that when God interrupts our lives He is about to teach us something important and often His interruption isn't going to be easy. God's interruptions can be downright uncomfortable, and at times painful.
Was giving forgiveness something I wanted to do? No, but not because I couldn't forgive, but because I no longer cared. God interrupted because He cared.
Was going and giving forgiveness easy? No.
Was giving my forgiveness necessary? Yes, for how else are we to show Christ to others if not by reflecting Him?
So here's what's been on my mind ever since: Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
I started out this post with a quote by Sir Francis Bacon. (The many years I spent in the English school system still impacts my thinking.)
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior. ~ Sir Francis Bacon
God is interrupting my life. He shaking things up. He's asking more. This was just a little test, a small hurdle . . . a bigger test is yet ahead.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. ~ from Luke, Chapter 12, verse 49
For some time God has been interrupting my life. When God interrupts it is usually unexpected, often unwanted, and generally poor timing . . . at least on my part.In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior. ~ Sir Francis Bacon
Lord, I'm kind of busy at work right now . . . Lord, I just can't take time . . . Lord, I am not the one who should be apologizing . . . and on and on I go, arguing with God. When does arguing with God ever accomplish anything?
A few months back someone in my family acted in an inappropriate, mean, and most un-Christian way towards me; I was hurt and surprised, but considering a lifetime of selfish behavior from this person I have no idea why I was caught off guard.
In retrospect, I think I was stunned because I am generally the peacemaker in my family; besides, we are orphans, all grown up and beyond past misconceptions and hurts, or so I thought, and with age comes wisdom, doesn't it? Each of us has reached an age in life where we've been tempered by the bumps in the road, time spent both in the valley and on top of the mountain. I thought we had all matured and no longer fretted over who was loved more, given more, had more opportunity, went to a better school and whatever other chip clung to our shoulder from childhood.
I no longer carry baggage from childhood; in my maturity, when I look back, everything that has occurred in my life has refined me into the person I am today.
When you're standing in the middle of a storm, it's hard to see the good that will come from it, but when God is holding tight to your hand, and you to His, you know that He work it all out for good. To me, that's faith. That's trust.
I think that I was most surprised by the incident because I am doing my best to live life as a transparent authentic Christian, therefore I truly have no agenda but the Lord's. I'm just along for the ride, living an adventure and waiting day by day to see what happens next. I will tell you that at times it is thrilling, but never ordinary.
Not long after the unkindness, the Lord God blessed me greatly. Abundantly. My cup was literally overflowing, and some weeks later God directed me to go over and offer the proverbial olive branch to the broken branch of the family. Dutifully, without arguing, I made the commitment to Him that I would go the following Saturday. It was just something that I knew I had to do.
The scripture that kept coming to my mind was Matthew 18:21, 22
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
On the appointed day, I went on my assignment. Before going to the door I sat for a moment in my car and quietly said, "Lord, I am here because you have asked me to do this. Put the words to say in my mouth, help me to stay calm, and prepare the way for me so that this person has a receptive heart."
Well, God was at work, He put the words in my mouth, I fulfilled His request, and as I left, I knew that God was pleased that I had done what He asked. That was all that was required of me, nothing more, nothing less.
Maybe two or three months have gone by and still there has been no acceptance of the olive branch from the broken branch of the family. Birthdays have passed. Thanksgiving is over . . .
Another family member has attempted to reach out to this family member without result. We have never gotten along, and it's likely we never will, yet we continue to try.
What I've learned during my faith walk is that when God interrupts our lives He is about to teach us something important and often His interruption isn't going to be easy. God's interruptions can be downright uncomfortable, and at times painful.
Was giving forgiveness something I wanted to do? No, but not because I couldn't forgive, but because I no longer cared. God interrupted because He cared.
Was going and giving forgiveness easy? No.
Was giving my forgiveness necessary? Yes, for how else are we to show Christ to others if not by reflecting Him?
So here's what's been on my mind ever since: Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
I started out this post with a quote by Sir Francis Bacon. (The many years I spent in the English school system still impacts my thinking.)
In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior. ~ Sir Francis Bacon
I'm not looking for superiority . . . I'm just trying to reflect the image if Christ by following the soft sound of leather sandals in the dry dust of life. Perhaps behaving unexpectedly, living life out loud and performing deliberate acts of love and forgiveness just makes life sweeter.
God is interrupting my life. He shaking things up. He's asking more. This was just a little test, a small hurdle . . . a bigger test is yet ahead.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. ~ from Luke, Chapter 12, verse 49
Comments
Post a Comment