Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Caught Up?

It seems like every day I am saying to myself "You need to get caught up!" But is there such a thing? I once read a sign that said:
"God has given me a certain number of things to do. I'm so far behind now... I'll never die!"
Yes, that is how I feel at times. Like it will never happen. Or will it?

As I was thinking this just the other day, I feel God gave me a clear picture of what was going on. He showed me what I was doing to always feel like I was behind. You see, at the beginning of the year, I felt that God was leading me to 'throw off' everything that hinders. Books, music, tv, laziness, whatever it was that was taking the place of spending time with him. I have an easy time reading books of other peoples' relationships with God. But I have a hard time developing one of my own. I really felt led to put God first and above all. To read the Word... not someone else's interpretation of it.

So here is the picture God showed me:

When my kids were younger, quite a bit younger, we walked everywhere we went. We walked to school, to the park, and even to buy groceries. What a time we had carrying things back. Three kids kindergarten and younger, and one in the stroller, and several bags of groceries to navigate through the desert, the traffic and then home.

I can still remember trying to push the stroller through the desert so we could avoid heavy traffic. It was a shorter distance, but it took longer to get home. As we would pass large rocks, small rocks, or even things people had abandoned there, it would catch one of the kids' attention. It was a distraction.

My kids would pick up rocks and run up to me excited to show their new 'treasure'. "Look at this one Mommy! It sparkles!" Or they would call to me so I could see them on top of a large rock. "I'm as tall as you, Mom!" So, while the rest of us were still headed home, one of the kids would stop and be lagging behind. I would have to turn around and tell them to "Catch up!" The weight of the rocks they were collecting, and the energy used to climb on whatever they saw, was wearing them down. Were they being bad? No. Just curious kids... enjoying life. But it was getting harder for them to 'catch up.'

This is what we do in our 'adult' life. Well... maybe we don't pick up rocks anymore. But we pick up plenty of other things. In the same way that walking home was the destination given to my kids by me, our Heavenly Father gives each of us a destination as well. We are called to certain things... but not EVERYTHING.

Seems like every time - ok, lots of times - that I feel led in a certain direction, I suddenly fall 'behind'. I seem to pick up lots of little 'rocks' along the way. No... nothing bad. But even good things can be a distraction and weigh us down. I will have a clear direction and I just get looking at the 'sparkles'. You know... doing this is a good thing, reading that book would be helpful, or maybe I should learn how to _____.  All good things. Just not always the main thing.

I wish I could learn to keep my eyes straight ahead, focused on my destination...  instead of wearing myself out trying to carry all the little 'rocks' that God never told me to pick up in the first place.

Just some of my thoughts...
Mary Ann :)

6 comments:

Lisa said...

ugh... that was convicting. :P

It's a delicate balance to enjoy the journey and still make progress - a balance I need to re-examine. GREAT post! Thank you!

Heli gunner Tom said...

I like your refreshing Blog!
I write a Christian blog, TOM'S JOURNAL, that endeavors to share the Gospel to all ears and people. My wife and I are disabled, but she has heart disease, etc., and needs prayers.
I hope you visit my blog sometime and comment your opinion. Have a great day.

Cordially,
Tom Schuckman
tschuckman@aol.com
Disabled Vietnam Veteran: 68-70
Jesus is my Lord and Savior -- Heaven is my Home

Solid Rock or Sinking Sand said...

I think we all pick up a lot of little rocks along the path of life. What really matters is that when our Lord convicts us to drop some of these little rocks, are we willing to do it. Great post and blog.

I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to my blog. God bless, Lloyd

Mary Ann said...

Lisa,

You are so right... we need balance in life yet it can be hard to find. But God is good!

Thanks for reading!
Mary Ann :)

Mary Ann said...

Hi Tom!

Thanks for your nice comment! I will be sure to visit your blog and I will keep your wife in prayer.

God bless!
Mary Ann :)

Mary Ann said...

Hi Lloyd,

You make a good point. I once heard it said that we should hold our things(rocks)loosley so God doesn't have to pry our fingers off of them. I pray we will always be willing to let go.

Thanks so much for reading and thanks for the invite to your blog. I'll be sure to check it out.

God bless!
Mary Ann :)

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