LOOKIE ME!  I RUN, I DANCE, I STRUT…(for Jesus?)

 

This one caught me off guard even though I anticipated it. My jaw tightened a little and I noticed I was not looking at Him, but at the trail, not ahead, but at my boots. “Gary, the list of examples I could use for this particular area of your life that didn’t please me is long. I know you know what I’m about to say. It makes both of us sad. But at the time, I was the only sad One.

“You thought–no, you assumed–you were doing My will. But you didn’t stop often enough to check it out with me. Let’s see, how many names can we use to describe this one? There’s ‘busyness,’ of course, and…


“Yeah, there is ‘distraction’ and ‘insensitivity’ and ‘demanding’ and ‘out of touch’. Of course there is–you can admit this now, right?–’CHAOS!’

“If there was anything people would say of you, it was that you were ‘busy about the Father’s work.’ Now that you’re older and wiser…”

I lifted my eyes from the trail, instinctively knowing He’d have a smiley glint in His eyes. Oh, yeah, it was actually a big smile. Up close and personal, there is nothing like the smile on the face of Jesus. Loving yet heart-piercing. It put a light touch to the deep conviction that was tearing at my soul right then.

Jesus went on, “You mostly got it half right, ‘busy’. Not so much the ‘Father’s work’ part.

“Son,” He said for the first time, speaking as the Father, not as my “elder brother.” This was serious. “Son, you didn’t stop often enough in those early busy days of youthful energy and good intention to ask Me what you should be busy about. I gave you unique energy and drive. Yes, you used it mostly for me. That wasn’t enough. I wanted all of you and your energy and your ideas, not most of it.”

“You didn’t notice it, did you?”

Notice what, Jesus?

“You didn’t notice the rocks, tree limbs, pot holes, sometimes boulders, I put in your path to get you to stop long enough to reflect and take Me in to your headlong service for Me. Or was it you you served? I was so sorry to have to put ravines and washouts, like taking Darick and then the ranch all to slow you down and redirect you.”

No, this wasn’t the first time I knew the folly of my zeal, but it sure went deep. Apparently, not everything I did for Him pleased Him. I was serving in my strengths, the very one’s He designed in me, but not always IN His strength.

And, keeping that grin of love that rescued me from the deep pain I should feel, He added, “So, Martha, how are you feeling now?”

I instantly understood and it brought me back to a scene on another trail he walked with these very same sandals, long ago,“Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and it won’t be taken from her.”
RUNNING HITHER AND YON, SERVING THE LORD…Really?

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