Set Aside
This morning by 10:30 am, my boys had already disagreed (quite loudly and with tears) several times about one electronic device or another. I'd had my coffee and my time with Jesus, the things that normally set the peaceful tone for my day. But, I decided that I just didn't want to hear anymore arguing at the moment. At least for a bit. ;). I turned off all electronics in the house and outlawed those that weren't currently being used as well. No television, Netflix, iPod, Kindle Fire or X Box allowed for one hour.
It took approximately 25 minutes of complaining, declarations of "it's not fair", "Can I take a nap instead?", "Can I sit at the table and eat so I don't have to play with HIM?, finger sucking, MORE arguing about what to play, and whimpering before one of them, I don't even remember which one, had an idea they could agree on.
There had been a plane crash. They'd create a "crash landing site" in which they could survive in the wilderness, and so they did.
When they set aside all that technology, something beautiful happened. It was difficult for them, at first, to see how setting aside something good (in their opinion) could bring about something better. But after they wrestled through the undesirable parts of their circumstances not being what they wished, they entered into this time of just imaginative and cooperative play together. They laughed and envisioned, they created and cooperated as they worked together to develop this amazing crash landing site in our living room. When the timer sounded, bringing an awareness that this time of play could come to an end, do you know what? They turned it off. The timer, that is. The play continued for quite a while. I needed to be cleaning house, but I was so drawn to what was going on here I couldn't stop watching them. When they finished and I helped them clean up, they thanked me for "letting" them play like that. ;)
This description of a typical conflict among typical siblings in a typical family with a typical mom who just wanted a little less arguing is simply the back story to this blog post. The details here are really irrelevant, other than that they ignited this thought in my mind. Here's the faith application.
Sometimes it's hard for us to walk away from, or set aside those things that we enjoy or that bring us comfort, especially when they aren't all together bad or wrong. Sometimes they are things that we think we need, or simply just want. Other times, they are things that we are so used to, that by default, we just continue doing. Sometimes they are even good things, that bring us much joy. Relationships, careers, hobbies, time wasters, activities--it's different for each of us.
I've learned this summer, and was reminded through watching my children this morning, that often when we are asked to set aside that which is good, God is usually waiting for that simple act of obedience from us, so that He can bring about what is best. We don't always see it before He reveals it. Sometimes we may even argue with Him about our circumstances. It takes an extreme amount of faith in knowing that He is God, that His way is best, and that surrendering the good might cause us despair for a moment, but will eventually be worked out for our good, developing into what is best for us.
Just like two small boys, who grudgingly set aside the "fun" that was ailing them this morning and experienced a morning filled with so much more excitement and adventure than they expected, we too can find adventure and contentment in the new things God has to offer us. All we have to do is set aside that which He is asking, listen to His instruction, take our own action steps to follow in that and He opens up avenues of adventure, excitement and faith building opportunities. One simple step of obedience, even when accompanied with a bit internal resistance, can lead to more than we could imagine, if we will only trust Him.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, forever and ever." Ephesians 3:20-21
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It took approximately 25 minutes of complaining, declarations of "it's not fair", "Can I take a nap instead?", "Can I sit at the table and eat so I don't have to play with HIM?, finger sucking, MORE arguing about what to play, and whimpering before one of them, I don't even remember which one, had an idea they could agree on.
There had been a plane crash. They'd create a "crash landing site" in which they could survive in the wilderness, and so they did.
When they set aside all that technology, something beautiful happened. It was difficult for them, at first, to see how setting aside something good (in their opinion) could bring about something better. But after they wrestled through the undesirable parts of their circumstances not being what they wished, they entered into this time of just imaginative and cooperative play together. They laughed and envisioned, they created and cooperated as they worked together to develop this amazing crash landing site in our living room. When the timer sounded, bringing an awareness that this time of play could come to an end, do you know what? They turned it off. The timer, that is. The play continued for quite a while. I needed to be cleaning house, but I was so drawn to what was going on here I couldn't stop watching them. When they finished and I helped them clean up, they thanked me for "letting" them play like that. ;)
This description of a typical conflict among typical siblings in a typical family with a typical mom who just wanted a little less arguing is simply the back story to this blog post. The details here are really irrelevant, other than that they ignited this thought in my mind. Here's the faith application.
Sometimes it's hard for us to walk away from, or set aside those things that we enjoy or that bring us comfort, especially when they aren't all together bad or wrong. Sometimes they are things that we think we need, or simply just want. Other times, they are things that we are so used to, that by default, we just continue doing. Sometimes they are even good things, that bring us much joy. Relationships, careers, hobbies, time wasters, activities--it's different for each of us.
I've learned this summer, and was reminded through watching my children this morning, that often when we are asked to set aside that which is good, God is usually waiting for that simple act of obedience from us, so that He can bring about what is best. We don't always see it before He reveals it. Sometimes we may even argue with Him about our circumstances. It takes an extreme amount of faith in knowing that He is God, that His way is best, and that surrendering the good might cause us despair for a moment, but will eventually be worked out for our good, developing into what is best for us.
Just like two small boys, who grudgingly set aside the "fun" that was ailing them this morning and experienced a morning filled with so much more excitement and adventure than they expected, we too can find adventure and contentment in the new things God has to offer us. All we have to do is set aside that which He is asking, listen to His instruction, take our own action steps to follow in that and He opens up avenues of adventure, excitement and faith building opportunities. One simple step of obedience, even when accompanied with a bit internal resistance, can lead to more than we could imagine, if we will only trust Him.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, forever and ever." Ephesians 3:20-21
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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