If everything is coming at you at once...

Mk 1:14-20

"After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him"

 

I heard the best quote today: "If everything is coming at you at once, you might be driving in the wrong lane of traffic."

I've been working with high school students for a long time and I can't help but always point them back to the fact that our unhappiness, our struggles, our heartbreaks, the things that are causing us pain, are almost always because we aren't following where God is calling us. Why don't we trust him? He's our God who made us, who made the whole world! But we still think we know better what will make us happy. Then when it all goes wrong and our heart gets broken we turn our eyes to God and say "why did you do this to us?" I imagine Him just rolling his eyes, or raising an eyebrow sarcastically....What? God is sarcastic!? We are aren't we? Where do you think we got it from?

But seriously, while there are probably moments when he does laugh at us, I think those moments when we don't listen to his calling probably make him sad and frustrated, like the way I feel when my high school students fail to follow Him. Sad for the pain they are going to experience that they wouldn't have had to, sad for the wonderful life that was planned for them they are missing out on, and frustrated for the gifts they have that they aren't sharing with others that need them.

 

God, help me to remember that feeling when I am being called to do something that is difficult and I'm questioning your plan. Help me to remember the you are my God, and that you call me to do great things that lead to so much joy. Help me to continue to say "yes" every day.

 

Baby it's cold outside...and I'm loving it!

It’s so cold!!! 1 degree this morning. When I got out of the car tonight to rush inside I glanced at the stars and they caught me off guard. They were BEAUTIFUL!!! So clear and bright it felt like they were closer than they’d ever been. I stood there for a moment taking it in before I ran inside to get out of  cold. As I was running in, I thought how interesting that when the stars are the most beautiful we don’t notice because we are so focused on how cold it is and getting out of the cold. On the summer days, when we’re sitting out at the bonfire wishing and hoping for the stars, then we can’t see them as clearly and look back wishing we’d have enjoyed them when they were so clear in the winter. I see such a parallel with my faith life. I have found that in the “coldest” or most difficult moments of my life, I’ve been able to feel God’s presence more than ever. Often, He’s so close in those times but I’m so focused on the trial or struggle I’m going through I don’t take the time to appreciate the fact that I feel so close to him, I’m more worried about trying hard to get out of the difficult situation.  Then when life is going great and I’m praising him and want to feel that closeness, it’s still great, but just not as close as it was back then.  It’s a great reminder to me to quit focusing so much on the “cold” so I don’t miss out on the relationship God wants to have with me. There’s a great moment in the book The Shack where God tells him that he was there all along, and that maybe he couldn’t see his presence with him because he was so focused on his pain he couldn’t see anything else. 

God, thank you so much for the closeness we have shared, especially in some of the most difficult times in my life. I’m sorry if I didn’t appreciate them like I should have at the time, but I am so grateful for them. You have helped me through so much, I know I couldn’t do this life without you. Help me to continue to see you and to take the focus off of the “cold” and onto you. I love you.