It's been a while since I've blogged... maybe partly because I'm moving across time zones after a little while, and it's taken my blogging in a different direction as well as I prepare for the move.
Back when I lived in Mae Sot, I had a flat tire. Common occurrence for cyclists living in Asia. But this particular time, I had to push it a mile to a repair shop. I realized it was something I could do, after I had to.
Over the last 6 months or so, I've been on a journey. I've been processing a lot of personal and cultural things, like how Mennonites do different stuff. I've started noticing a few trends... we tend to like our lives under control, in fine condition {How are you? I'm fine.} and enjoy the feeling of having arrived. I've had some good input to help me come to my conclusions, which you may or may not agree with.
You see, I think we sorta like fix it shops... repair shops, cycle tire shop, you call it out for what it is.. we gravitate to conferences, conventions and meetings where we get a quick fix for ourselves to get the feeling of having arrived at our destination. We'll even push our 'bike' a mile if that is what it takes to learn how to renounce a lie, or pray just the right prayer or deal with our pain just the right way. I've been there, done that... and the tire just sort of gets a screw instead of nail so we have to find a new shop to repair it so the tire lasts a little longer. They talk about reinventing the wheel... umm, yeah, that too.
The last while, I've been reading my Bible a little differently. The story of the Bible isn't about repairs, it's about relationships. God heals, God restores and redeems, but it's always to continued relationships. The focus isn't on the tools, on the method or on the issue, it's on God.
We weren't born with anything in our hand when we came to the world, and we don't die with anything tangible to take with us. Yet so often we live like the tools, the method and the way we handle everything decides whether we are ok or not. It gets exhausting after a while to find the right fix to meet everyone's expectations, qualifications and commendation. Too often we've forgotten that relationship with God and what He says is what matters.
I'm all for learning, studying and developing, don't get me wrong. But examining our motives shows who we're doing it for.
Problems are a window through which we find God. We don't have to run from the window because the boogey man is staring in, or grab our toolbox. God has it under much better control then we could ever have.
We can be confident that He who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it according to Philippians 1:6
Our journey doesn't achieve 'arrival' status till we get to Heaven. Jesus said He would be with us always. He also said, "Come unto me all ye who are weary, and I will give you rest" and "Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
In Peter, it talks about casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. All the bags that life has given you come by because of sin, but Someone is willing to help carry and sort through those things.
You don't have to push that bike to the repair shop, He can come and meet you right where you are. And He may just give you a new tire, instead of a patch.
He told the Samaritan woman that if she drank His water, she wouldn't thirst again. We can come up with our patches, our fixes that are temporary, or we can come to Him.
You might bring up one of the stories of the people who had a problem so that God could be gloried, or how Paul had a thorn that wasn't taken away. That might be His providential answer in your best interest, but if so, you can count on His sufficient grace.
There are no formulas, no special tricks, just a daily walk with God. (and a few other brave hearted individuals)
