This past weekend seemed like it came straight out of hell. Now, I have been labeled a drama queen a number of times, and you may deem this title warranted because the description of my weekend may seem to be a gross exaggeration, but this is how I really feel. Please, don’t get me wrong. I was busy doing all good stuff, and there was no major tragedy. Actually, by all appearances, I should be grateful for many of the events of the weekend knowing that we should be thankful in all things. However, I was so busy, I could not feel or think. I felt no shame when I made a fool of myself doing the Bible reading at church as a friend asked me to take her place earlier that morning. I tried to read hurriedly to prepare as I scurried from one activity to another, but I had no understanding of what the scripture was saying. There was something about Simeon and righteousness, yes and I believe Jesus was in there somewhere, unfortunately though I got no connection to what I was reading.
And, let’s not talk about communion. On second thought, it is best to do my communion confession right now. I was falling asleep as my mind strayed to the many dramas of the morning during the prayers at this solemn and holy time commemorating the shed blood and broken body of my Savior. There may have been a Bible reading too, but if there were, I missed it. With eyes closed and body swaying, one may have thought I was in the Spirit, moved by the moment, but one would have been wrong. Rather, I was falling asleep and trying not to keel over. As my eyes popped open, I heard prayers about the blood of Jesus. “Oh no,” I thought, “I missed the prayers about the body,” so I hurriedly ate the bread trying to look inconspicuous. I attempted to be alert for the right time to drink the wine, well grape juice. I am thankful my church doesn’t serve wine, because that would have really knocked me out. Looking to my left, I saw that my friend’s cup was empty. I missed it again. I asked quietly if we were supposed to drink, she shrugged yes. I gulped the grape juice down and then looked at my friend to the right, who held her full cup. What?!!! I had looked to the wrong friend. I was absolutely out of timing with communion. I just gave up and help my head down. My friend behind slapped me in the back and while smiling she said that she say me eating the bread from a long time ago. I guess I wasn’t inconspicuous after all. She admonished me for not listening, but I whined that I was tired and sleepy.
And, let’s not talk about communion. On second thought, it is best to do my communion confession right now. I was falling asleep as my mind strayed to the many dramas of the morning during the prayers at this solemn and holy time commemorating the shed blood and broken body of my Savior. There may have been a Bible reading too, but if there were, I missed it. With eyes closed and body swaying, one may have thought I was in the Spirit, moved by the moment, but one would have been wrong. Rather, I was falling asleep and trying not to keel over. As my eyes popped open, I heard prayers about the blood of Jesus. “Oh no,” I thought, “I missed the prayers about the body,” so I hurriedly ate the bread trying to look inconspicuous. I attempted to be alert for the right time to drink the wine, well grape juice. I am thankful my church doesn’t serve wine, because that would have really knocked me out. Looking to my left, I saw that my friend’s cup was empty. I missed it again. I asked quietly if we were supposed to drink, she shrugged yes. I gulped the grape juice down and then looked at my friend to the right, who held her full cup. What?!!! I had looked to the wrong friend. I was absolutely out of timing with communion. I just gave up and help my head down. My friend behind slapped me in the back and while smiling she said that she say me eating the bread from a long time ago. I guess I wasn’t inconspicuous after all. She admonished me for not listening, but I whined that I was tired and sleepy.
There was a lot happening over the weekend, many of which were unplanned. I got through them all, but not with excellence. It seemed like I went through a long test and failed some sections. My goal in life right now is to rest in the Lord, no matter the circumstance. I missed my target and failed big time. Thus far, if you were paying attention, unlike what I was doing in communion, you may have read the word “missed” several times. I missed a lot this past weekend, because I was doing a lot. Just way too much. In my tiredness, I could not concentrate on the meaning of the Bible passage I had to read and so fumbled through the privilege of reading the Word of God. I couldn’t connect during communion as my exhausted mind could not hold back the distraction of disruptive thoughts. Many of us go through life like this. We are busy with everything that looks good, but we miss God in all of these distractions. We have little time to be still and know God by connecting with His spirit. What is all our busyness for?
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
This may have been written by an older and more cynical King Solomon, who although wise, made some questionable choices that were not of God. He was busy building his kingdom with what he thought were strategic alliances with heathen nations. He united with wives who lured Him into idolatry, and turned Him away from God while he made worldly decisions. He later wrote, I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 1:14
How many of us are striving after the wind? We may be doing a lot, but making little impact because we are not really obeying what God has told us to do, even though, we may feel like we are laboring for Him. This only makes us disjointed as we walk on paths that God did not ordain for us. Being a good Father, God will allow us to learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately though, sometimes we are so preoccupied with activities, we do not have time to hear God’s voice clearly and connect with His heart’s desire for us in order to recognize that we may be in error. In these circumstances, He may let us go through trials as a means of discipline in order to get our attention.
How many of us are striving after the wind? We may be doing a lot, but making little impact because we are not really obeying what God has told us to do, even though, we may feel like we are laboring for Him. This only makes us disjointed as we walk on paths that God did not ordain for us. Being a good Father, God will allow us to learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately though, sometimes we are so preoccupied with activities, we do not have time to hear God’s voice clearly and connect with His heart’s desire for us in order to recognize that we may be in error. In these circumstances, He may let us go through trials as a means of discipline in order to get our attention.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:11-13
I may have missed a lot this weekend, but all was not lost. There were lessons learned. The most important for me is that there is nothingness in busyness. Yes, I got a lot accomplished, but what was the impact? I didn’t feel as connected to God as I should have. I didn’t comprehend His Word and did not have the time to soak in His presence and experience His awesomeness during communion. Due to all that I was doing, I robbed myself of the most important thing – God Himself.
I have to walk on straighter paths from now on, and it is not that I won’t stumble in the future, but God will uphold me with His mighty hand. He is not going to let me go that easily. And although, I may have missed Him, He never once took His eyes off me.
Please learn from my experiences. You may have other takeaways from what you have read, but I want you to know that not everything that is good is ordained by God. Satan can cause us to go off from God’s path with works that look good, but just leaves us chasing after the wind, while missing what is important to God.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Isn’t that amazing? Even eating and drinking can glorify God. Let us take time to get refreshed and refilled by God, knowing that we can give Him glory in the ordinary things in life that don’t keep us busy doing nothing. And, we must always remember as Apostle Peter said, “whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
I have to walk on straighter paths from now on, and it is not that I won’t stumble in the future, but God will uphold me with His mighty hand. He is not going to let me go that easily. And although, I may have missed Him, He never once took His eyes off me.
Please learn from my experiences. You may have other takeaways from what you have read, but I want you to know that not everything that is good is ordained by God. Satan can cause us to go off from God’s path with works that look good, but just leaves us chasing after the wind, while missing what is important to God.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Isn’t that amazing? Even eating and drinking can glorify God. Let us take time to get refreshed and refilled by God, knowing that we can give Him glory in the ordinary things in life that don’t keep us busy doing nothing. And, we must always remember as Apostle Peter said, “whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
