Squirrels.
What God has been working on my stubborn heart, for who knows how long now, is pick a side of the road, do what you need to do to move on - stop hovering in the middle of the road waiting for something large and dramatic to respond to.
The place where I work has been faced with a challenge of sorts. Not one that anyone there has created or asked for. Many days we all agree, that the hardest decision is just knowing where to start. There is so much to address, accomplish, and gather, that is incredible difficult just to begin. We find ourselves standing on the side of the road we started on, hoping for God to provide the answer, thinking that if we wait long enough, all the traffic of the journey in the middle will clear, and it will be easier to move to the other side.
Then in truly Godly fashion, a devotion lands in my lap that basically says, we are so busy focusing on the answer that we miss all the deep and abiding work He is doing in us along the way.
When we stand on our side of the road, we are being taught acceptance of our situation. It is during that interlude that God is working the plan, aligning relationships, changing our seasons, and paving the path. The middle of the road is the hardest work. If we choose to forge ahead too soon, there are lots of large, quick-moving obstacles that can threaten our success, halt our progress, injure us physically and emotionally. If we move forward with God in prayer and trust, the road will be paved with people who are watching out for us, who slow down and allow us to make hard decisions, who cringe a little when we come within inches of disaster, and breathe a collective sigh of relief when we make it safely to the other side.
Sometimes that middle road is completely uphill. Other times it is a deep valley that gets very low before it begins to ascend again. Still yet, we may get to the other side before we realize that there are four more lanes to go. It is then that we look back to where we started and realize how incredibly far God has navigated us, it is amazing what we have done and should realize without a doubt, that it was not in our own strength our power.
Luke 10:33-35: A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
One of my favorite lessons from WBS is the story of the Good Samaritan. We all know it, but this time it affected me in a new way by asking, "what side of the road are you walking on?" Are we standing where we started, looking only for the answer we want? Are we avoiding the hard work because it doesn't fit in our schedule or someone might see us helping someone that isn't on the "right path". Do we take the long way around hoping to avoid the hard work that is in the middle? Have we passed by deep and abiding opportunities to help others because they aren't like us? What about the people that God sends to help us? What are they sacrificing in their obedience to get us across the road to safer travels? Reputation, finances, safety?
The little squirrel gathers and prepares, in anticipation of a long season, but when it comes down to it, hesitates when it is time to commit to moving forward. I can prepare myself by reading the Bible, doing devotions, and offering up prayer, but when it comes down to it, am I willing to do the hard work to get to the other side? Sometimes, the hardest decision, is knowing where to start...we humans want the answer before we commit to the work. And if we could have the quiet country road rather than the eight-lane highway Lord, that would be nice too...
Take a deep breath, look both ways before crossing, count your blessings, and move forward because God, in His strength, has already brought us so very far. The work will be hard, excruciating at times, but we can't appreciate His peace and rest, if we don't experience the sacrifice it takes to make it safely to the other side.
This song brings me to tears every time I hear it..."or do I go deep, and try to change...they're the choices that made me".
**I am thankful for this journey that I am on. I have a story, and I am not sure how God will use that, how much more forgiveness or acceptance I have to work on to move forward...but I have a beautiful family, a roof over my head, food in my pantry, and squirrels in my yard. I love this crazy life**
