Sunday, September 9, 2012

What Are You Waiting For?

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

-- Hebrews 11:8

The other day I came across a reporter’s notebook. It wasn’t one of those flimsy things newspapers doled out back in the day. This one was nice, with a hard cover and lines that were spread far enough apart that you could actually see what you wrote.

It was, no doubt, a gift. One I treasured so much that I’ve kept it all these years. One that I’ve held on to, waiting for the perfect story, the perfect moment, to use it. As I flipped thru those pages filled with nothing, I realized that a perfect moment would never come because ir doesn’t exist. And I’ve wasted an opportunity to use something I cherished because I waited too long.

I think we view the gifts God gives us like that notebook someone gave me. We treasure it. We hold it close. We marvel in gratitude at the rightness of that perfect gift. And we never use it because we’re waiting for a perfect time that’s never going to happen.

Many of us had childhood dreams of a glorious adult life. Some lucky ones, people who followed their call, reached the mountaintop. Others, like me, waited for a better day. And now I look back, amazed at the years that have passed while I’ve waited for a perfect time.

The simple truth is that critics will always abound. Their names may change but their voices are the same. I’ve got to move toward God’s call on my life despite the negative comments and putdowns.

I will never have enough time to do all the things I long to do. Not because the longing isn’t there. And not because I don’t work hard. But because for every thing I do, there are 10 other things that pop up on that long to do list. The list keeps getting longer and my time keeps getting shorter.

Why is it that we wait to live until it is almost time to die? What are we so very afraid of? Because fear is at the root of procrastination. We could call it a million other names. Laziness, busyness, practicality, steadiness. We don’t want to leave the comfort of what we know for the dream that may never be. We’re more afraid of failure than of remaining the same.

Abraham didn’t know where he was going when he followed God’s call. He didn’t need to know. Abraham trusted God. He believed in God’s character. He knew that God could do anything and that God would keep His promises. Abraham had faith. What about you?

Friday, February 24, 2012

Step Out In Faith

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

-- John 21:21-22

Jesus had just told Peter what he was to do. It wasn’t some little job. Peter was to go out and spread the gospel. Peter was to follow Jesus -- all the way to the cross.

But Peter wasn’t concerned about what he was supposed to do. He wanted to know what John was supposed to do. Isn’t that so like us? We can’t focus on our own tasks because we’re too busy worrying about what someone else might, or might not be, doing.

We constantly compare ourselves to other people. And we never quite measure up or they never measure up to us. Except it’s not a competition. We all are unique with different strengths and weaknesses. Why can’t we embrace our differences and support each other? And why can’t we just get on with what we’ve been told to do.

Ah…there’s the real issue. Procrastination. So long as we’re focused on someone else and what they’re supposed to do, we don’t have to focus on ourselves and what we’re supposed to do. We get to put it off. And off. And off some more.

We’d rather do nothing, it seems, than step out in faith and do what God has called us to do. Maybe we think we’re not capable. But God never calls us to do something without giving us the ability to do it. Or maybe we believe that our assigned task is too small, too insignificant, to matter. We’ll wait until we can do the grand gesture -- that never comes.

You don’t need to wait until you retire to find time to volunteer. Just make a phone call once a week to someone who is lonely. Just give a Saturday once a month or so to help with a missions project. Just invite an elderly neighbor over for a meal every now and then. Start small and see where it goes.

You also don’t need to win the lottery to give money beyond your tithe. If God calls you to give $1 to the Mercy Fund or whatever charitable fund your church has, give it. No amount is too small. Remember that as the body of Christ, we work together. If everyone gives $1, it really starts to add up. You do what you’re supposed to do and let God handle the rest.

We spend so much of our lives making excuses for not doing what we know God has called us to do. Don’t worry so much about what other folks are doing. Just follow where God calls you and see what blessings He has stored up just for you.