Today I had a wonderful conversation (albeit online through google chat) with a good friend, I invite you into my conversation...it was edited a tad and the context really doesn't matter to the blog. Please also note that I have part of my slogan thanks to Sarah's comment on my previous post.
me: Waiting on a sign from God
Friend: ew
me: unfortunately he keeps saying step out in faith but no specifics
Friend: what does that even mean?
me: heck if I know :-)
Friend: dude, the phrase "waiting on a sign from God" is crap.
Stop waiting for a sign, and make a decision and do it.
me: hey...I know that...
Friend: It's just that simple. You lack discipline.
me: I just like saying it because I envision a giant billboard on the interstate...saying...Duer....this is what I want
Friend: (try and imagine that line with an Arnold accent, and you'll get the full effect)
me: ummm ok
Friend: Oh, that's what you want? Too easy. It's in the bible. =)
me: No...I know myself too well...if that did happen I would grumble and complain that this is not what I wanted to do
This way I just shuffle my feet and stay inert
Friend: You should get a tattoo of that phrase on your back: "I just shuffle my feet and stay inert"
Punk goth kids would think you are awesome
It's laden with all sorts of existential angst - they love that.
me: I will put that on my tombstone after I hit the billboard and die
Friend: Yes! That will be even better.
So, now that you have read the billboard - Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly and all that - what are you going to do?
Though I was somewhat joking, there is a part of me that would love a "voice from heaven moment" just because there would be no question. But as I analyze that thinking process I quickly discover that with no question comes a greater sign of lack of faith. Jesus provided many billboard or a slap your hand on your forhead moments and yet we still have disowning Peter and doubting Thomas to name a few.
Do we learn better when we go though the unsure times than when we have a "go and do" moment. Because in the former, trust is in God but the latter trust is in doing rather than whom you're doing it for.
So what's your sign say?
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2 comments:
This week my sign is saying: "Joy is a choice".
I've been fighting procrastination, frustration and depression of late (they feed each other, so mine are now very well-fed thugs). But it's been making me miserable, and keeping me from creative activities (which actually give me delight).
I remembered a speaker I'd heard several years ago, who used that as his keynote. Joy is not an emotion that just comes to us. It is something we choose.
I have to street park, and last night I came home late-ish (we're talking about 8, when everyone is home from work). I spent a half hour circling the neighborhood. My right knee was getting sore/tired from the brake/accelerator shifting. "Poor me" syndrome was rising up, starting to give the tear ducts a work out.
Then I remembered the morning's resolution to face such moments with "Joy is a choice". So I turned the corner again, cruising up toward my apartment, trusting God to provide what He knew I needed. I paused near a corner, sighing because it didn't look like God was going to deliver.
And then this guy, walks up toward my car and signals me to roll down my window. I do and he says "Come, follow me. You can have my parking space."
Wow. I got turned around, and back down the block a little bit. He got in his SUV and went off to wherever he was going. And I finally got a parking spot.
In the past, when I've reached that moment of change of attitude, I've come back around and found acceptible spots. THIS time, God sent someone to actually seek ME out.
I think God waits for us to make our choices and get moving. Then he pulls out the billboard, which usually says "Way to go, Beloved Child!"
God is funny that way. ;)
I agree...getting a tattoo that says, "I just shuffle my feet and stay inert," would be cool!!
I have to admit that made me laugh the loudest and longest I have laughed in a while, if for those of you who know me that is saying something.
When I think about my identity, I think about the movie Gladiator and the scene where Maximus has just had his first victory in the arena and is discovered by the emporer to be alive. It starts with the question, "Tell me your name..."
Maximus gives his name his occupation, husband, father...
these things keep (or kept) him grounded, and I say kept because one of the next scenes shows him and the emporer's sister arguing about what difference he can make because now he is a slave...How can he possibly serve Rome!?
As a grad student I have more people telling me what they think I should do than most people. That might be why I have taken longer than most people to arrive at the same point, because I have tried to make what I do of myself and not them...I've tried to make it part of my identity and not just something I do.
I'm getting long winded now and not having written on my own blog in awhile I should save some text
...but being your roommate I'm sure we can continue this conversation in person...
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