Rain was falling one morning last week when it came time for me to go to work. I’d call it a serious sprinkle. Just the kind of precipitation event that I normally revel in. Pick out a hat that you don’t mind getting wet - actually my coon-skin cap works pretty well – turn up your collar and go for it! It’s only water! Besides I know what path to take to stay under the trees and avoid the biggest puddles. It’s kind of exciting, actually, to take a brisk walk in the rain. And as an indoor office worker I’ll take a little excitement wherever I can get it. I scoff at the people who make painful faces and scurry across the street on rainy mornings! I don’t scurry. I see other people walking with umbrellas and congratulate myself. I’m not an umbrella kind of guy. I enjoy participating in the earths rythms and agenda!
If you’re starting to hate me for my arrogance and pride, take heart! My youthful flexibility and mobility were seriously impaired that morning. My hip and back are really sore and I’ve been walking slowly and carefully. I heard the rain falling as I got up that morning and began to wonder if I should drive the suburban to work. The motorcycle and bicycle were definitely out of question.
I was debuting my new back brace at the office that morning. I tried valiantly to tuck in my shirt, pull up my oversize drawers and cinch up my belt over the velcro and elastic monster. I finally gave up. “Wear it proud” I told myself. When the time came to grab the car keys and go I stood at the door and looked out at the “serious sprinkle”. And then I grabbed a big blue and white umbrella and walked out on the porch where I popped it up with a confident snap. Pretty neat little device, really.
And so, off I went with my umbrella over my head. My hip and back still hurt a little so I made some painful faces but I did not scurry!
As I write this I’m reminded of these words from the book of Romans:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:18-27 NIV)
Can I find joy in the earths rythms and agenda when I’m walking with a limp and carrying an umbrella?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment