No Extra Parts

Over the last two weeks I’ve had the privilege of sitting at the table with 8 other adults during a class on strengths and purpose. The class is called “FIT.”  Sitting with these adults is in itself a treat since most of my time is spent with people in the single digit age range-or with those literally just entering double digits.  Anyway…during FIT, I’ve been able to hear about the strengths of others. It was during last night’s class that I got- once again- a picture of how each one of us is significant in God’s overall plan; how we are each an integral part of God’s story. 

I think- in our flesh- we can many times lose sight of this truth.  We are wrapped up in our own lives; the good, the bad, and the ugly of those lives. Our own circumstances, the busyness of family and work, the things that distract us, even the things that give us joy…they all keep us from remembering the importance of our purpose in the big picture. 

Think about this - we are all where we are and when we are by God’s design.  He didn’t put us in California or China-at least not right now.  He didn’t create us in the 1800’s, but in this century.  There is a specific reason and purpose for that. God is anything but random, so therefore where, when, and who we are is not random either. 

In listening to each person’s strengths, and how they are finding their “deal” (or specific purpose) in God’s Kingdom is both fascinating and encouraging.  You see…I not only get the privilege of sitting at a table for 3 weeks with these folks, I get to be a part of the same puzzle…story…plan as they are.  My where and when is intertwined- at least for now-with theirs.  That gives me new drive to do what God has called me to do so that maybe…just maybe…it will help someone else do what He’s called them to do.

As you spend some time with people- in the single-digit age range- or older, remember that your where and when is crossing paths with the where and when of others.  Fulfilling your purpose- even for just one moment- may help them one day fulfill their purpose in God’s Kingdom.  I hope it excites and motivates you to know that the one stitch you put in the tapestry of another’s life could be the one that brings color and beauty to that tapestry. 

One of the best quotes I’ve heard on this subject in a while was in the movie “Hugo”:

Hugo Cabret:  “I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason too.”

There are no extra or unneeded parts.  God is purposeful and anything but random, so therefore…

You matter…others around you matter…we all matter in God’s story. 

We all FIT. 

The Net

You’ve heard the expression- “can’t see the forest for the trees.”  But, have you heard the (maybe never before coined) phrase, “can’t see the net for the tree?”

I didn’t think so.  Let me explain…

This morning as I drove onto the school campus, my very sleep 14 year old- didn’t say anything, but just pointed.  I looked and saw a tree; a wintery-dead, sad looking tree.  I said, “okay.”  I actually was trying to figure out through my morning fog why he was pointing at a tree.  As we sat waiting our turn to move forward into carpool, he pointed again.  I responded, “I see it…a dead tree...”  Even though he was still half asleep, he finally realized I wasn’t getting it, so he opened his mouth-which is quite a feat for him that early.  He said, “No, mom.  You’re not getting it.  Not the tree.  Look at the net.” 

The net...big- at least 15 feet high and just as wide, black-dark enough to stand out, and close-right behind the tree…had eluded my notice.  My son's interest in the net was that it sits right on the edge of a practice field.  It was put up to keep soccer balls from getting kicked into traffic.  My interest in the net was…well, I obviously didn’t have an interest in it at first since I never even noticed it.  My interest in the net came later today.

The phrase we’ve all heard- “can’t see the forest for the trees”- refers to being too close to a problem to see the solution.    My new (made-up) phrase- “can’t see the net for the tree” has meaning too…at least to me.  The meaning really dawned on me as I thought about why I didn’t see the net in the first place. 

When I looked in the direction of a 14 year-old's finger-point this morning, all I saw was what was right in front of me- the sad and dead thing.  I didn’t look beyond it.  I wondered with the Lord later if this is how some of us- me included- look at our lives.  We see very plainly what is right in front of us, but we never take a minute to refocus and look beyond that.  We can’t see the ‘net’ – the better thing- because we’re too busy focusing on the ‘dead’ thing. 

It’s easy for all of us to focus on the things that are right in front of us. We’re busy, we’re tired most of the time…we’re living in survival mode.  I wonder if we took some time to look just a little beyond that ‘dead’ thing in our lives, if we would see the big net that God has for us.  The thing about the net I saw this morning is that it was literally just steps away from the tree.  I think it’s this way with God’s “nets” too.  They are just steps away from our dead thing. 

God’s nets for us- just like the net by the roadway- are for our safety and peace of mind.  They are His way of saying, “I’ve got this.”  Do we not notice them? 

There is a big dead tree of some kind in all of our lives- something we just can’t seem to take our eyes off.  I bet if you look just a little beyond your tree, you’ll see a net - God’s net for you. 

Praying today – for all of us- that our gaze will change, and that we’ll see the net instead of the tree.  Maybe then we can change our made-up phrase to be, “can’t see the tree…God’s net is too big!”

The Water is Fine

Welcome to 2012.  If you’re like me, you hit the ground running on Jan. 2^nd.  After getting past all of the Christmas/holiday hoopla, there is much work to be done.  It seems that we are all thrown head-first into the deep end of things as soon as the new year begins…no wading in slowly to get acclimated again. 

I wonder if this is how many of us treat our New Year resolutions.  Think about it, we hit Jan. 2^nd or 3^rd, and we jump head-first into whatever our new goal is.  Maybe we are going to eat right, so we throw out all the junk and fattening leftovers, and begin cooking with stuff we’ve never purchased before in our lives (like rice milk- yuck!).   Maybe we are going to get in shape, so we go buy new shoes, and we start running…not walking – remember we’re going in headfirst, so there is no easy climb here. Maybe we’re going to get organized, so our poor families are taken to task on cleaning out every closet, drawer, nook, and cranny in the house.  Things are donated, thrown away, and purged until you can say with confidence that everything has a place and purpose. The point is that we don’t wade in…we dive in.

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with diving in; it’s the only way my kids ever get me into a pool or the ocean.  (Wading in is just too painful when the water is cold)

I think diving into anything has its benefits, but I think there are benefits to wading in as well.  Here are some pros and cons I thought about…

Diving in- pain is over quicker (like pulling off a band-aid), but the “thrill” is gone once you’re in

Wading in- the pain lasts a little longer, but the benefits seem to last longer too (endurance is accomplished over time)

An argument could be made either way when diving in/wading in pertains to our Spiritual life.  (Does the old song lyrics “I’m diving in..I’m going deep” come to mind?)

Diving in- to God’s Word…going deep…going headfirst with determination in following the Lord.  Not looking back at our old life.  Head-first with gusto.

Wading in- taking the time to listen, not just do…experiencing all that God is showing you…slowly going deeper without missing anything along the way. Slow with endurance.

I’m a wader myself.  I never start a diet (or anything else new) the first week of January.  I want to, but I don’t because I know I won’t stay with it.  I decide what I need to do/change, and then I slowly start making those changes. (This doesn’t mean I didn’t clean out a few closets- J)

My Spiritual life has all the markings of a wader too.  My faith walk has been on a slow and steady growth curve for many years.  I think God has granted me endurance for the long haul, a buoy or two when I wasn’t quite ready for the deepness of the water, and an enormous life boat when I’ve faced some tidal waves.  The point is, I’ve waded in, and now I’m enjoying the times I can tread patiently, the times I get to swim out deeper, and the times I get to go rest on the rocks.  I even enjoy the waves- or at least the other peaceful side of those waves.

So, are you a diver or a wader?  One is not better than the other, but it’s good to know which one you are.  God has a specific walk (or swim with all the water references) for each of us.  We’re all trying to get to the same place, but our journey there may look a little different.  So, figure out with the Lord how He’s wired you, and then go head-first, or wade in. 

Either way, the water is fine.