It is amazing to me how similar my life "in ministry" is to my life "before ministry" (if there is such a thing). By that I mean busyness and the pressure to perform. In general the same principles of effectiveness and efficiency govern both worlds, one is just more "spiritual" than the other. I read something this morning and was stopped cold...
"A primary but often shirked task of the Christian in our society and culture is to notice, to see in detail, the sacredness of creation. The marks of God's creative work are all around and in us. We live surrounded by cherubim singing Holy, Holy, Holy. It is easy to miss it. Sin-graffiti disfigure both land and people. Death is a frequent visitor. Blasphemies assault our ears. And our sin-blurred eyes and sin-dulled ears miss the glory that is right before us."
- Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in
Ten Thousand Places
My heart longs to worship, it's undeniable. This realization left me with a question...how "effective & efficient" is worship to the "bottom line"? I think an intentional slowing down in awe and reverence would be good. I am not promoting slothfulness, but rather an expanded definition. Slothfulness is more than doing nothing, it's not doing what you should. Work and worship are not competitors, one inspires the other.
My stomach knots as I think of all the slivers of glory I missed even yesterday. Yet the sun rises again pregnant with the promise of new grace and hints of eternity scattered throughout the day...and I'm looking forward to experiencing every last one of them.
23This is the LORD'S doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.Psalm 118:23-24
3 comments:
Call me slothful because I overslept yesterday, so much so that our boys missed their normal ride to school. But God in His compassion had so arranged it that our boys were at home this particular morning so that they were able to talk with and comfort their good friend in NC whose mom entered the glorious presence of her Savior just a few minutes earlier
- a sliver, although painful, of His glory.
Why do you feel you need to be busy?
I wonder about the "task" Peterson speaks of. I think my relationship with God will often cause me to notice those things without me making a point to look for them.
Hey Jason...man it's great to hear from you.
Thanks for the question, it's a good one. I don't feel a need to be busy...it just happens. What I mean by "busy" is just feeling like there are more things to do than time to do them. This usually leads me to lack intentionality about disciplines like keeping the Sabbath and listening prayer (silence & solitude) that really refresh my soul. I have learned that intentionality is important for me, and God used Peterson to remind me of that. Sometimes life begins to move too fast and I need to be reminded that it’s my responsibility to slow down.
As always, it’s great to hear your thoughts.
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