Last weekend was a blast! My family celebrated Labor Day and the always epic 1st day of kindergarten. Really, it was like a taste of heaven!
For as long as I can remember our family has always marked Labor Day as a time for the outdoors. With guns propped against hay bales in the middle of a field we find ourselves drenched with sweat, drinking Mountain Dew, eating Swiss Cake rolls, waiting for birds to fly overhead. With the sound of shotgun blasts we watch as birds fall from the sky like manna from heaven (insert laughter here for those who've been dove hunting before).
As the weekend began to wane into the not-so-distant past, Tuesday came like a jolt of Red Bull to the likes of my son's 1st day of kindergarten. What joy and sadness packaged in that ride across town! The moment we all simultaneously wait for and wish never happened. The story seems so familiar as the outstretched hand of his mother slowly separated from his and he began his journey down the hall as both fought back tears with new found bravery to face the unknown.
Here's the picture we're painting for the world to see; show the best and hide the rest! There are parts of our lives we want to put on display for the rest of the world to see. We Facebook it. We tweet it. We put it on Instagram. But there are parts of our lives we would rather keep hidden in dark spaces. We hide it. We ignore it. We even lie about it.
I'm learning that God wants to expose everything. Really, God? Is that necessary? Showing the best, I'm fine with that. But the ugly parts, let's just forget about that. Let's leave that in the cellar of times gone by.
He wants to expose the satisfaction we find in His creation. He wants to expose the joy we find in the relationships we are building with others. He wants to expose the fear we experience in unfamiliar territory. He wants to expose the insecurities we see peering through the mirror as we try to measure up to others.
He wants to expose our imperfections. Our insufficiencies. Our baggage. Our scars. Because He knows that then and only then can we begin to see Him as perfect. Sufficient. Burden bearer. Healer.
Here's my prayer today. Father, expose the dark spaces of my heart. Remind me that my measuring stick in life is not my neighbor; it's your Son. In the loving way that only you can, point out my shortfalls with your hand gently pressed against mine to remind me that you will not abandon me. Let me live in the satisfying love and forgiveness that only comes through the sacrifice of your Son. Teach me to be grateful for the life that can only be found in You!
For as long as I can remember our family has always marked Labor Day as a time for the outdoors. With guns propped against hay bales in the middle of a field we find ourselves drenched with sweat, drinking Mountain Dew, eating Swiss Cake rolls, waiting for birds to fly overhead. With the sound of shotgun blasts we watch as birds fall from the sky like manna from heaven (insert laughter here for those who've been dove hunting before).
As the weekend began to wane into the not-so-distant past, Tuesday came like a jolt of Red Bull to the likes of my son's 1st day of kindergarten. What joy and sadness packaged in that ride across town! The moment we all simultaneously wait for and wish never happened. The story seems so familiar as the outstretched hand of his mother slowly separated from his and he began his journey down the hall as both fought back tears with new found bravery to face the unknown.
Here's the picture we're painting for the world to see; show the best and hide the rest! There are parts of our lives we want to put on display for the rest of the world to see. We Facebook it. We tweet it. We put it on Instagram. But there are parts of our lives we would rather keep hidden in dark spaces. We hide it. We ignore it. We even lie about it.
I'm learning that God wants to expose everything. Really, God? Is that necessary? Showing the best, I'm fine with that. But the ugly parts, let's just forget about that. Let's leave that in the cellar of times gone by.
He wants to expose the satisfaction we find in His creation. He wants to expose the joy we find in the relationships we are building with others. He wants to expose the fear we experience in unfamiliar territory. He wants to expose the insecurities we see peering through the mirror as we try to measure up to others.
He wants to expose our imperfections. Our insufficiencies. Our baggage. Our scars. Because He knows that then and only then can we begin to see Him as perfect. Sufficient. Burden bearer. Healer.
Here's my prayer today. Father, expose the dark spaces of my heart. Remind me that my measuring stick in life is not my neighbor; it's your Son. In the loving way that only you can, point out my shortfalls with your hand gently pressed against mine to remind me that you will not abandon me. Let me live in the satisfying love and forgiveness that only comes through the sacrifice of your Son. Teach me to be grateful for the life that can only be found in You!
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