The world has gone and gotten itself in a big damn hurry.
- Brooks
The Shawshank Redemption
I watched The Shawshank Redemption the other night with new eyes and ears. It made me wonder about a lot of things. Tonight, I find myself questioning why I’m always in a hurry. The hard answer, but most likely the honest one, is that my life still revolves around me.
Today’s Scripture is Luke 5:17-26 – 17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."
I am surrounded by an amazing community of believers – of committed Christians that truly desire to live it out. I am loved deeply by many people. I love my community deeply.
Why, do you suppose, do I still focus so much on myself and not on my neighbors? Why am I in such a hurry? My mom and I were talking the other night after Bible study. She has just finished a book I gave her for Christmas, The Sacred Romance, by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge. She really likes, as do I, the reminder that one of the reasons we are so dissatisfied with life is because it is not as it’s meant to be. We are so far from Eden.
I think I’m trying to get through this life as fast as I can. Maybe the bumps in the road won’t hurt as much if I’m flying over them… kinda like jumping railroad tracks. I realize this post contradicts a lot of my posts that relish in the journey… but they are reflections of the same heart.
At what point am I going to become fully His, living and loving as He calls me to? I’m headed in His direction – I just need to slow it down a notch or three. Or five…
It just occured to me that He and I had this conversation at the beginning of the new year. He told me to slow it down. I guess He meant it...
2 comments:
The Shawshank Redemption is a movie I find facinating because of it's many character studies - and sins. "There is nothing new under the sun" and all the sins and emotions of man are the same as from the beginning - only the world surrounding them has changed. The sins are the same and our Savior is still the same and can still cleanse them by His blood - if the person involved will just ask.
Heard a saying about being in a hurry - If you are in too much of a hurry, you will pass by more than you catch up to - that would be true in a spiritual sense as well. OK, I've cluttered up your comments long enough. :) ec
Hey Mr. Eddie! I'm so glad you stopped by, and I relish every word you write, so please don't stop.
You're right about slowing down both in my world and in spirit. I know I'm missing so much of what He has to show me and tell me when life is flying by at a dizzying speed. I really am working on slowing down, because my deepest desire is to learn all He has to show me. That desire is one He has placed in my heart, and that truly is a miracle.
Post a Comment