Friday, February 11, 2011 - Not What I Signed Up For

Being married to Dad Noland may be all the adventure one woman could handle.

    The three Noland sons have put Mom Noland's heart through the wringer on many occasions with stories of their youthful escapades, and, as in all families, she's hearing some of their stories for the first time when she can't catch them. While Mom N. loves to travel and could be talked into a family sailing trip (if she hadn't just had her hair done), she isn't someone who enjoys "extreme" activities like swinging too high on the swing. That, of course, leaves her a prime target for the horror stories the guys can tell, or in the following case, horror stories in which she stars.
    True to her own comfort zone, one year at a fair Mom watched Dad Noland and the four kids (the three boys and Robyn - their youngest child and only daughter) ride the rides. She couldn't be talked into a ferris wheel or roller coaster and no thank you to the swinging hammers and high swings, but her family wouldn't be happy until they found something for Mom to ride. Finally they spotted a kiddie ride that looked made to fit her special fair ride needs: it moved incredibly slowly and on one level around the fat center section. Mom, to appease them, got on with one of the kids. 
     As you can guess, the ride started out just as the family had seen it - going in slow-motion circles. Suddenly everyone noticed the ride picked up speed, then more speed. An alarm sounded just before Mom N. became a blur. Dad and the three kids watching were on that awful fence between laughter at her and horror for her (and for themselves when the thing stopped). After an undetermined amount of time, the ride slowed to its original speed and stopped. Everyone named Noland was grateful to have this nightmare behind them, but just as they exhaled another alarm sounded and, incredibly, the cars on the ride started moving backwards, slowly at first but building to the same bullet-speed they had achieved in forward motion. This was not what Mom N. signed up for and her own family appeared to have been in cahoots to destroy her "do" and her dignity.  
     We believers often feel and act as though we've been betrayed when the ride gets rough. In spite of all Jesus' warnings and His example, we still don't understand what it looks and feels like to be used by God. We mistakenly see our service as:
*one part of our lives
     *planned or convenient to our schedules; 
          *always centered around our gifts, our talents, our comfort and control zones:
               *making a major difference in many lives, so as not to waste our time;
                    *feeling warm and fuzzy inside;
                         *coming to us easily and painlessly;
                              *supported by others and never rejected or undermined;
                                   *preserving our "do" and our dignity.
     How have we managed to come to these false conclusions from what Jesus taught and lived? He wasn't surprised at the negative responses and ultimate riots His service caused, yet He served. He received little thanks for miracles, no credit for His mercy, no payment for His time, no honor for His Holiness, no rest when He was exhausted, and no dignity in His death. 

"Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men,

 so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:3

He received persecution in place of warm fuzzy feelings as well as rejection from authorities who claimed to be on God's side. The Light He shone and the Peace He carried drove them to the brink of madness as they tried to kill what they couldn't understand.

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." 

John 1:4-5

     So, your ride's been rough lately and may even seem to be sending you backwards into time or recurring difficulties. Maybe alarms are going off in your head and you don't know which way you're going. Before we scream "Let me off this thing!" let's shut it out and use our imagination for good and our will to step up the mountain into God's Presence. If we buckle our minds and hearts into the One who bought our tickets and trust Him, He'll give us the Peace, the support, the Love, Strength, and Light to hold on until our knuckles turn white.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, 

because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

Dear Lord, when things start moving too quickly or in directions we don't understand, fear washes over us in spite of Your Goodness and Grace. Help us cling to You and trust You. Show us Your Way and keep us moving with You, always in Your Will no matter what our feelings tell us. We're spoiled to having things our way but we're the clay and You're the Potter. Change our hearts, O God, to match what You want from us. You are God alone and we live for You alone.

In the Name of Jesus Whose service to You, Father, cost Him everything!

Inspired by Jesus Calling and My Utmost for His Highest

Photo from our family album