Question?

I'm co-leading Disciple Bible Study (Da-dat-dat-daaaaa!) and I believe this is the third time I've gone through it. The other night we were going over the Marks of Discipleship (a part of the workbook), this is what it said: We are God's creatures. As Christians disciples, we know we belong to God. God has claim on us. How do you show in the way you live that you belong to God? 

I really wish I could see what I wrote 15 years ago! It was probably something full of pride, and look at me-ness. I so thought I had it going on when I took this study years ago. Wow! 15 years can have a way of making your heart humble. 

How do you show in the way you live...How you live. That you belong to God...Your God's. Well, that's personal you know? Yeah, I know. (Pause) Well, here, I'll start. To live simply. To respect my husband. To put other's 1st.

So the class ended and we all went home. The next week, one of the participants made the statement that I had come across their mind that week. I had given the example of drying our clothes on the line as something I do to live simply. Why would you do that? If you have a dryer, why wouldn't you use it and get it done? 

Great question! Sometimes the only way I can thumb my nose at the system is to refuse to be a part of it. If I really didn't want Big Brother to know about me, I'd have to give up the smart phone, stop blogging, somehow get off the grid. Knowing that, I choose to do somethings the "hard way". I collect rain water, line dry clothes, save veggy scrapes for the chicken friends next door, recycle everything, you know, choosing to live simply.

My questions is, why would you use a dryer when you could let God dry your clothes? 

Just something to think about.
    

Habit

Why is it that we fall out of habit's that are good for us faster and farther than habit's that are bad? Is it something just made into us? Do we yearn to be disobedient? Is it the rebel wanting to yell in us all?

Billy Idol, Rebel Yell!

I have a list as long as my arm to be done! Some of those things have to happen, some are need, and then there is the MY list that mostly are wants. In all honesty, I'm pretty tired of lists and letting them rule my life. I also know what happens without them, nothing!

We all go through times when we are more on the ball than others, and sadly we waste time beating ourselves up about it when we could just get back into the swing of things. 

I think, this is something I need to talk to my spiritual director about, that will help me get back on tract! However, with me and my director, I already know what he's going to say. Get back at it, now. 

So I listened to what he would say, if I were to ask, and this is what I got this morning:

The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, 

no matter how long,

but only by a spiritual journey,

a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling

and JOYFUL, by which we arrive at the ground

at out own feet and learn

to be at home. 

~ Wendell Berry

So today, I encourage you to get back at your spiritual journey. To do your inch today and let God take care of the miles!