Disclaimer: Be thou warned hereby for within this post lies the scattered thoughts of one who has little present interest in organization. The aforementioned person may come back to edit, but until then, deal with it without complaint. :)
-----
"A wizard is never late. He arrives precisely when he means to." -Gandalf from The Fellowship of the Ring (Watch it or watch it. You're choice.)
After Frodo was waiting reading in the woods, and his friend finally arrives, he cracks a joke about timing. *crosses arms"You're late."
Gandalf sternly corrects him with, "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. He arrives precisely when he means to." But he quickly bursts into laughter over the matter, giving the scene a warm, lighthearted, friendly atmosphere.
Ironically, in the rest of the movie, Gandalf, a wizard seems to be late several times. At the Prancing Pony, Gandalf is really late...but because of his timing, Stryder is pulled into the movie. And frankly, without him....the rest of the movie and its sequels wouldn't go far.
But this isn't a movie review, so if you haven't seen Lord of the Rings, I would suggest you do so before you go after your next meal.
So back to my initial point then, shall we!? TIMING.
I don't know about you, but it seems like if I and/or others are always just a few minutes or moments off from "perfect timing". Like...the only perfectly timed moments are the ones in America's Funniest Videos (where someone always walks in at the WRONG time, but because it's hilarious, it's...well...perfect!). And more brief times aside, there are things timed seemingly poorly in life's circumstances. I would imagine that it is a rare thing for someone to die at an ideal time. Well...at least probably for someone the deceased person knew. It doesn't really matter to the dead one anymore... Or when the car breaks down, or when the alarm clock doesn't go off in the morning when it should, or when you're late and can't find your keys, or you need to go to the bank three minutes after its closing, or how there is always a long line in the checkout of the grocery store, or how Christmas break is too short, or when you tell someone when you'll be there and you're early. (what? when does that happen?) The list goes on and on! Time management skills...some of us (A)excel at it and quickly become control freaks, and others of us (B)leave it to the wind to the great displeasure of the people of group A.
But the thing is...the reeeeeally important thing to remember is this: God has perfect timing.
That means, even when we see that so-and-so sucks at getting anywhere on time, or can't seem to get things rolling in the morning, or when something tragic and devastating happens in your life...God's timing is still perfect. Often we can't see why things happen as they do. But it's okay because God does.
The Choirmaster, the Director, etc. He cues the basses to give some more depth to the music, He signals for the sopranos to quiet down just a bit, and he urges the altos and tenors to give just a little bit more to provide the melodic balance of a matched or harmonic chord. He keeps the beat, but when the singers get distracted or try to find their own tempo, things fall apart.
Staying in synch with God is vital. Why? Because His timing is perfect.
A wizard is never late. Well, Gandalf may have been late, but God never is. Even when we are in those dark times of life and want to scream at the sky "Where were You when I needed You?!" the fact is that God is never late, never forgets, never gives a rain-check, and always is in control.
Not only that, but He isn't limited by time either! (Take a moment to let what that means sink in and please post a comment about what comes to mind with God not being limited by time. I think it's fun to think about!)
I find all this to be not only comforting, but liberating. Not so that I'll be carelessly late, but when I do have poor timing and lose synch or need to find the right wavelength, MY GOD is NOT limited by that. He know's I'm human. But when I recognize that HE is God and that His timing is perfect, I'm motivated to rely on Him more and to worship Him for how incredible He truly is.
For those who come behind me,
I pray thatyou would see
My life mirroring His glory,
And this you strive to be.
May those who follow after,
Not see greed or hate
For if these things take up your heart-
Poor will be your fate.
For those who are still young,
P'raps not in age or time,
I hope you will remember
that He said "you are mine"
He asks us to serve Him wholy,
A calling true and great.
He loves and deems us worthy
Even through our mistakes.
Because we are not perfect
And never always right,
I pray you follow Him alone,
But not in your ouwn might.
You're blessed- I hope you see that.
Poor you never are.
For in His grace and mercy
Rich love is never far.
One day you will notice
Just as i have found,
A younger child-who looks to you
with feet treading the ground.
When you see this gift so great
I pray what you would do,
Is lead a life of godliness
Should they want to be like you.
- Brenna 2009
Oh, sweet Surrender,
What is this peace I've found?
The fight is finally over,
And now the joy abounds.
My anxious heart is taken,
Surrendered to the Full.
My beating heart was shaken,
But now is truly whole.
Happily am I weak
Surrendered to the Strong
Just because I've given up,
And now all doubt is gone.
You see when you are fighting
You fight until you break,
And once you're finally broken,
Grave things are then at stake.
I was broken from my fight.
One i couldn't win.
I gave myself completely,
And now such Love I'm in.
I'm dead unto myself.
It's not a morbid state.
Because i am yet so Alive,
In Him i trust my fate.
In Surrender i shall stay-
In what Grace has given me.
Oh, what peace and joy i have
Cause it's where I'm supposed to be.
-2009 -Brenna
One evening a topic came in a group of adults whom I look up to (haha, I said "adults" in my head as if I were under the age of 18. Not only do I not see myself quiiiite as an adult, but these adults also apply in what I'm gonna talk about in this post.)
One woman happened to mentioned that she wished that her grandkids would freeze just how they are and stop growing so they would stay like that.
When she said that, I was suddenly shaken by the tragedy that frozen growth would be... Nothing against what she said -those were legitimate sentiments she expressed, but there was some sadness inside me as I imagined children who didn't grow any more.
Basically, if the children DID stop growing, there would be this feeling of grief involved. Halted growth. Premature ending. A potential for so much more...but instead nothing coming next.
How much more must God feel that when we allow ourselves to stop growing, or when he puts something in front of us for us to go THROUGH and we just kind of ...don't. We gain nothing by not being tested and refined by difficulties. Often, through those hard times is when we grow the most.
How much more might God feel grieved that we aren't growing that I feel when I consider children not growing. "There is so much more!" He feels. "Don't stop here!". His heart must ache and cry out to us to not settle for less than His best. Don't just stop growing.
A tree doesn't stop growing even when it is all grown up. I'm no botanist, but a huge, mature tree might not get any taller, but it's still growing. It's trunk is getting thicker and roots keep getting deeper and deeper, because if they didn't, soon the nutrients right around the roots in the soil would be depleted and it would starve. What would a tree be without it's roots growing, spreading and gathering what it needs to live?
Ultimately that mature tree is there to produce fruit, just as we who are called "sons of God" are to produce fruit in our lives. But if we don't deepen our roots in the Truth of the Gospel and the Love of Christ, what nutrients will we have to produce fruit?
A huge part of the beauty of young children growing is because of how temporary it is. It can only can be held and beheld for a moment, tender and precious. And suddenly that fleeting moment is over (Suddenly they're not quite as cute as they used to be, the get attitudes, become independent, etc.), therefore it is tremendously valuable. And while it's precious, retarding that change is not the goal.
I am reminded that we are to come to God as children, sons accepted by Him, but also that we mustn't always be babes craving milk, but get ready to take in solid food. That involves maturing and growth.
It's a process. There's more I feel like I could say about this, but I think this is enough to chew on for right now.
Every day I wake up a little differently that I woke up the day before. Not that they routine is different, but I -who I am- is different. I hope that the growth that occurs in me is for God's glory and that the growth never stops. And I hope the same for you.
Freedom is binding
Being bound is free.
It's a hard thing to fathom,
But p'raps some will see.
To what extent is freedom lent?
How bound to be until trapped?
How is our freedom so easily spent,
And then in chains are we wrapped?
Freedom itself is a gift,
In bindings a blessing is found.
You are free to decide
To what you will be bound.
