You know, I used to be weird. Anytime I was going somewhere Ive never been before I would do my best to get good directions before heading out. Worse than that, if at any point I wasnt absolutely certain I was on the right track, I would stop at the next gas station I saw and ask directions. Thats right. I would stop and ask directions.
That was when I was a child. Now that I am a man I have put childish ways behind me. Now, all I ask for when I am going somewhere new is the exact address. If I have the time, I will look the address up on mapquest. Even then, I dont bother with the directions they give you. I am only trying to get a good visual image of the map ingrained in my head. You would think that such a well used site would have better maps, but for some reason they often arent even accurate enough to get me to my destination. But thats OK. Ive got that address, and with enough wandering back and forth, up and down, sooner or later Ill find my way.
Yes, I am joking (a little), but the joke would not be funny if there was not such a ring of truth to it. For some reason, society has taught us to equate real manhood with rugged individualism. We call people like John Wayne a mans man. An major political party has made this concept their economic mantra: Leave us alone. Well fix ourselves. Your assistance is only interference.
When Im wandering around in the middle of nowhere, looking for a house Ive never seen, on a street I cannot find continuing to wander does not help. Sooner or later I have to swallow my pride, stop, and ask for directions. What is true for driving is also truth for life. In a world as full of evil as this one is, there may be times when we lose our way. Well, you might not but Im not as perfect as you are. I can think of a few times when Ive made the wrong turn. Then I look back to yesterday and I can think of a few more. There was at least a couple times the day before that. Beyond that, I forget At least, I forget my minor mishaps. I can still easily remember times when I got myself in completely the wrong state (spiritually and geographically can anything good come from Texas?)
Thats gonna happen. Someday Ill be made perfect, but Im not there yet. Those of you that are, please have patience with me. Well youre at it, quit lying to yourself. In the meantime I need to learn the humility to stop trying to fix my own problems and turn the wheel over to God. I need to swallow my pride, stop, and find out what His way to my destiny is. Although I have such a strong tendency to do things my way, I recognize that the only way to live victoriously in a world full of evil is to surrender my will completely to God.
I also enjoy reading your daily devotions. They are spot on!. I'm taking this early childhood behavior intervention class, and last night we discussed environmental changes. You know, change the environment, change the behavior. It made me wonder what type of environment I create for others to come into. Is it friendly or hostile, confrontational or peaceful? Change the environment, change the behavior. Then I asked, what type of environment I created for Christ to dwell in? Is the Holy Spirit grieved each time he tries to enter an environment the state is out of balance? I know it grieves me at the thought.
