That one flew off before I’d finished it. That’s what I get for falling asleep on the key to “publish.”
To state the obvious, before napping, I’d been reflecting on how it’s too easy to limit ourselves and others, like folks did to Jesus when he went back to his hometown.(Matthew 13:55 The Message)
Home isn’t always a safe place, especially if it’s a box with clear instructions on who we or someone else was, is or can only become. Even worse, if we twist our perceptions and notions with God talk.
Back to Legos. I’ve known some kids who build the prescribed models, then put them on a shelf. A done deal, as if one something or other was all the creator intended.
Can’t imagine Jud’s dad without seeing him with baggy pants, scuffed shoes sticking out from under a car or church bus in need of repairs, or suit and tie behind a pulpit on a Sunday morning, or in his old flannel shirt as he engineered the set-up for Chad’s model trains on the beat-up ping-pong table in our basement, or reeking of his favorite scent after a day of fishing off Cuttyhunk with Jud .
We are so much more than we think ourselves to be.
So are they.
Sometimes we just need to think outside of our box and theirs.
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Thanks Jan, this reminds of the nine dots exercise: put nine dots on a sheet with three rows of three and connect all of them with four straight lines without lifting your pen or pencil off the page. Once done, you will see the analogy. As they say in Lancaster County, “we are too soon old and too late smart.” This is a wonderful time of life to enjoy the freedom (to love) we have been given in Christ. I appreciate your encouragement to do this.
Blessings, Dale
So good! Being a numbers person, I’ve never felt like I have an iota of creativity in me, and I’m happy to stay in my boring box. Always loved paint by number – haha! But as God has gently (and not so gently!) pushed me out of that box (my husband does NOT like to stay in the box!) I have grown and been stretched and blessed in abundant and wonderful ways. We serve such a great big God who has no limits – we can do all things through Christ – even get out of the box! 🙂
Jan, I needed this message this morning as I doubted my authenticity in Christianity recently. Thank God for the memory of your father in law’s feet sticking out from underneath a car. I forwarded these blogs on to my daughter Emily, my second grade grandson’s mother.
Dear Jan: this morning I am rereading a book I have loved and read and read again for years. “A nail in a sure Place” and again find just the right words “Lord keep me true for there are those who trust me”page21. And I think of all your mom’s wonderful stories;and so many filled with your family growing up. And this morning Jan I think how proud she is (and your dad and husband) as they read your words from God’s Home. Your words are that “nail in a sure place”. Blessings Kathy