One thing off the list

One thing off the list...

Trish and I were commiserating that we wished that there could just be "one less thing on our list" these days. House repairs, yard work, school starting, interpersonal "stuff", parenting issues, extracurricular activities with the kids, ministries, animals, exercise (or lack of), work responsibilities, future planning, daily house cleaning, meal planning... the list goes on and on. In fact, I've made the lists many times and never go back to them because they are so long and daunting.


Sometimes it really is overwhelming and I get in this place where I start to "spin my tires". There is so much that needs to be done that I don't know where to start, so I end up - can you guess? - not getting anything done. What do I do? I escape a lot. I find a game, a book, a walk, a friend to hang out with, a TV show, etc.. None of these things are bad, but I have to be honest and say that many times I am just trying to 'not think about the list'. Unfortunately, this never really helps. The list is still there, getting longer and taunting me all the time.


Yesterday The List crossed my mind again and I started to worry and think about my next escape. I was also mulling over the "my grace is sufficient for you" verse as well. I have to say that I have had a hard time believing that verse at times and understanding how that actually works itself out on a day-to-day basis. One realization about the verse is that this "grace", that can be sufficient, can come in almost any form. It can encompass absolutely anything in the world, given by God, to help me in any situation. Yes, fellowship and communion can (and are) wonderful things to experience His grace, but it's hard to find an Elder to preside over the elements with me on a Tuesday when my car has a flat tire. ;-) But, sometimes a cup of coffee and stillness may be just what I need in that moment. 5 more minutes sleep, a few songs on my ipod, hitting a bucket of golf balls (poorly). I think all of these things can be His grace to help in my time of need and be sufficient.


Sufficient. Sufficient for what exactly? Sufficient to change a tire? To get rid of my headache? To teach math to the kid who can't make change in his head? :-) I doubt it....


“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."


I think it's talking about grace to "let go" of what I can't do or am doing wrong and let Him work in me. His grace might not magically change a tire, but it can help me to think about grabbing my son and making it a "moment" with him instead of just being frustrating. Grace to make a headache go away? Maybe not, but it sure can point me to Him, help me to let go of the anger that I have the headache and just be sad with Him, in that moment, that I have the headache and trust that He is there with me. Grace to teach a kid math? ;-) No, but grace to see that this kid, and I, are both broken, fallen, people with a million short comings and be a bit more patient as he figures out the total.


Back to the list.


I think part of what I need to do is "let go" of the idea of getting everything done on the list. I may, or may not, get it all done. But, I can look for God's grace, for everything on that list, one-at-a-time, and keep plugging along. And while the list grows or shrinks I can pray for grace to remember that I wrote this blog and maybe it can help me when I forget next time. ;-)


Matt