My life sometimes feels like a jukebox. And some short, chubby kid with malt phlegm in his voice keeps laughing and stuffing quarters into it. He somehow finds it funny to keep playing the same thing repeatedly until my head is left spinning with monotony. Repeat. Again. Another quarter. Repeat.
The speed of our own lives can leave us feeling out of control—chained to an inevitable string of obligations. A friend of mine punched me in the shoulder the other night and said, “That was from Rob for not calling him back.” I feigned a chuckle and rubbed my arm. Not only am I leashed to my cell phone, but now I get punched when I don’t return calls. What has my life come to?
Snowflakes & Steak
Tonight something shiny caught my eye as I glanced outside: snow. A fluorescent street light illuminated a pile of fresh powder and lit it up like the night sky. There is something simple and pure about fresh snow. Clean and untouched. Almost innocent. And as I look out on those shiny flakes, I see a glimmer of life in the pile of fluffy newborns.
Snowflakes do what they are created to do: fall to the ground (and cover your car). They remind me that although my life may seem monotonous at times, God rejoices over the final product. No two snowflakes are exactly the same and neither are people. He has a plan for my life specifically. Would I complain about the monotony of eating filet mignon every day? Probably not. Then why be so glum about serving the King of Kings? Certainly God is better than a slice of meat.
Monks
It’s easy to romanticize lives of monastic simplicity, but the reality is that Christ hasn’t requested a lullaby from my jukebox. He wants a tune with a little urgency. You see it in the life of Christ and in the lives of his disciples. And so this song keeps repeating every day: Pursue righteousness and godliness today. Return phone calls. Read my bible. Pray. Today and the next day. And the next. And so on. Another quarter. Repeat.
Psalm 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalm 31:19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
