The W-Zone

I noticed a sign like this one the other day and it got me to thinking.

What did the "w" stand for?  Well, it was obvious in that area that the "w" referred to "work zone."  So, at my present rate of travel and barring no traffic delays I should be cleared of the orange barrels in about 40 minutes...one playlist on my I-Pod.  And then I would be through this messy, inconvenient, and dangerous area of interstate.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a sign in our lives that told us when we would be through the messy, inconvenient, and dangerous areas of our lives;  when the relief would come?  I mean, imagine:

• "2 months until end of unemployment zone"
• "3 days until end of sickness zone"
• "8 hours until end of worry zone"
• "10 minutes until end of pain zone"
  
• "5 weeks until end of ..."

How much easier it would be to endure life's messes and inconveniences.

When I worked in EMS one of the most frequent complaints we received was that we weren't moving fast enough.  Relief was not getting there as quickly as the one in need expected.  No one EVER called to complain that we arrived too soon!

The apostle Paul needed relief from something that burdened him.  He called it his "thorn in the flesh."  He wanted relief, he prayed for relief, and yet relief had not come.  Did God not love him?  After all, he had given his life to God and was sharing God's salvation with everyone he met.  Was he not doing enough?

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, "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. 

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Not everything we suffer in this world has a short duration.  But we can know that the love of God will remain with us not just through the w-zone but beyond.  That process is called faith and it is not something that is easy to develop.  It takes endurance with God's help.  (see Hebrews 11). 

But knowing that the power of Christ is made perfect in the times when we are weak, the times when we don't think we can make it through, is a promise that we, in Christ, have.

Because Jesus became weak, to the point of death on a cross, and God raised him up to a greater glory, he will also raise us up.

I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

"It's okay, I've got you."

Trolley ride through the Rivermarket - $2.00
Watching the Peabody ducks march back upstairs - $0
Spending time with my wife and kids - Priceless

Okay, sorry I beat that dead commercial but it really was priceless. Anyway, I'm squatted down in the Peabody lobby with Jackson waiting for the Duck Master to cue the fowl. Jackson is used to ducks because he feeds them down at the lake. So we perch ourselves up front with our toes right on the edge of the red carpet - front row, reach-out-and-touch-em seats right at the bottom of their stairs. When they climb out of that fountain we can shake their hands?...feet?...wings?

I'm positioned behind Jackson with my hands on his arms - doing the whole "daddy commentator" thing. The Duck Master cues the music and let the show begin. As soon as that first duck starts down the stairs Jackson tenses up and begins backing up into my chest, pushing ever so slightly to allow a lot more distance between him and that quacker. Then the whole downy family heads right for us (or so it seems to a 2 year old). Let the pushin' and shovin' begin!

"It's okay buddy...I've got you. They won't hurt you. I'm right here with you. Daddy is bigger than those ducks and I won't let them hurt you."

I wanted him to work through his uncomfortableness (new word) so that next time he will be more relaxed. So with that he settled down just in time to see the ducks load in the elevator, give a rousing wing flap goodbye, and off they were to their little duck house on the second floor. In less than a minute it was all over. And Jackson stood there...applauding to his heart's content.

Hmmm. Got me to thinkin'...

How many times in my life am I faced with uncertainty and as I try to push back on my life God says, "It's okay...I've got you. I'm right here with you. I am bigger than this and I will protect you."

But I keep pushing away from what makes me uncomfortable. But God wants me to work through my uncomfortableness so that next time I will be better equipped to handle it. What looks menacing and dangerous and insurmountable to me is no match for the God of the universe. And He wants nothing more than to celebrate with me as I load my challenge on the elevator and send it up.

Then He will stand there...applauding to my heart's content.

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy.

Deuteronomy 33:27