Distractions

A few weeks ago during a Kairos team formation meeting, we built a rock altar. As we entered the prayer room, we each picked up a rock. These weren’t pretty rocks. They were various shapes and sizes, lots of rough edges.

Through the meditation time we were instructed to symbolically place on that rock anything in our lives that may be a distraction to doing God’s will throughout this Kairos experience.

Many of the team members had family issues and illness that could have easily given them reason to quit the team. I didn’t feel I had anything major going on in my life distracting me from God’s purpose for me on this Kairos team.

Then I heard that whisper. You know the one when God quietly gets our attention and then lays out something huge.

Only this didn’t sound huge. He simply said, “Quit trying to figure out why you are here.”

Ok, I can handle that. I was enjoying the team formation and looking forward to every aspect of the experience. So, I agreed. Yes, you can laugh. You know you do it too. God gives you instruction and you act as though you have the power and wisdom to veto his plan.

I took my rock up and placed it on the altar with everyone else’s rocks. Some had chosen very large rocks. They knew they had big stuff distracting them. Then I realized… “God, you didn’t just mean for this Kairos stuff, did you?”

Many of you know that I have a dream to write and speak. I also believe that every event in our lives makes an impact on our future. That belief leads me to spend a lot of time trying to see what God is up to in some of the most unusual situations.

Since the rock altar experience, I have been enjoying one day at a time. I know God has a plan for my life but there is not one bit of analyzing that can make that plan happen any smoother or faster. That doesn’t mean that I don’t dream and make some practical plans. It simply means I surrender the dream completely to God. It was his dream to begin with. The gift was that he revealed a glimpse of it to me.

I could spend a lot of time and money trying to develop this dream the way I think God intends for it to happen. I’m sure I would learn some valuable lessons along the way. But I’m choosing to take on the motto my husband came up with from his Walk to Emmaus, “Listen to the Spirit and do what he says.”

We really aren’t promised a tomorrow. Total surrender to the Holy Spirit is the most peaceful and enjoyable life imaginable.

What’s distracting you from the life God has for you today? Place it on a rock and carry that rough edged chunk of creation to a place of surrender and worship. Enjoy the peace of realizing you are not in control.

"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. Luke 12:29-32 (The Message)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42(NIV)