What if genuine faithfulness is less a matter of waiting on God and more a matter of working or playing with God?
-Kirk Byron Jones, Holy Play
How many of us are waiting on God to do something in our lives? Whether it's bringing about peace and joy, that perfect job, that perfect mate, that perfect house, car or other possession. How many times have we been told to be patient that God will work it out? So we sit on our blessed assurances and bitch and moan and say, "Well, I'm waiting on God."
What if God is really waiting on us? What if God is waiting for us to understand that if we truly want peace and all those good things we desire, we need to get to work, to make God our co-worker instead of our rescuer. What if God is winking at us, waiting for us to give a knowing wink back and learn how to play with God.
Why do we always talk so reverently of God, in hushed tones, averting our eyes so that God won't get angry with us or punish us for some perceived sin? Why can't we understand that the God who loves us beyond all imagination wants to work and play with us.
An Episcopalian friend of mine once remarked, "God created us because God thought we might enjoy it." We must celebrate our lives. Instead of waiting for some mysterious God to rescue us from our troubles and despairs, we need to get out there and pursue God with all our heart, mind and strength. Work with God on what you want in this life and don't forget to take some holy recess time. Play on the swings with God, go down the slide - backwards if you like, get dizzy on the merry-go-round. God laughs and plays right along.
I'll try to be faithful in posting some morning thoughts and give you all a chance to use the comments to post any praises and prayers you'd like to lift up. What can we celebrate or pray about today for you? Let us know.
5 comments:
Please continue to pray for all those who have lost their homes and have been evacuated from their homes in Southern California. May God grant them peace in this time of despair and still provide for them a chance to play.
It reminds me of the words my mother and probably many of our parents who were Southern Baptists might have said in a much different way. Mom would say, "Suzie, you can pray till the cows come home, if they do, but if you really want them in the barn, you best get off your behind and go do something about it."
The educated theologian she is not but practical experience with her prayer life and believing in her
God she takes to heart.
Maybe God is waiting to see us make that effort to do, to put feet to those prayers we have and to accept the defeats and the wins and celebrate or cry with God.
But for certain, we need to share both.
Amen, Rev. Suzie. Great observations. Your mom sounds like a natural theologian. Those are always the best kind.
We tend to think of waiting as inaction, when in reality "wait" is still a verb. We mistakenly think God expects us to sit quietly, have faith, and see the results. Results rarely happen when folks do nothin'!
That is why I have always like the story of the prodigal son. The party begins when the son decides on relationship and acts on it.
The movement toward God starts everything. Thanks for getting my brain rolling so early this morning!
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