Yearning

When I was a child (3/4’s of a century ago!!) obedience came from the inside out — heart over headstrong, soul over weak morality. I hailed my Mother and Father as the smartest people alive. Does anyone else remember telling friends (and foes) your mommy and daddy knew all the answers to every question? Back then, there were no computers or AI. They weren’t even longed for or needed. God’s laws told us all we needed to know and follow; and parents showed us how to measure up, keep the rules, succeed in life on earth and reach the reward of Heaven. Was this social naivety or spiritual security? I believe the latter.

In the olden days, there didn’t seem to be an abundance of too much on our plates. Our focus was more on drinking from the Cup — Christ’s Cup. We didn’t need to over fill our plates to feel successful in life. Christ’s death and Resurrection nourished our wisdom and led to inner peace and, also, a piece of outer accomplishment. Worldly enough was just that — enough. The rest was to be shared — not hoarded nor lauded over others.

Obedience was expected, not rejected. Letting down others, especially family, was a bitter sting. There was a distinction between wants and needs. We were nurtured through being taught the difference.

Dreams were ours to reach. They were not gifts to be freely handed out. Do you, like me, remember working long and hard to merit a goal? If so, I bet you haven’t forgotten the feeling of finally reaching and crossing a finish line.

Best of all, I remember Sunday was just for God. Wasn’t a store in the city that opened its doors on the Lord’s Day. What’s more, Church doors never closed. Instead of current day worrying about tomorrow, I ask God to somehow bring back the olden days (and ways) when taking time to be fully God’s on Sunday led to God being fully ours on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

I don’t pray that somehow there would be more hours in a day. Rather, I pray ours would find a way back to the days when Christ’s Cup, not plates, was overflowing.

“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NIV)