I’m still trying to understand.  It’s like being in school, finishing one semester, starting the next, and still trying to piece together the implications of what you “just” learned into your worldview.  I like for everything to be neat and tidy in the boxes of my soul.  It more resembles a traveler sprinting from one airport gate to another trying not to miss a connection with a carry-on bag in tow with one broken wheel and another with an obnoxious squeak. The relentless pace life changes makes me question the wisdom of the curriculum’s developer.  For me at least it feels like I’m in a perpetual state of cramming for finals. I’m exhausted. School (life) is hard.  But then comes the practicum, the field work, labs, and internships…

JC – “Come to me you who are weary and I will give you rest…”

Me – That’s just a nice saying right?  I don’t observe around me many that are at “rest”.  I’m not sure I really believe that.

JC- “I know you don’t.”

Me – So what should I do?

JC- “You really want to know the answer to that question?”

Me – Yes!  I do.

JC- “Walk with Me…”

Me – To where?!

JC-“It’s not so much where we walk, but with Whom…”

Me – I don’t like this. I mean I thought I knew You, but I think we took a wrong turn somewhere along the way.  This can’t be the way.

JC- “Why do you think that?”

Me – Because it is so hard!  Isn’t there an easier way to get to where we are going? I mean, c’mon!  There was a bypass a few miles back that would have taken hours off the trip! It would have been so much easier.

JC- “That wasn’t a bypass.  That was an exit.”

Me – How do you know that?!  I mean do you have some sort of GPS that has all answers?

JC- “You could say that.”

Me – Then why don’t you share that with ME!

JC- “Ask yourself this.  Am I traveling with you or are you traveling with Me?”

Me – Is there a difference?

JC- “And therein lies part of your confusion.  Totally. Someone has to lead.  Someone has to set the course.”

Me – There HAS to be an easier way.

JC- “No…there doesn’t.”

Me – I mean I assume You know where You are going.

JC- “Indeed, I do.”

Me – How can the hard way be the way of rest – the way of peace?  That makes no sense!  It sounds so counter-intuitive.

JC- “It’s the way of My Kingdom.”

Me – I’ve been following you a long time! We are making horrible time!  Where are we now?

JC- “It’s a strange place.  I think you call it ‘parking lot’.”

Me – You have GOT to be kidding me!  We are still in the parking lot?!

JC- “Well, yeah. Every square inch of it.  And most parts multiple times.”

Me – But I’ve known you for DECADES!  How the heck do you explain our lack of progress?

JC- “We can talk about that along the way.”

Me – I’m so discouraged…

JC – “Yeah, that’s a favorite place of yours.”

Me – Are you kidding?

JC- “Well I can only imagine that it is because we go there alot.”

Me – Wow, a sassy Savior.

JC- “And I made you in My image…”

 

…to be continued.