My dad once told me that he reads the end of the book first, and if he likes how it turns out he goes to the beginning to see how the characters got to where they ended up. I'm not sure if he actually did this or if he was joking, but I do remember being absolutely appalled. What's the point of going back through the story if you already jumped to the end? Does that not ruin the entire journey??
Back in July, I prayed a prayer that some may consider a little "out there". Rather than addressing my simple, yet gigantic, yes-or-no question God responded, "Don't skip steps."
In the car on the way to church with friends this weekend, these words tapped me on the shoulder once more. "Don't skip steps."
When we believe that God has His best in store for us, it's tempting to skip the middle and race full speed toward the finish line (though the finish line we seek to achieve is often just the beginning of a new adventure). But doing that often causes us to come up short, to get hurt along the way, to run out of steam, or finish completely exhausted and out of breath.
I realize that God is using the small steps of my current journey to conquer the big fears I laid at his feet before setting out on this path. If I ignore all the in-between stuff, I will miss God's presence. I won't see how He is taking care of every care in my heart and worry that has tip-toed across my mind. I won't see Him guiding me to what is next or blessing me along the way. The journey is precious, and I am consciously choosing to be attentive to Him every step of the way.
Fortunately, most books are not life journeys. One should savor the individual steps in a journey, especially the life journey that God leads you on. Yes, the journey is precious, and for each moment of life - you only get to pass that way once. Even the seemingly familiar path will have somehow changed the next time you take it. Books, on the other hand, are created to tell a story the author believes to be instructive to him or her and to the readers. Reading the end of a story places one in the shoes of the historian (or the scientist) asking, how did we get here? That may lead to a different way of seeing.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, most books are not life journeys. One should savor the individual steps in a journey, especially the life journey that God leads you on. Yes, the journey is precious, and for each moment of life - you only get to pass that way once. Even the seemingly familiar path will have somehow changed the next time you take it. Books, on the other hand, are created to tell a story the author believes to be instructive to him or her and to the readers. Reading the end of a story places one in the shoes of the historian (or the scientist) asking, how did we get here? That may lead to a different way of seeing.
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