For my fellow believers...
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Murfreesboro, TN
For my fellow believers...
This was emailed to me today... too good not to share. And too simple not to implement. 
He sat on the curb near the west-bound on-ramp to I-10 with a ratty duffle bag at his feet and a sign in his lap. As I pulled closer to make a right hand turn, I imagined I knew what his message would be. I anticipated "hungry, please help" or "need work" or "homeless vet." But his hand-lettered SOS had only one word, and it wasn't a word I expected. It simply said "West."
He wanted to go west. The sign didn't say how far, or what final destination he might have had in mind. He only revealed a hoped-for trajectory, and the patience to wait for someone moving in that direction who might be willing to carry him further along.
It struck me before I was too far past him that he and his sign had something to teach me. In matters of direction, I sometimes use too many qualifying words.
I, too, am dependent on Someone to carry me where I need to go. But I wonder if I don't weight my directional requests down with so many particulars that moving me there is more complicated than it should be. I'd like to get to holiness, but without too much heartache, please. I'd like to arrive at joy, but quickly, and without going through unnecessary sacrifice. I'd like to live in Christ-likeness, but I'd prefer to dawdle on the way, enjoying the worldly scenery and lingering in alluring roadside parks of selfishness until my options narrow.
But what if my hand-lettered directional sign simply said "Jesus", and I was willing to take any route to get to him? What if I could be content with straight shots and meandering backroads, with short hops and long hauls, as long as they kept me moving toward him? What if speed mattered to me less than abiding, and I was willing to keep any company that carried me closer to his heart? It might not be an efficient journey, but it would almost certainly be an interesting one. How could it not be?
Tonight I'm wondering how far west the man with the sign might be. He wasn't in the same spot when I returned to it later that day. And neither, I pray, am I.
"West."
February 10, 2010
He sat on the curb near the west-bound on-ramp to I-10 with a ratty duffle bag at his feet and a sign in his lap. As I pulled closer to make a right hand turn, I imagined I knew what his message would be. I anticipated "hungry, please help" or "need work" or "homeless vet." But his hand-lettered SOS had only one word, and it wasn't a word I expected. It simply said "West."
He wanted to go west. The sign didn't say how far, or what final destination he might have had in mind. He only revealed a hoped-for trajectory, and the patience to wait for someone moving in that direction who might be willing to carry him further along.
It struck me before I was too far past him that he and his sign had something to teach me. In matters of direction, I sometimes use too many qualifying words.
I, too, am dependent on Someone to carry me where I need to go. But I wonder if I don't weight my directional requests down with so many particulars that moving me there is more complicated than it should be. I'd like to get to holiness, but without too much heartache, please. I'd like to arrive at joy, but quickly, and without going through unnecessary sacrifice. I'd like to live in Christ-likeness, but I'd prefer to dawdle on the way, enjoying the worldly scenery and lingering in alluring roadside parks of selfishness until my options narrow.
But what if my hand-lettered directional sign simply said "Jesus", and I was willing to take any route to get to him? What if I could be content with straight shots and meandering backroads, with short hops and long hauls, as long as they kept me moving toward him? What if speed mattered to me less than abiding, and I was willing to keep any company that carried me closer to his heart? It might not be an efficient journey, but it would almost certainly be an interesting one. How could it not be?
Tonight I'm wondering how far west the man with the sign might be. He wasn't in the same spot when I returned to it later that day. And neither, I pray, am I.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 64
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From: Binghamton, NY
Re: For my fellow believers...
Well, that could spark a theological debate ranking right up there with some of the political debates. But, I agree with the sentiment of striving to live a Christ-like life. We need to look at exactly where our priorities lie.
Interesting, as I edit my remark, there is an ad at the end of this page for earnng a Bible degree.
Interesting, as I edit my remark, there is an ad at the end of this page for earnng a Bible degree.
Last edited by ravery; Feb 11, 2010 at 02:27 PM.
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