Be Late For Something

I hate being late. Always have. Generally, I'm a pretty laid-back person, not really given to stressing out. But
if I'm running behind, and it looks like I may arrive after my intended time, watch out! I get stressed. I get mad. I start rushing myself and others, and basically making life unpleasant until we finally get where we're going.

See, before I had kids, this really wasn't a problem. My wife and I both happen to be naturally punctual people, and both of us enjoy getting where we're going on time, or even early. So we always were. That simple. Now it's been nearly nine years since my first born came into this world, and we still can't figure out how to get everyone out of the house in time to get where we're going without stress, fights, and headaches.

Slowly, though -- oh, so slowly -- I'm learning instead something far more valuable. I'm learning that, in all that rushing around, in all that "hurry up hurry up hurry up," I'm denying myself the pure joy of simply experiencing my family. And, perhaps worse, I'm replacing their future memory of their Dear Old Dad with this worn, stressed, always rushing madman where once a laid-back, fun-loving guy used to be.

There are things worth being late for.

Just like I've missed out on chances to really enjoy time with my children here and there, I'm also guilty, I'm afraid, of missing out on time with God. How often is my time with Him cut short -- or even cut out -- because of somewhere I have to be, or something I have to do?

But I'm reminded, even Jesus made time with the Father a priority.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

This wasn't a one-time thing with Him. He made time for the Father. Didn't worry about being late to this or that, or not having time to do anything else. He knew that, once that first priority -- time with God -- was attended to, the rest would fall into place.

That's the great thing about priorities, when you think about it. When we put First Things first, the rest works itself out. And even better, when that first priority is God, we allow Him access to the rest of our day, to fill with blessings we may otherwise have missed.

So go ahead: be late for something. Take a little extra time to kiss your spouse and kids. Take some extra time to spend with the Father. The rest of your day will be far better for it. 

Instant Coffee Christianity

I may have mentioned once or twice, I'm a coffee drinker. Actually, I'm what some might call obsessive about my coffee. When I can afford to be, I'm even a coffee snob. As one might expect, given my feelings about coffee, I have an equally strong opinion about instant coffee. In short, I believe it is a crime against humanity.

Basically, to get instant coffee, manufacturers brew actual coffee, and then freeze-dry it. You take it home, add it to water, and viola, "coffee." If you're into that sort of thing. I recall a commercial several years ago, where an instant coffee company claimed they were going into a restaurant and replacing actual coffee with their instant concoction and seeing if anyone noticed. Of course, none of the paid actors did -- and some even suggested it was the best cup they've ever had. Anyone who's ever drank both instant coffee and the real thing, however, knows that this is obviously nonsense.

It's not that it isn't real coffee -- it is. But it lacks something. A robustness. A depth. Compared to a quality cup, brewed from freshly ground beans, instant coffee is just... thin. Instant coffee certainly has its uses -- the satisfaction of a quick caffeine fix -- but flavor isn't one of them.

Similarly, many Christians are content to settle for a kind of instant Christianity. They'll attend church twice a week. Sing songs. Listen to a sermon. Put some money in the offering plate. But throughout the week, they lack relationship with God. Life gets in the way. Work, kids, social obligations... our day fills up pretty fast. This is me on many, many days. A quick, silent prayer, my God fix is in, and I get on with my day.

It works, I guess. Gets the job done. But oh! What a shallow faith that is! To go to church and enjoy the worship of authentic Christians, only to freeze dry the experience and supply myself with a watered-down version throughout the week!

I wonder: if I was as demanding in the quality of the time I spend with my God as I am when it comes to quality of my coffee, would my devotion pass the test? Would I find a faith deep and robust, rich and satisfying? Would my faith be a realization of Christ's promise of an abundance of life? Or would I find it thin; a tinny-tasting approximation of the real thing?

Coffee

I don't start my day without a cup of coffee. Preferably good coffee, but when I'm desperate, bad will do just as well. My blood is actually more caffeine than water: I generally drink strong, black coffee throughout most of the day, and I almost never go to bed before one more cup.

It is the fuel that wakes me up, keeps me going, allows me to focus, and finally calms my nerves.

The question I'm asking myself lately is simply this: what if I needed time with my Savior as much as I need a good dark roast?

I do, and more. I need Him to start my day. I need Him to keep me going, and to focus my eyes on what matters. I need Him to calm my soul at the end of the day. I need Him with a desperation I can barely fathom.

The difference is, every morning, I make time for coffee. And, I confess, sometimes I take my Lord for granted. That's the curse of always being there. I know that, when I turn to Him, there He'll be, because He is faithful. More faithful, thank God, than I can be.

My prayer today -- and every day -- is for God to remind me He's there, and that I need to seek His face, at the start of my morning, throughout the day, and before I go to sleep. And that I remember to thank Him for always being there -- even when I can't find a cup of coffee.

That Whole Fruit Metaphor

Life is busy! Going to work, spending your eight hours, coming home, spending family time, getting back into the car for football practice or whatever, and don't forget Sunday morning Church, Sunday Night Church, Wednesday night church, Small Group, choir practice, leadership meetings... the list goes on. In fact, we can be so busy doing... stuff... that it's easy to suddenly realize we've forgotten time for God.

This can be especially true for people in ministry. Good works take time. But often, while we're busy trying to bear our own fruit, we forget to stay connected to the Vine.

Jesus said

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:5-7)

We don't bear fruit in ourselves. Indeed, without our connection to Jesus Christ, we are useless. And the only way to stay connected to Jesus is to be connected. For a branch to bear fruit, it must be connected to the Vine. A branch has no roots. Only the Vine -- the Source -- has roots to feed water and nutrients to its branches. When we're disconnected from that vine, we get neither. 

I'm learning this lesson in my own life: that I need time with God. I need to spend time talking to Him -- and more importantly, opening myself up to be talked to by Him. We must allow ourselves to be fed by God, to grow in Him, and to produce His fruit. And that requires connection. 

And Connection requires time.