Walk The Map’s Lines
Rest isn’t only for the weary, it is also for the angry, lonely and hungry. Rest is more for the mind than the body. We have become the willing prisoners of activity, the tapes ripped open at every finish line. As miraculous as the human body is, it has its limitations and tolerances. We’ve sought the outer edges with our minds and found that these limits often lead to early decay with waves of worry. The simpler anyone’s approach to life, the more prone they are to find whatever comfort, peace and nourishment their imprisoned spirits seek. We have witnessed more technological “advances” in the past centennial, than in all the history of this planet before it. Our comfort is nearly gone, banished by the ominous threats of boredom and lameness. Our minds have become tarnished and etched by the driving rains of a life we must cling desperately to. It’s time to move away, to prune out the excess, to simplify and dwell. It’s time to refresh our minds, spirit and character, but how? Bookstores are closing on every square, replaced by technology without any binding. This is sad but not worrisome. We have other means but we mustn’t learn all from books or video, friends or foe, these are merely the tools used to outline the subjects of life. The real learning comes only from the immersion, which is fully deep but never suffocating, warmly inviting yet laced with mystery. Where does that river begin or end is not a question for search engines, it’s an invitation to join in as an explorer, not as one who reads the maps, but as the one who’s walked it’s lines. We must move past common sense, into the realm of understanding. If life is full without God, we are truly lost.
“Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” (Proverbs 19:2 ESV). This is the plight of a tailgating generation. The tranquility of a simple parking lot has been lost in our quest for non-stop activity. If we were to desire a closer relationship with God, where would we ever find the time? Work is too hard, life is too short, time is too valuable … or we’re just to tired to really even care. I thank God that we were only created in His image, for if God was like us, there would be no hope at all. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul…” (Psalm 23:1-3 ESV. Simpler times!
JC Calkins with UNDERSTANDING 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
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