Where I’m at

Not that far in the recent past, I was again asking, what is it for this season? And I’ve been through a lot of seasons. College, other countries, long work weeks, months of grief, exponential growth seasons, trying trudging seasons, tired keep going seasons. Sometimes the question of the day has been-- What am I thankful for today? What would You have me do today? Where did I see you today? What do you have for me today?


Where I am at now is asking, what gift do you want me to use today? God has given us so many gifts,  that often go unused. Like a lot of books on my shelf. They say that you can know a lot about a person by the books on their shelf, which I really do think has truth to it. But. I also like the idea of reading, but haven’t always finished books, or started books, or made time for books. I love new thoughts, new perspectives, inspiring stories, good hard truths, teaching moments, or heart warming childhood classics like Little House on the Prairie that never get old. I have books on my shelf that I’ve read 4 times, I have books that I’ve started 4 times, books that I’ve purposed to read, but got 3 Christmases ago and still haven’t. I’ve bought books during certain times when trying to grow in certain areas- which can be good- but here’s the danger. Sometimes I’ve thought, I need a little more practice before I do X, maybe if I read a book on Y then I'll be more prepared, when I’m more like that person, I’ll be ready. Problem is, we never get to the doing. The amount of good books on the shelf doesn’t always equate to the amount of knowledge, skill, or inspiration used. Sadly, and similarly, the amount of words I’ve read in my Bible doesn’t always turn into a practical application. It’s a lot easier to read about loving my neighbor than doing it, it’s a lot easier to read a command from Jesus to pray for the sick, than to go pray for someone who is actually sick. It’s a lot easier to read about patience, than to think how I’m going to intentionally be so with the people I live with today. I could go on.

Life wasn’t meant to be easy; it was meant to be full and at least a bit exciting. You know what’s funny though, it’s actually the easy things that often turn out to be the hardest things for us to do. Why is that? I’ll quote from Bob Goff, “ It’s great to map out a plan to use your gifts to make the world a little more beautiful or functional, but try not to forget that you’re already where you are. Go change the world from where you are, while you’re moving toward where you wish you were. Changing the world turns out to be easier and harder then we tend to make it: it’s easier because it doesn’t take as much money or time as we think it will, but it’s harder because, like the workouts we avoid, it takes courage, commitment, and sacrifice in the moment.” I could break that apart into so many more paragraphs. I guess I’ll stick to what I really want to say.  We can change the world by using our gifts, and it starts now.

I really do believe this came straight from Jesus to me a few weeks ago:

Purpose every day to use one of the gifts God has given you and you will change your world.

It might not change the world at large, but it can change one person's world for that day, and just maybe that’s enough. When I talk about gifts, I’m not just talking about skills or abilities. By all means, if you’ve got those, bless people’s socks off( I kinda want to see that actually happen someday, see socks just fly off)! Each of us is uniquely created with skills and abilities, yes, but also qualities. If you’re endowed with a good dose of encouragement, write a note! If you have a heart of prayer, pray out loud for someone! If you’re good with kids, enjoy them! Sometimes it’s gonna look like seeing people like Jesus does, asking for His heart for them and speaking it out, striving to intentionally serve because that’s what Jesus came to do, be exuberant because that makes people feel accepted and loved. Some of that sounds easy. Know that some days you’re going to miss the mark. That, or just not do it. I can tell you that in the relatively few days that I’ve asked, “What gift do You want me to use today?", sometimes God has planted a thought in my mind for a specific person and I didn’t do it that day. It'll probably come back around, or we'll miss out. Was it hard to do? No. Hardly even awkward. But it did take sacrifice or commitment in the moment. Right now. Today.

I want to get better at asking. I want to get better at listening. But I really want to get better at doing. I've always tucked the phrase "delayed obedience is disobedience" away. I think that's the kind of stuff that makes God's heart swell. When we respond quickly, obediently, reverently. It's really a privilege. We're always the one that misses out when we don't, not to mention others do too. It's a lot easier, like eating healthy, to say you're going to start next week. Maybe that will give you enough time to figure out what kind of diet is right for you, time to meal prep, eat the last of the candy in your cupboard...Or you could just start today where you're at, like adding baby carrots to your lunch. In the moment sacrifice is hard, but a lot easier than we make it out to be. So, that's where I'm at. Not trying to get better at something first, but simply asking, what is one gift that I can use today.