“I dreamed I was in a Hollywood movie/That I was the star of that movie.” So goes the lyrics of a dubious song from my high school years. A song I’m not sure really had any meaning. It was morally reprehensible for sure. Anyway… 🙂
I’m currently reading the life of Joseph in my personal reading. I can relate. I was a dreamer. Not quite in his class, but I was nonetheless. 🙂 I was going to play professional baseball. I was going to play professional basketball. I was going to preach to thousands. Be the pastor of a big church. I was going to be the older pastor-grizzled but wise-a sage the younger ones would seek out for wisdom. Aaaah yeah. I was a good field/not a good hitter baseball player. I was too skinny with limited ball-handling skills to play professional ball. The preaching and big church gig never happened. Nor has the sage.
My life is little moments. Nothing big. Nothing glamorous. Filled with sin and wrong decisions/bad choices. Filled with arrogance. Pride. Unsolicited advice-giving. SIN. I have had a couple relationships which have lasted; others I have destroyed. I agree with Tripp: Relationships are messy. Relationships take hard work. Relationships are fraught with “me-ism.”
My life, I now realize, is not one big event to the next one. My life is a series of small moments; small decisions; one after another. The significance and direction of my life is the result of those small decisions. “Father, as I consider all of this, I see Your hand. I see Your hand of wisdom in keeping me small. Of steering my dreams in another direction. I see now in hindsight that you knew best. Let me make the best of what time I have left to serve you. Let me make the small moments count for you.”
I, too, was a big dreamer when I was young, and some of that did transfer over to the adult years where I thought I could take control. God has definitely shown me otherwise. It is in the small moments with Him, not thinking about me, when I grow the most spiritually. God’s hand of wisdom has kept me small, and that’s okay by me.
Blessings, Bill!
I’m with you on that Martha. I chafed at first but now I realize God knew best and I okay with His plan and the way my life has turned out. (except for the bike wrecks). 🙂
My thoughts about this morning’s devotion –
“we dream of having perfect relationships, but in reality, relationships are messy. God has mercy for that mess.”
It goes on to describe the complexity of relationships that are based on selfishness. Sin is selfish. It is about my wants, my expectations, my goals, my dreams, my desires. This can result in relationships being about obtaining those things that will attempt to satisfy me, attempt to magnify me, attempt to glorify me.
Tripp continues to say that admission to the the fact that sin messes up things, all things, including relationships, is a major step toward hope. “Grace exists for every messy moment”
Ephesians 4:17-32 describes living as a Christian. Taking these verses to heart would certainly help on my end of the messy relationship and give me the grace and mercy to understand the other side as well.
you hit it Ryan: the complexity of relationships that are based on selfishness. Messy messy messy. Your perspective of the Scripture is a good one.
I can hear the wisdom and humility in your voice, Bill. I think that’s the sign of Christ in us.
I’m humbled and honored you would say that Floyd. Thanks.
Oh, and after a workout the other day… I went 9 for 10 from the free throw line… better late than never…
The closest I get to a court these days is when i walk across it or watch others play. 🙂 I could never shoot well after working out.