The threads of my life surprise me with their connections. It seems I can’t do anything without it affecting something else. I’m suspicious all these multicolored things come from the same spool. Or perhaps it’s all tangled in a yarn basket, and God is patiently sorting through the mess I’ve made, making beauty out of the burrs and twigs I’ve collected.
I’ve been thinking about church, and of course, writing, because my life of shaping words always hovers at the back of my mind.
I just finished Reclaiming God’s Original Intent for the Church by Wes Roberts and Glenn Marshall. I understand church a little better now, and I have hopes and dreams to live out that understanding, but I also came across a sentence that stopped me short.
“You can stop being a frantic salesclerk for your religious “products” and instead live in a way that demonstrates your trust in God to bring in the harvest.”
Whoa. That’s enough to give this amateur publicist whiplash. Yes, they were talking about selling church to seekers, but isn’t that true for all of life? It was like the authors knew exactly what I’d been thinking the past few days, since I registered for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I had felt God calling me to go, and I finally registered only a month ahead. How was I going to get ready? How could I get my manuscript polished, my pitch memorized, my one sheet updated in that amount of time? Was I going to stumble around like a bumbling fool while all the professionals rolled their eyes?
Permission to stop being a frantic salesclerk was the sweetest relief. They’d caught me red handed, and I was more than willing to confess and repent and try a new frame of mind. I don’t want to be frantic, whether it’s about the Gospel, my writing, my cooking, my home—anything. I want to rest in God’s ability to bring in the harvest, however He chooses to do it.
Do you find yourself frantic to sell yourself, your work, your personality? You don’t need to be. I give you permission to trust in Someone bigger than yourself. He’s much bigger than buyers and sellers and sales. He’s bigger than creativity and energy. He gives those things as gifts because He’s that big. So relax, and trust Him to bring in the harvest. When He brings it, it’ll be more than you can carry.
Thanks for reading. What tempts you most to be frantic? Let’s talk about it.
Great read! I needed this. 😊
I’m so glad it helped. 🙂
First of all, I love the image you wrote about the tangled threads, yes it feels that way sometimes!
Second of all, I absolutely agree with the “frantic salesclerk” idea and think we do a great disservice to God sometimes in our attempts to ‘defend’ Him or ‘promote’ Him. Our love is what should draw people–our love for one another, our love for those who are still seeking Him, our love even for those who want nothing to do with Him. Love is what everyone wants (and needs!), and that’s the flavour I want to leave in people’s minds and hearts.
Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.’ Eeek! Such an indictment! If only he’d seen us walking in love!
Thirdly. And finally. I’m tempted by the idea that I must do more, promote more, be more if I ever want to see my name listed as the author of a book. I get restless and unsettled and discontent. Then I’ve got to go back, remember He’s the one who’s given me gifts, He’s the one who’s prepared things (good things!) for me to do. All I need to do is take the opportunities He gives me, and rest in the meantime.
Thanks for some great things to ponder on this morning!
Thanks, Jeb. I was working to come up with a way to describe it, and that image clicked for me. I’m glad God designs our lives that way. 🙂