“yes”

Have you ever asked for God to do something?  I’m not talking about making it stop raining so you can get to your car without ruining your new jeans, or letting it snow so there’s no school, or making that o-so-cute sweater on the 60%OFF rack.  I’m talking about asking God to draw you deeper, to move in your life in unexpected ways and to show up and show off.

Well, I guess I asked a big one.  I have been praying that God would teach me more about Him, what it is to love like Him, and walk with Him daily.  I asked Him to help me obey Him more, because obedience is better than sacrifice and all that good stuff.  I asked Him to help me say “yes” to what He asks of me.  O my. 

I expected little things.  I noticed little opportunities to say yes and obey Him, cleaning the kitchen when I didn’t have to, speaking soft words instead of harsh ones, making breakfast for my suite mates, etc.  The “yes moments” would come in bunches, sometimes at awkward moments in the day, sometimes spaced out more.  All in all, I could tell there were little opportunities for growth over the past few weeks.  I was feeling pretty good about recognising those moments for the most part.

I guess I was making more progress than I thought.  When non-athletes train for improvement, they begin at a preexisting level of ability, small work-loads that their muscles can handle and that will add shape and tone with use.  Gradually, they increase the work-load so that the muscles have to work harder by pushing past that level of endurance and strength.  It takes many repetitions at each level, and at each level, there is  a certain threshold of “discomfort” — but really, it’s just pain — that has to be crossed.  Apparently I had grown enough at my level of obedience.

I got in a routine.  I was done with my homework, I had washed up for the night, I had done my exercises and stretches, I had drunk my chi tea, wrapped up to read my devotions and listen to the cold wind howl outside my window.  I was definitely doneserving for the day.  My phone rang.  My friend could not find a wallet.   It was dropped outside. In the driveway.  Sometime between 6 and 9:30pm.  It was 11:08pm.  My friend has trouble walking and vision problems.  Could I come help?

My first reaction was not a “saved” one.  I wanted to tell my friend, sorry, I can’t, call the credit card companies and bank in the morning, I’m sure it’s out there, or some one has gotten it already, stop payments, do whatever you need to so I can get back under my covers!  Not quite a WWJD moment (oh tell me some one else remembers that??!!) 

But the voice in my head said, “will you say yes to me?”  So, I realized at that moment that I truly was in training, and that I had to cross that threshold; and it was painful in that windy driveway after an icy drive across town with no heat.  I could feel the burn of those spiritual “reps” with every square foot I covered in the pitch dark with a 2 & 1/2 watt flashlight searching for a thin, black wallet that I have trouble seeing in daylight among the personal belongings of a purse.  And I could see and feel the change when I knelt and prayed with my friend for peace and protection over all the belongings in that wallet. 

Driving away, I knew I had passed the threshold.  We didn’t find it that night (in another car the next morning with another friend) but that night wasn’t about a wallet.  It was an opportunity to press deeper, and to be involved in the unexpected ways of God.  This is a new level I’m on now, new, stronger reasons to say “yes” and follow His wishes.  I just have to remember, be prepared to receive what I ask for.  It’s like Kirk Franklin said, “I’m stronger now, I’m patient now, I’m thankful now; ’cause of all I’ve been through.”