Homeconvicted I am. yesterday was a big day. I am not an Oprah fan, but we (my wife Brandi,friend Alicia, my Mom and myself) all watched her show about her work a year ago in South Africa. South Africa, a place where AIDS has ravaged families, poverty has widened and spirits have been downtrodden. There is more pain and suffering there than I can describe, yet they go on. However, I am convicted. why? My life has so much stuff. I am concerned with stuff, with situations, with work, with houses, cars, guitars, geek tech stuff, money, dieting, restaurants, toys for my daughter, gifts for my wife.
Meaningless! in the grand scheme of things, what do these things mean? what do they offer to eternity? People are dying and starving and I am trying to figure out what widget or wicket I am going to acquire next.
Next we saw Return of the King. Do I love like that? Do I stick by friends like that? Do I have courage? Do I have Faith? When things are bad, can I look it in the face and acknowledge the truth that there is more, that there is meaning and that there is someone larger in control and that there is more than this life? As Gandalf said, as he described Heaven to Pippin… “Death is a path that we all must take”. But it is not the end, it is another beginning.
How do I change? Lord, show me what you want me to do? How do I honor You? my family? how can I live with purpose? let go of these things? move forward and make a difference in the lives of other people? How do I do this without coming off like a lunatic or preach monger? Lord, give meaning to my life. give me purpose, give me a vision of what I can do for You. I am self centered, comfortable and unwilling to move. My heart wants to, but my flesh holds me down, shys away from the full commitment. Help Me to understand and to lead my family smartly to purpose.