We are still waiting, believe it or not, for our vehicle to be repaired. We thought it was fixed last night, but right out of the gate the problem returned! So we are back in the shop – again. Here’s hoping the mystery gets solved. Although we don’t HAVE to be anywhere, it would be nice to spend Thanksgiving with some friends. We don’t know anyone here.
Meanwhile we’ve been staying at a campground in the area. Now don’t get me wrong. We are very thankful for it, but just a little surprised that it has a push button shower! I’ve never seen one of these before. And after a 1-Mississippi, 2-Mississippi, etc. count, I discovered that it lasts only 10 seconds! Now being one who loves long showers, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I pressed that button! Pitiful.
Love Without Measure
This reminds me. Lately we’ve been discussing some of the parables of Jesus in a new light. Instead of seeing some of them as we did under our old life in religion, we are seeing some of them as really intending to communicate the opposite! For example Luke 18:1-8 about the judge who finally gave justice to a victimized woman, but only because she was aggravatingly persistent. Now on the surface it might seem Jesus is telling us to pray like this widow, because God is like this judge. But it’s actually the opposite. God does not answer prayer because of our many words. He hears us because He loves us, and if we truly know this deep inside, we don’t have to hound Him! We can trust Him.
Dancing in the Shower
My point is this. As I stood there pressing the button over and over (and over) again, I thought about how this kind of shower is not a picture of the grace of God! It is the opposite. I don’t have to keep asking, poking, or prodding Heaven for anything. For as long as I believe it, and in proportion to how much I believe it, I can stand naked under the unlimited and refreshing shower of His forgiveness, warmth, acceptance, etc., and fully enjoy and feel clean in this reconciled relationship. Dance in it even! Knowing He’s already poured Himself out without measure – for everyone – I can rest in the fact that I don’t have to ‘press buttons’ to move His heart. The shower is already on, and won’t ever turn off!
The nature of Love is so beautiful.
Until next time,
Pamela
be grateful for 10 seconds
those kind of county or state campgrounds DO NOT WANT TO TREAT PEOPLE GOOD. So they let you know that this is as good as gets for camping folks without a hot and cold shower in their rig. Actually they are a blessing and point us peasants and pilgrims heavenward toward our Kind Savior, Jesus. Hosanna!