Him or Me?

I was just happily reading The Presence by Steve Korch.  Who knew I was about to run smack dab into a brick wall.  Taken from a fictional tale by Elisabeth Elliot with a Korch twist I read this -

"The story takes place on one of those days when Jesus was teaching some of those essential lessons of life to His core of twelve.  On this particular day, He stopped along the path and instructed the disciples to each pick up a stone and follow Him.  They all complied, selecting stones of various sizes.  Peter, not wanting to overdo things, chose one that would not be too much of a burden, more in the range of pebble than a stone.
They traveled to the top of a mountain, and there, Jesus turned the stones into bread.  Tired and very hungry, they each had food proportionate to what they had chosen to carry for the Master.  Peter would have had nothing more than a cracker for lunch that day, but John gave him some of his.
It was about a week later that Jesus repeated the stone-carrying instructions to His band of future leaders.  Now, Peter was not about to make the same mistake twice, so he heaved upon his shoulder the largest rock he could find.  He was planning to eat well that day.
Jesus led them down along shaded banks of the Jordan River, looking for just the right place to stop.  When He found it, He simply told them to throw their stones into the river.  As Peter's rock dropped from his shoulder, he stared at the Master in disbelief.  Jesus met his gaze, came close to the hungry disciple and whispered these words,

"For whom did you carry the stone?"

Why do I do the things I do for the Lord.  Is it for Him, or is it really for me?  Running into a spiritual brick wall is not always bad.  Unfortunately, sometimes it is the only way for the Lord to get my attention.  He has it today.

Make Today Your Someday

We (my hubby and I) have lived in the Carlinville area for almost ten years.  For ten years we  have driven Highway 4 to Springfield to shop.  Each time we drive we see a sign that says Sugar Creek Covered Bridge 4 miles.  Each time we pass the sign we say “Let’s do that someday” as we drive on down the road.  Saturday we drove the 4 miles to Sugar Creek Covered Bridge and I absolutely loved it! I took about fifteen pictures of this old bridge.  I love the curved boards that span from one side to the other over boards shaped like X's for strength.  

The floor is made with planks and has two sets of long boards on top for strength.  When you look up, you see those same X's in the pattern of the roof.  Someone took every precaution to make sure that anyone who passed over this bridge was safe.  The simple fact that it is covered was to help protect the bridge from rotting so it would last longer.  What I find fascinating is that along with the focus on strength and safety beauty is not overlooked.  It is for that reason I am drawn to old covered bridges, draw bridges that raise and lower so ships can pass through, and bridges over long expanses of water.  I have pictures of bridges along the California coastline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and bridges on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.  I love the bridges in Florida that go on for miles over the ocean.  I even love the old country bridge that sits at the bottom of the hill from our house.     

So why did it take ten years to drive four miles down a gravel road to see something I love?  I am asking myself that same question.  What changed you ask.  My husband just said that this was the day we were going to take the time to drive the four miles and see the bridge.   Nothing earth shattering.  Nothing monumental.  Just a simple declaration – “today is the day!”

I know a lot of people who have a “bucket list” of things they want to do before they die.  Some things require time, opportunity, and money to make happen, but today I would bet that if you think about it there are some things like my Sugar Creek Covered Bridge that simply require doing.  Maybe someday you want to explore an area close to where you live.  I declare to you that today is your someday.  Maybe someday you want to have coffee with a friend.  Today is your someday.  Maybe someday you want to write a poem, make fancy cupcakes, just sit on your porch and read a book.  Today is your someday. 

What my husband did for me I now want to do for you and simply tell you to make today your someday.  Can't wait to hear what you do!