So, I started a new routine today. (Can I call it a routine if I've just begun?) I've long had an alarm to remind me to give my eldest her meds at 8 pm. Before, I would wander about the house, checking on the younger kids and my bride, while Mayfare got herself ready for bed. Recently, I was inspired to read with my son before he settled to sleep. I've walked my dogs each evening for the past decade and this past year, I've wanted to write this column at the end of each day. As of tonight, I put it all together like this: alarm, Mayfare's meds, read with Amos, shower, make coffee, walk dogs, write. It's already nearly 10 pm and I rise daily at 4 am. I'll keep you updated...
While walking the dogs, I was listening to the Canucks game because I've got a dollar wrapped up in an NHL DraftKings lineup. My goalie took a beating with four goals against in another game. Now, I've got a couple third liners for Vancouver, Nils Hoglander and Jamie Benn, that I'm hoping will make up for the deficit. Fantasy sports is probably my favorite hobby because it keeps me engaged with all the games. I manage six season long fantasy NHL teams, along with two season long fantasy NBA teams, but choosing daily lineups is like icing on the cake, if season long leagues are the cake in this metaphor. Since the two seasons play simultaneously, I'm often forced to choose which league I follow for the evening. With the exception of Blazers games, I will choose the NHL. Hockey is faster than basketball, as violent as football, strategic like soccer and they allow fist fights! So, here I was, listening to Vancouver vs Edmonton, in the unlikely event that Hoglander or Benn can get a goal or two to give my lineup enough points to win.
I got to thinking about how God's used unlikely folks in His lineups throughout history. I've been reading Exodus (in the Bible) recently. Moses certainly seemed to feel unlikely and unqualified for what God told him to do. The scripture is full of accounts of God's unlikely lineups: Jacob, Moses, Rahab, David, Jonah, Nehemiah, Joseph, Mary and many, many more. I imagine I even seem unlikely to some for God's lineup. Yet, endorsing the kingdom of God is a lifelong roster spot in His lineup.
We have the responsibility and privilege of bearing the light for others to see Him. He wants all to come to Him. He has charged us to carry reconciliation to others.
It got me thinking about the opponent. We'll call it distraction- all the many things that distract us from seeing, hearing, following Him. We do not have the time to be distracted. We do not have the luxury to be offended, triggered, annoyed, bothered by things of this world. Our paradigm is higher, holier and healing. If we desire to hit our ceiling (to borrow a fantasy sports phrase), we've got to stay the course, make disciples, love our enemies, pray for others. Tom Wright writes in his Lenten devotional, "Prayer is a symptom, a sign, of the mystery: the fact that heaven and earth actually mingle together." Here's to a new routine fighting off more distraction! This is bakesHere.
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