You are more than a worn out table

One of my favorite aspects of writing has become writing this blog. I find such joy in sharing the various ways God is working in my life or how sometime simple items cause me to stop and think about Him. Our old picnic table is one of these things.

Have you ever felt like this picnic table?

Old…

Broken…

Chipped…

Off color…

Faded…

Abused…

Ignored…

Alone…

Stuck in the mud…

I believe each of us has felt this way at one point or another in our lives. Think about it, even Pollyanna, Job and Jesus had their moments. It is the human nature in us. To have a bad day doesn’t make us a sinner and neither does expressing our inner most feelings to God. This is called communication.

Pollyanna moved in with her stuffy and uptight Aunt Polly after her parent’s unfortunate death.  Pollyanna is a breath of sunshine and chooses to see the positive side of everything in life until she falls from a tree and faces permanent paralysis. Even the “Glad Girl” struggled when she was broken. Thankfully, the town she shared her joy with was the first to return the blessing. Even Aunt Polly recognized her own stubbornness and asks Pollyanna to give her another chance.

As for Job, “…He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1b HCSB) God allows Job to be tested by satan with the condition “…you must not lay a hand on Job himself.” Job’s trials were so devastating there is an entire book in the Bible dedicated to him. First Job curses the day he was born then transitions to questions of why his prayers aren’t granted, and then gives God praise – “God is wise and all-powerful…I could only beg my Judge for mercy.” (Job 9:4a and 15b HCSB) and more, with a little expression of disgust for his life, and more questions to God.

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The important thing to note here, Job NEVER loses sight of God as his healer and protector. He keeps the communication open, continues to trust, and waits for God to answer his prayers. Communication is prayer. Trust is faith. Waiting…evidence of both. Although alone, broken, chipped, and abused – Job keeps his eyes on God and not the people in his life telling him otherwise.

As I think of communion tomorrow, Jesus’ words, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46 HCSB) Jesus knew His mission when God sent Him from heaven to be born a baby in Bethlehem yet when faced with the weight of the sins for all humankind, even He, Jesus, called out to His Father. As should we, call out when in trouble, instead of running in the other direction as I did for more than a decade after Heidi’s disappearance.

For ten years, I lived as if the abandoned picnic table but thanks to one child’s boldness, I recognized I needed Jesus. He has the strength to endure and triumph and He shares this with you and me through His death on the cross. Although I was baptized alongside my sister as a teen, it was for the wrong reasons so in 2006 I experienced a spiritual dunking I could have never imagined. A few seconds submerged the baptismal water felt like hours in heaven.

When I emerged from the water, there was a great sense of peace and renewal. I truly was a new person! I still have the scrapes, bruises, and brokenness BUT instead of pain and sorrow, I have joy, hope, and gladness!

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