Who cares anyway?
I shared several times the saying, “They don’t care what you know until they know you care.” I also shared that I was in a melancholy frame of mind: critiquing and examining my life.
this week I’ve had some rough homework assignments and I needed to get out of my head for a while. I scheduled a close hike and hit the trail before 7 a.m.. As I hiked, I thought about a conversation with a friend who was planning a couple of events celebrating birthdays. Celebrating those life milestones is important to me – I have planned and hosted many of them but these last couple of years we have been scattered and did not. Our children are grown and usually want to do their own thing. Even our 40th anniversary was unremarkable. But I realized God rejoices in a marriage that honors Him and is steadfast – He wants us to rejoice as well.
I was glad there wasn’t anyone on the trail with me because some prayers are spoken out loud: who cares about our stuff? God reminded me that He cares. He reminded me of my 60th birthday: I had asked Mike, “Are the kids coming up for my birthday?” He had a very stricken look on his face, “no, they are not.” As I shared in a previous pod, God provided 30 people to share a birthday meal and cake. I knew about 10 of them. God cares – He reminded me how He made a meal into a party.
1 Peter 5:6-8 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Think about that – cast your care on Him for He cares for you – followed by your adversary the devil seeks to devour you!
Quit asking for permission and approval from those who don’t care! Seek advice and opinions from those who have your back, not those who consider you an intrusion – irrelevant.
At the beginning of the hike I thought about so many things I tried, but failed; life goals and dreams that were not to be; I thought about the things I want to do, but I like to do with loved ones – yet sometimes no one else really cares to join in that activity. I thought about things I want to do with grands, but they are usually too busy. I don’t want to be an intrusion, a party crasher.
These are the methods of the devil: There are times we are defeated by what is not… Distracted by our own wants and needs instead of outward focus.
As I hiked that narrow path, I considered the verse that says wide is the gate, the path to destruction, and narrow is the gate to heaven. All roads do not lead to the same destination and many nights have been spent in intense prayer and heartache for loved ones who are lost in darkness. What are my minor losses in comparison with that?
I also considered how many times I was fed fear, “You shouldn’t you shouldn’t – you shouldn’t you shouldn’t.” I realize that my children are raised; I have life insurance and eternal life assurance. I am at a stage where my “acceptable risk level” is higher than it’s ever been.
and I am NOT journeying alone. My “acceptable risk” is in this world, my place in eternity is assured: it will not be in hell, but rather in the presence of Jesus.
Sometimes you just need to put on your big girl/big boy panties, get your rear in gear, use those hands, those feet, those words, and make some changes – figure out what you CAN do. s
God’s reminder: keep your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of your faith, the pain of this world is nothing compared with the loss of eternity in heaven. How can we silently watch lost men and not give them light?
Who really cares… This was not a “poor me” talk with God – it was an attitude adjustment conversation – “If nothing changes, no thing changes.” It was about putting aside irrelevant distractions and focusing on what matters. Today what changed was me as I spent time with the ones who care for me.
My heart was changed and I found much to be grateful for. Therein lies the victory – Yahweh Nissi – My banner – God who fights for me.
I thought again of the visual God gave me – my eyes are blue, but the eye I saw was brown. Keep your eyes on Jesus, child. So maybe I’m not focused on the right priorities, on where my presence is relevant? As I hiked, I thought about my traveling companions on this life journey: What a trio! Abba (God the Father), Jesus, and the Holy Spirit: When I fall, they pick me up: My strength, my shield, my song of deliverance! My heart breaks for those who press on alone.
