GIVE ATTENTION TO THE MATTERS THAT LIVE

Sue Monk Kidd wrote that a crisis is a holy summons to cross a threshold.  That crossing separates a leaving behind from a moving forward.  Too many are stuck upon the threshold; frozen in disappointment and afraid of the unknown.  We need to be urged to move forward into opportunity rather than obsessing over the separation.

Jesus made a rather strange statement when he insisted, Let the dead bury the dead. This is a call to separation; leave the deadening things behind.  Move forward.  Due to our ingrained nature to live responsibly, his command seems insensitive if not selfish.  It is neither.

Yet, we know that Jesus knows what he is talking about even if we don't.  We often don't.

Life is an exciting process and experience.  Well, maybe not for some.  And this is where his call enters our world.  Our inward journey can become hamstrung if we are giving attention to those things which are deadening.  We are to focus upon issues that surge with life-power.  A problem we have is that we never throw out the useless past to make wider room for the lively present.

We are garbage collectors.  Our minds and intentions are cluttered with dead issues which should have been taken to the dump years ago. The longer we live, if not careful, we may note the load is growing more burdensome.  This is a sign the dead needs to be left behind.  Do you wonder if life might free up a bit for some if things of the past could be emptied?  If we could let the dead take care of themselves while we give attention to the things that live?

This call is not easy; especially for we sentimental people-pleasers.  So we must give heed that Jesus wasn't babbling in the wind.  He is on to something in calling us to follow him.  If not careful, dead-end schedules rob us of broad avenues for ministry.  Some of those dead-ends include dealing with people who have no intent on following him; they just need our attention and, thus, they are willing to eat up our hours and days.

Jesus' words are most sensitive for they call for judgment of getting matters evaluated properly and spiritually.  Therefore we must be alive in him and to him. We must have a spirit of discernment.  If we are to side-step the deadening things, we simply must develop an attitude toward Jesus' call that surely matters in our walk today.

Our tendency is to take on any and every project because someone (even a close friend with a good heart) thought there was a need.  One of our most critical servant steps is to determine whether God is calling or is a needy friend calling who has no discipline to say no to wasteful and time-consuming projects.  There is a difference.

Give attention to the matters that live and let the deadening things take care of themselves.