Who needs who?

 I have begun a new book Close Enough to Hear God Breathe written by Greg Paul of Toronto. Wouldn’t it be cool to live in a place that needs no country or state behind it because people just know where it is? Admittedly I am just five chapters in and if asked how the book is I cannot yet answer if it is good or bad or what. It is not the typical book I read but rather a narrative of life and faith woven together with explanations of theology and experience.  I’ll have to read more to tell you what I think. I can say it is not BAD as I am still reading and look forward to reading it.

Today I was challenged to consider who needs who. Does God need me or you to accomplish his plan? Do I really think that if I don’t do the exact, perfect, precise task God has assigned that all hope is lost? I act like that at times. That is probably better than slacking off completely but does God need me or you? What if  Moses had said “no, I won’t go.” Would Israel still be enslaved? Of course not, God would have found another after all did he not say to Moses “I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians?”  Yes he did. It was his action and his plan Moses would join. Who needed who?

Greg Paul writes of a time he was adding a second story to his home and his young son wanted to help. The first thing was a hammer. So the wise father bought for his son’s 6^th birthday a 16oz straight clawed hammer for his young helper complete with belt holder. His son was delighted to have an adult hammer. He writes, “It was the best dollar-to-delight ratio I’ve ever managed in a gift.” He goes on that Caleb was itching to have something to hammer so this wise father gave him some cut-offs and 31/2” spikes to hammer. He spent the time to show him how to hold the nail until it would stand on its’ own. Caleb held the size-too-large- hammer right below the head so he could hit with it. In not a long time he was tapping and hitting those nails through the cut-off scrap helping Dad “build the house.”  Paul writes, “Caleb’s efforts weren’t very productive. The truth is, his “help” cost me much more time and energy—both in coaching him how to hold the hammer, set the nail and so on, and in prying the pieces of lumber off the floor, removing or bending the nails so they wouldn’t hurt anybody—than it should have been worth. But I still remember watching his earnest little face, completely absorbed in bringing that heavy hammer head down accurately, and with force, on the head of the nail; and listening to the tap of the hammer, or the studiously casual, proud way he would later describe to people how he was helping Dad build the house. The pleasure of sharing these things with my beloved son has never left me. Because really, in some manner much more material than mere wood and nails, he did help me build the house.” (p.59-60)

Parents do you remember some of those tasks. You know the tasks that you could do in 20 minutes with their “help” or 5 without? The tasks where it really put you in an uncomfortable position to use their “help” but you did so anyway. Consider who needed who?

God doesn’t need my help! He doesn’t need your help either! Sorry to break the news to you. Oh by the way whoever is elected President this November will not be the end of the world nor the savior of the world, just saying? God has a plan and it’s been in place for a very long time. I mean really God spoke the stars into existence and placed the galaxies in motion, breathed the breath of life into Adam and made sunsets, how much help do you think you can be? As for me, none.

If I can’t help then why involve me in the plan? God loves me and you. He likes us to be around even if we are not much help or heaven forbid more of a hindrance than help. He likes us to be around. That takes the pressure off. You don’t have to produce you just have to be present. The great I AM THAT I AM wants us present, to be, with him. Let’s be honest I/you need God more than he needs us. After all it is His Story he has invited us live in and through.                       

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev