The Weight of a Word...

Over the summer, we have been studying the parables in our Sunday School...  At the beginning of the summer, one of the first ones we considered was the parable of the Shrewd Manager, in Luke 16:1-12...  There's many different schools of thought on this parable...  But I just want to share how it hit me...

In Luke 16:1, the master accuses his manager, or steward, of  "wasting his - the master's - goods."  Those words have haunted me all summer, but the weight of them has increased exponentially since returning from Swaziland.

I look around me, even in the room I'm sitting in, and I see so much waste...  Books that were never finished...  who needs so many books... accessories on the shelves that do nothing but collect dust...  just stuff...  too much stuff.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not in any way saying it's wrong to enjoy God's blessings...  this is not meant to be a guilt trip...  but for me, I just need to take a long look and call a spade a spade...  or waste waste...

When I think about the waste...  I see a bore hole that could have been...  or a women's center to teach them skills to earn income that could be started today...  I see so much potential for eternal value that has been wasted...  

As my friend Naomi posted yesterday, she's being challenged "to not get caught up in this life but to lay aside that which we don't really need. It is a snare that we can easily get caught up in if we do not guard our hearts."

5 trips to Africa and I still have a hard time guarding my heart...  Time and distance are not my friends when it comes to keeping the heart clean, after a trip like this...  But God has promised to complete the good work He began and I trust that He will not give up on me...  (thank goodness!)...

True transformation starts with a broken heart...  So instead of wallowing in regret and guilt, I will simply choose a different path and I will ask Him how I can start to clean up my mess of too much stuff... 

As I continue to learn from these trips...  stuff doesn't make me happy or bring lasting joy...  but the smallest offering, to someone in need, brings a joy that is far beyond anything of this world...

Bubbles...

Balls...

Ourselves!