Go-Karts

I had a fun day last Sunday.  As part of our 16^th Birthday Celebrations we had a “Go-Kart Challenge”.  Each of the guys had the opportunity to build a go-kart to race down the car park at the community centre.  It was a huge amount of fun watching the traditional and not so traditional designs and how well (and how badly) they all worked.  My go-kart was nothing special but it did last out the day.  It was made of a two wheel delivery trolley.  I connected a seat, added another couple of wheels, a piece of rope to steer with, and off we went!The problem was that the steering wasn’t as responsive as I had hoped.  I desired to go in one direction but my go-kart really had a mind of its own.  Every time I approached an obstacle I knew that it was better not to hit it but my go-kart had a different opinion.  I had to wrestle with it so that it would not put me in a position where I would crash (with all the attached bruising, bleeding, etc). Sometimes I am a bit like my go-kart.  I made a decision long ago to follow the one who is really in the driver’s seat of my life but I often fight against His direction or disagree with what He suggests is best for me. Jesus doesn’t just want to be your Saviour (which is incredible); He wants to be your Lord… He wants to direct your life.  So…who is steering your Go-Kart?

An uncomplicated start

I spent 30 minutes with a blissful, uncomplicated life but then everything changed!   I, just like everyone reading this article, spent one half hour as a Zygote – a single celled organism, a fertilized egg. 

 After that first half hour everything begins to become complicated, everything begins to double.  1 cell becomes 2, 2 become 4 and so on.  At every stage of our development it seems that our lives increase in size and complexity.  We are born, we begin walking, we go to school, high school, university, we take a job, we get married, we have kids…and so on.  So often I come across people that have a look on their faces which says “please slow it down…I want to get off!” 

Your life is a complex conglomeration of responsibilities, relationships and your choices of recreation.  Sometimes these elements overlap and impact upon us in the most unhelpful of ways.  I know that every now and then, I crave the safety and simplicity of a ‘single cell’ existence, I want to slow down, cut down and hide away.   

I have found that you need a place to recover and restore.  You need time where you can allow yourself to receive the things you need so that you can continue on the path. I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus; uncomplicated and uncluttered.  If I make myself available, He willingly brings freshness and life to my soul.   

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Working with Dad

“Dad, can I have a turn of the jig saw?” My six year old looked up at me with a hopeful look whilst I was standing on top of the ladder putting the final touches on the roof of the tree house that we, me and my four kids, had been building. “No, you can’t really at the moment” I said, He dropped his gaze and looked disappointed.

From the beginning of the project there had been intense competition over who would do which part of the job. Each of my kids wanted to mix the concrete, hammer the nails, cut the wood and paint the walls but often only one could help at a time. Also there were some jobs which some could do and others couldn’t. So I became the permission giver as every little job became an opportunity to be involved.

They acted like this for a few reasons: They wanted to place their own mark on the backyard; they wanted to be close to and work with me; they wanted to grow in their level of responsibility.As a good father I had to be careful to guide and lead them without holding them back or crushing their hopes.

Our Lord is a caring Father who wants to work with you; He knows what is best for you and gently guides you through your life and leads you to Himself. The tragedy is that many have ceased to invite Him to be a part of their lives.

When was the last time you worked with the Father?

Airport greetings

I recently returned from a two week trip to Asia and at the airport I was greeted by the usual rush of my four children running up the arrivals concourse, letting me know, in no uncertain terms, that they were glad I was home. What happened next is that for the rest of that day each of my kids wanted to bring me up to date on everything that had happened. At one point they were showing me new toys, opening books from starting school, telling stories of exciting outings and asking me questions about my trip – all at once! It was as though they did not want to leave any aspect unmentioned, they wanted to “tell me all things”.

It is a wonderful thing to have a relationship with someone with whom you can share everything: big issues and little details; exciting adventures and ordinary life; rays of hope and shadows of fear. But we don’t always have a parent who is willing to listen or a friend who is available, even if they are willing. That is when we can turn to the Lord Jesus.

Mark 6:30 “Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things…”

Like the apostles I have found a relationship with Christ in which I can tell Him “all things”. Nothing needs to remain hidden and nothing unsaid; there is total freedom and total acceptance in Christ. Maybe its time for you to take an opportunity, and to speak to Him today.