I could have cleaned my house today. I could have. I could have done a lot of things. But I sat on the couch with a stack of 4 books next to me and read a little bit of each one of them. I think I even snuck in a little 15-minute nap before the phone rang. Every now and then, I’d turn the television on. And every now and then I thought about Tony, my co-worker of many years who would tease anyone who sat too long and ask if they needed to be turned.
I probably needed to be turned today.
What books am I reading, you ask? Well, let’s start with “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. It’s excellent. Typically, it’s my nighttime read. It’s a fast read because – well, I don’t want to put it down.
Then there’s “When Strivings Cease,” by Ruth Chou Simons – an excellent read, but I find myself having to read it slowly to digest each sentence because she’s deep, and each page is packed with protein, and every chapter saturated in wisdom.
My third is “Treasures in the Dark,” by Katherine Wolf. Now THIS is the book that has me texting quotes to my besties on just about every page. If I ever win the lottery I’m going to buy enough copies for all of my friends, family, and patients. Every single one of them. If wisdom had weight, I wouldn’t be able to turn even one page. Seriously.
And last, but certainly NOT least is “Growing Together” by Melissa Kruger. This is the book I’m going through one chapter at a time with a friend I asked to mentor me, hold me accountable, push me to go deeper. We meet every other week for a few hours and we eat, we laugh, we pray, we memorize scripture together, and we go through about 10 questions or so, and then we argue about who is going to pay the bill this time. Most recently, she may have also helped me set a pretty big goal. I say maybe only because I’m still praying about it.
Why did I ask someone to mentor me? Well, the first truth is – because I became a Christian in 1979, but trust me when I say – my life between then and several years later have enough evidence in them to prove why discipleship is not just good – it’s CRUCIAL. And because I don’t think we ever graduate or earn some kind of completion certificate in the Christian life. Also, accountability is a very good thing. The second reason is because my friend Cassie has a mentor, and whenever she talked about their time together I found myself feeling a little jealous, thinking to myself, “I want one!” So I went and got myself one.
And by the way – I think you should too 😉
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
Probably one of the most valuable things I’ve learned so far into this whole discipleship-added-to-our-already-friendship thing is that I seem to have planted a flag, or gotten a foot stuck in the mud, or quite frankly been a little reluctant, (or dare I say stubborn), to work my way through a particular issue in a healthy and Biblical way. And can I just admit to you here that I feel some relief to have even identified that? I sure do.
What’s my issue? Well, it doesn’t really matter. Let’s just say, I long for justice. And I’d never even realized I had planted a flag there in my anger over an issue that most certainly deserves to see justice, but I did.
What’s wrong with wanting justice? Nothing. But what’s wrong with my planting a flag there is that I’m not trusting that God will one day make all things right, and that His justice is and always will be perfect. As long as I continue to dig my heels in over this issue in my life, I am stuck in the mud. In fact, it may as well be quick sand.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
And you can’t jump into quick sand and expect to get anywhere. And I want to get somewhere – so I have to get the heck outa this quick sand for starters. How about you?
Where are YOU stuck? In anger? Unforgiveness? Grief? Loneliness? Fear? Please be vulnerable and ask someone you trust to help. Someone who won’t pat you on the bum and affirm your sin, because that’s not a good or genuine friend. (Yes, I said sin).
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7
More to come on this whole discipleship thing in the future, but for now, let me tell you how I chose this person. I asked myself this question – “Who is it that comes to mind when I have to decide something, and I find myself asking, “What would so-and-so have said? or done? How would they have handled this situation, or these circumstances?” Who is it that I’d like to be more like one day?” How does this person treat others? Respond to criticism? And then in all honesty – there were three godly women at church who came to mind, and I just picked one and she got stuck with me.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40
Just kidding! I’m pretty certain she doesn’t feel stuck with me. And a sweet friendship has grown even sweeter, and we’re only on Chapter 6 with several more to go.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how long you’ve been a Christian. Everyone needs someone who immediately comes to mind when they’re wrestling with the hard, hard stuff of life. And also… Perhaps there’s someone who thinks of YOU when they find themselves struggling. We in the Body of Christ need each other. We need each other every single day. So quit flopping around in the quick sand, and join me in getting the heck out!
“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:16
More to follow in the future on my discipleship journey…
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