Wow! I just finished an awesome book entitled Quaker Summer. Basically it is about a woman, Heather, who is struggling with being well-off. She is married to a doctor, they have plenty of money, which she just keeps spending like water flowing down a stream, so they should be happy, shouldn’t they? This is the question she keeps asking herself. She feels she hears God speaking to her that there is more to life than putting in a pool and volunteering at her son’s school.
Sure enough when you start listening to God and allowing Him to answer, He does! I really recommend this for your reading list, however, I want to comment on one part that really touched me to the core. She is having a discussion with the sister of a Quaker lady she met and has formed a friendship with. They are talking about how much a person can bear–how much heartache a person can take…because she assumes there is a limit. Her friend corrects her telling her she is mistaken because she explains, the more “stuff” you allow to fester inside of you, knotting you up, the more you have to find a way to let it out. And that way is giving to others through service, making someone a meal, or talking to someone who is down and out. Heather questions her about how that could possibly help. Her friend says because God is there in it! If that isn’t mind boggling enough, what she says next blows it away…
”…in the pain I lean on Him. In the good, somehow, I participate with Him in a way that binds me to Him and Him to me in a different way. He allows me to partner with Him during those times, and I find that to be the highest honor He could ever bestow upon an old sinner like me. And then become like Christ Himself, who wasn’t content just to say things, but to touch people, heal them, eat with them…be with them. Jesus showed up…” (p. 188-189)
Lord Jesus, thank you for reminding me that living life is really just a simple case of ”showing up.” Humble me and allow me to simplify my life enough to be able to accept this challenge.
