Sometimes life can best be explained by a picture. I am the kind of person who tends to think in images. These pictures can help me understand what is going on in my life. These images can give me a very accurate analysis of my current understanding of God's work in my life.
I don't know if I would call them visions. I am not really sure what to call them. Maybe coming up with a definition is not the important thing.
Sometimes these images come while I am driving or doing some other mindless activity. Sometimes these “visions” come during prayer or studying the Scriptures. Sometimes these pictures come as I talk about my life to others. I call these thoughts life pictures.
Recently, I described to my friend Kevin Strait my current life picture. It's like I am on the bed with my feet dangling down as I prepare to get up in the morning. As I rub the sleep out of my eyes, I look and see two sets of clothes before me. One is nicely pressed hanging on a hanger from my dresser. The other is in a pile on the floor.
The clothes on the hanger are a dress suit complete with matching tie and black shoes. Next to the suit on the floor is a brief case full of charts and other important papers. The clothes on the floor looks like something a ten-year-old boy would wear. There's a ball cap, baggy jeans, T-shirt and tennis shoes. And I have to choose what to wear today.
This picture is not about fashion or comfort. The clothes are merely symbols of something much deeper. At first glance, this image may seem to be about recapturing my childhood. Some might think it is about dealing with the angst of becoming an adult while part of me still wants to be a kid. Sure, those themes are there. But the real focus of this image is trust.
As I look at the two choices, I begin to envision what my life would look like if I wore each outfit. With the business suit, life becomes very complex. Everything is planned, organized and calculated. There is only measurable risk. The business suit life avoids mistakes at all costs and trusts only what can be forecasted on the charts in the brief case. This worldview revolves around results not relationship. There is a lot of pressure to perform for anyone who puts on the dress suit. But the dress suit life is not all bad. The suit gives a sense of importance as if the person wearing it has arrived and has become mature. Only leaders wear the suit. It is a symbol of power, prestige and accomplishment.
The pile of clothes on the floor by contrast is disorganized. The tennis shoe life is quite simple and free. It's all about reacting to the moment and enjoying whatever is going on around you. The tennis shoe life is relaxed because no one expects you to be perfect or act all grown up. There is grace to make mistakes and the liberty to explore what it means to grow into your clothes.
The tennis shoe life revolves around relationship with others, especially your father who provides a sense of identity and safety. This worldview embraces risk and adventure. The watchful eye and loving hand of a guardian lets you know that you can trust in a one stronger and wiser than you. There's a safety net for the person who puts on the tennis shoe life.
You might be wondering why anyone would ever put on anything other than the clothes on the floor. Sometimes I wonder the same thing too. But the tennis shoe life comes with its share of challenges. It can be difficult to grow into your clothes as you mature. Sometimes you feel awkward even in your own skin. You may fall and scrape your knees. You may focus on growing up too quickly and lose sight of the joy of being able to wear tennis shoes. There are a number of challenges for those who decide to go for the clothes on the floor.
The Lord is setting before me a choice today. He is calling me to become a kid again and to trust Him with the things that I cannot orchestrate in my life. God wants His children to enjoy the freedom of trusting Him. He wants us to come and wonder with Him.
Thank God that He said if we want to enter the kingdom of God that we must become like a little child. I can think of no greater call than to abandon ourselves to the love of The Father. I struggle with making the right choice some days when I awake. It can be easy to try to plan everything and be "perfect" on my own efforts. The dress suit gives a sense of power and control. But in the end, I can never maintain the pace for long. I eventually have to confess that I am still just a kid at heart.
God is calling all of us no matter how old we are to know the joy of being His child. So what are you wearing today?
