Do'er 2

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”  Revelation 2:17 NIV

I’ve written about this topic in the past, but I feel like I am being guided through the journey again, albeit from a slightly different perspective.  I am amazed at how God can use the same verse or same thought in my head to teach totally different lessons. 

Have you ever had a nickname that just sort of fit you?  A few years ago, I helped organize a men’s retreat on a cattle ranch.  It was a great weekend.  Ironically, we castrated cattle for one of our jobs to help the landowner.  That is not really relevant, just ironic to emasculate anything on a men’s retreat, but we did.  The weekend was centered around the verse at the top of this page. we were each to ask God - “You know the man you had in mind when you made me.  Who do you know me as?”

On day two of that weekend, we sent each man out with a mission to explore that question with God.  We each went out to find somewhere solitary and search for that answer.  We had maybe 30 or so guys spread out all over the countryside, but many of us ended up with an amazingly similar experience. 

The ranch had a lot of trees.  On that day it seemed like there must have been a million starlings in those trees.  They were loud in unison.  Interestingly, I remember sitting there trying to find quiet but being sort of annoyed by the birds.  However, I started to notice a similar sound from the unified noise of all those birds.  “Do’er”. 

The sound of hundreds of birds gave me the unmistakable answer.  God called me “Do’er”.  Yes, I know it sounds crazy.  But I know many men who heard names from within those birds that day, each was unique to the hearer.  I guarantee anyone who attended that weekend will remember it.  It was powerful. 

At the time I was active in more than one role in our church.  I was busy.  Maybe I was too busy but at the time I took it as confirmation that my spiritual walk involved me being busy.  Back then I thought of it more as a confirmation than a word of caution. 

If I compare my outlook then to today, I have learned something.  Busy can be okay.  Sometimes busy is needed, there can be a lot to do.  However, busy can also be a trap.  If all I ever do involves activity, even if those activities are inherently good, I can rob myself of the solitude needed to connect with God.  Moreover, I can start to think that I am necessary. 

Don’t get me wrong, I think God has things planned for each of us to do.  The bible tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  However, it is easy to get the activity confused with connection.  Sometimes the activity leads to connection.  But sometimes the activity gives us connection to other people that, while valid, is not a substitute for solitude with the Savior. 

I still ask God that question first posed sitting under all of those trees.  My wife and I have started attending a church that is new to us.  I have no doubt God guided the journey we’ve taken from one place perfect for my family to a second place perfect for my family.  Maybe that will be its own topic to write about in the future, but I have wondered how to engage, what should I be doing, and there is that name again – “Do’er”.  This time it seems like the consistent answer is “sit still”.  My wife and I are spiritually hungry right now.  Korbin seems to be as well and my willingness to sit still for that mission from God is very high. 

I know God will guide as He see’s fit.  I also know He can make it pretty obvious sometimes because I am sort of think skulled, but I am looking forward to the conversations.

Do you ever turn off everything?

Do you ever sit still, not while you are driving - still?

Challenge:  God wants us, but He doesn’t really need us to accomplish saving the world.  He can do that on His own.  Can you imagine anything better than God wanting our attention.  Conversely, we need Him, but don’t necessarily want Him in every aspect of our life.  We should. 

If you do not do so already, make a habit of turning off the noise, for even five minutes.  Be consistent in your effort to sit still.  You might be surprised what – or who - you hear. 

Rick Claiborn