I am in the final weeks of a decent semester, but I really don't want to keep pushing. There are many times in life where hardship looks bad: cancer, loss of a loved one, persecution. But the reality of my life is that most of my hardship appears in the form of drudgery. Long hours invested in projects with people who don't end up growing. Huge amounts of time put into projects for school that seem pointless. Putting priorities in place that mean that my yard is a wreak, but my school work is getting done. My kids have a parent at home, and I work until the project gets done, sometimes late into the night.
The reality is that of such sacrifices most greatness is build. Athletes spend years training for one single event. Which is over in a couple of seconds, or at most a few hours. I am in training- still - again - And training is drudgery for a cause. So long as I don't loose sight of the goal the details of my life are worth it.
Really it is not that much different than a terminal illness. The things that hold you to your course, and keep your spirits up are identical. Sleep deprivation and physical weakness are the enemies of faithfully reaching the end of the race. But the real problem is want to.
When Jesus speaks to the churches in Revelation, he is speaking to people not in seminary, and not in a cancer ward, but under persecution. And his charge over and over is to endure to the end. Somehow in God's providence there is room for us to make the choice to continue. The strength to make it is his, the ability to overcome is his, the Grace is all his. But somehow my human weakness is the place where a choice must be made.
So I will endure- and do my homework until the end. And then I will clean up that terrible yard.
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