Part of the reason is that the past month was crammed full of events, extra days with chaplaincy, extra events with church, an advisory meeting at Cedarville, and the regular litany of Sunday events, church books and bible studies. Plus a couple of sick days.
I haven't had a good focused Biblestudy in about a month. My life hasn't fallen apart in a jungle of temptation, but things are starting to get a little unkempt, and the clarity of focus I starting to get a lot of competing ideas.
The reasons are about the same.
Today it took about three passes to get the grass under control, and obviously that took an extra long time. Even once done it looked a bit rough, the reason for that has to do with one blade on the mower being dull.
Coming back to scripture and focused prayer after a hiatus the results are a bit rough around the edges. The reason being that the mind stays sharp and the spirit keen, through regular use.
All that said, I mowed the grass today with the single biggest reason that both the grass, and my personal studies are a bit rough. My boys took turns riding on the mower with me today, all day long. That means extra stops and instructions on safety. And once or twice a stick got in the way of the steeringwheel making a sharp turn. But you know, it will do.
I read the Bible every night with my boys. It certainly isn't quite as "deep" when Silas is rolling on the floor, and you can't make it very far when they are tired, sleepy and wanting a drink. But it will do.
One day the boys will mow the lawn on their own, and if I do it right now, they will know a thing or two about gasoline, oil, batteries and safety, and then maybe I will have an extra two hours to study deeply, maybe.
One day I also hope that my boys will be studying the Bible on their own, and if I do my job right now, they will have the basic framework of the gospel, and the history of the Bible. While I check on how sharp the mower blade is, maybe.
It is realy tempting to wish for advantages that belong to another stage in life. Covetousness spring eternal.
But for now, my boys and I have matching sunburns, and They know Psalm 19:1 from memory. Who cares if the grass looks great, or what the Greek participle looks like?
