All In!?

I LOVE MY COMPARTMENTS!  In my office, I have this small wooden cabinet under my desk. Not 2 drawers. Not even 3 drawers. But 6 little drawers! I love them! My writing stuff are in one, my journals are in another, my son’s chemistry in the next, etc. These compartments feed into my OCD. They keep everything organized, clean, and predictable. There are no surprises. Just order. I love it!

Oh, and then there is my 19-year-old, female clutter-bug. It seems that “stuff” follows her wherever she is in the house. In the bathroom, for example, skin care products, toothpaste, jewelry, deodorant, hairbrushes, and make-up litter the counter, slowly invading her brother’s side like an infestation of dandelions in a perfectly manicured yard. I couldn’t do it anymore. So, we bought her a little box with cubbies, lots of cubbies, to neatly organize her chaos. Now, she is not only wonderfully accessorized, but also completely compartmentalized. I won her over! Woohoo!

Sounds like a good thing, right? Yes! Absolutely! But what about in our Christian lives? Our relationship with Jesus? Are we compartmentalized?

I think most of us would admit that we are very content conducting our spiritual lives that way. We have it down to a science, separated into compartments – completely predictable and utterly unsurprising.  I got my Sunday morning church compartment. My Bible study compartment. My prayer compartment. My “I hugged my kid today” compartment. My “I made a dinner for someone” compartment. My “Went on my mission trip” compartment.

I have my schedule, and I am sticking to it!

When I was younger, I characterized my walk with Christ by those Christianized events. In fact, my comfortable self prefers that direction.

However, a few years ago, the Lord started showing me the other side of this coin. My relationship with Him was much different than I understood it to be. He gave me Galatians 5:25, which says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit.” What does it mean to “keep in step”? I think it means that our Christian walk is a day by day, moment by moment relationship with our Heavenly Father. The journey of faith is messy. Unpredictable. Full of surprises. Different than we expected. In other words, NOT COMPARTMENTALIZED. NOT AT ALL! 

Have you ever heard his voice at the grocery store?

“Buy that young lady a candy bar and tell her about Jesus!”

Or at the doctor’s appointment?

“Pray with that nurse.”

Or during your morning routine?

“Bring over some banana bread to that neighbor today.”

“Apologize to your husband.”

“Play volleyball with your son.”

“Pray over your daughter tonight.”

“Get out of bed and pray for that sister who is hurting.”

“Write a note of encouragement to your friend.”

“Put down the dishes and rest at my feet right now.”

And then there is Shelley’s response…

“Really, now? That is not on my to-do list, Lord.”

Just the other day, I was going to an appointment. I really didn’t want to go. I would rather be at home in my compartment. And then God’s still small voice, “Be sure to bring some of your writing to share with whomever I tell you today.”

“Lord, really? I like my compartment. Can’t I just go to the appointment, lay low, and come home. Easy and predictable.”

I gave in begrudgingly, and then something miraculous happened. God showed up. I gave someone my writing, and they clung to it as if it was food for their thirsty soul. I was humbled.

If I hung out in my compartment that day, I would have missed the blessing.

And then there is ice cream…I love ice cream. 

Think for a moment about chocolate chip flavored ice cream. 

It consists of vanilla and chocolate chips. 

Two independent compartments jumbled together, but still distinctly separate.   

Me and Jesus.

Then there is fudge swirl. Chocolate gooey loveliness meandering through the vanilla.

Not as compartmentalized or separable. 

Jesus invading me while breaking down my compartments.

Will I let Him?

Then there is chocolate ice cream! 

Where is the vanilla? Where are the chocolate chips? Where is the fudge? 

Chocolate and more chocolate! One flavor. No compartments! 

Wait, where am I?  Where are my compartments?

All I see is Jesus!

Psalm 63:3 (ESV) 

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.