Done And REDone

II Corinthians 7:10 -- "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation: but the sorrow of the world produces death."  [NASB]

image: digitaltrends.com

Listening for that wonderful hiss, I pressed the middle cup size button on my Keurig and awaited that glorious aroma of dark roasted Arabica beans. The gurgle of hot water filling the K-Cup enhanced my anticipation and my stomach gurgled ever so slightly. I started to reach for the cream so conveniently nestled into its little cradle just inside the door of the fridge when my eyes caught something as I turned my head.

Drawing up my nose and pulling my eyes  into a critical squint I leaned in closer to the miracle that is Keurig. There! A very fine layer of dust had settled on top of the sleek black and faux chrome finish of my coffee machine. But I just dusted the thing two days ago! How can it already look as if its been neglected in some lonely basement filled with discarded cardboard boxes and tiny whips of spider webbing!?

Ugh!

I figured out why I hate housework so much! It doesn't matter how often I dust, do the dishes, or finish up the laundry - those chores are never truly done. There is always MORE! Even as the dishwasher hums away with steam billowing out from the top and the dryer buzzes with it's annoying cycle finished indicator - the sink has already accumulated three dishes in it - and the basket in my closet designated "lights" has already been half REfilled!

Grrrrrr - mumble mumble mumble - and gripe!

I COULD just walk away. Ignore my Swiffer as I grab that first eye-opening cup of coffee of the day and slip into the seat by the back door to listen to the birds sing and watch the sun come up. I really COULD. ....just pretend all of the household stuff is really finished. But alas - what good will that do? If I go ahead and clean the Keurig now I'll keep the dust from growing and ultimately exploding into little dust bunnies that multiply like their namesake and end up floating away into the air only to set up some weird dust bunny community on the blades of the ceiling fan.

Fine. I'll grab the duster....

Which got me to thinking. WE are much like the never-ending list of things to do around the house are we not? We are not ever really complete. The work our Lord began on us, in us, and through us is never truly finished. We are continuously growing, learning ... experiencing God's grace.

There will never be a time during my earthly life when I can sit back and say - oh, I'm done. I've no more things for which to be held accountable. I have made no more mistakes and have absolutely no new thing for which I need forgiveness.

The GOOD news is - unlike my ever growing list of chores - MY daily growth is a beautiful and marvelous thing. When Jesus fills me with conviction or inspiration, it is a good, good thing. There is no regret in my righteous spiritual sorrow for things I've done that need God's mercy. Obviously, I don't need to set out to require forgiveness, but the deep ache I feel when I make a mistake is a pure thing - a growing pain if you will. The gift is an awareness of my Lord and Savior.

So - I really DON'T want the sweet To Do list of Jesus Christ as it may pertain to my life to be truly finished.

Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish philosopher in the 1800's, once said: "Of all acts of man, repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none."

NOW - I can sit down and watch the day wake up. I can smile to myself as the bright red Cardinal chases squirrels off the bird feeder in the back yard. I can sip on my coffee with a grin as sunlight slowly infiltrates the dense crop of trees in the forest behind our house and I listen to the wonderful sounds that indicate Thursday is up and running.

I'm so very thankful that Jesus isn't finished with me yet. I will always be in need of a REdo or a NEWdo.

Pretty sweet.

Once And Future Joy

Jeremiah 31:4b -- "Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."

image: "Tabourine Dancer" by Eggleston

Soft, cool, lush grass sprung under bare feet and tree leaves danced on whimsical breezes. Dew drops sparkled with fresh morning sunlight while brightly colored birds sang loudly - unintimidated by the couple who walked hand in hand through a perfect nature.

There was no love deeper than the love gifted to them by their Father. And with Him they would spend hours walking through the amazing and brand new earth.

What joy! What light - shining around them as their Creator joined them on this daily stroll. It seemed that nothing could keep them apart from Him. Nothing could tarnish their love of their Lord and their deep ache to meet with Him, talk with Him, love Him. I can picture it so clearly when I shut my eyes. I can nearly smell the lush beauty growing around them, hear the gently gurgling brooks, and taste the pristine fruit growing so ready and ripe on low hanging branches.

Sheer perfection.

Don't you ache for that? When bombarded with depressing arguments over public bathrooms, inconsiderate and self-absorbed commuters, terrorism, and economic destruction don't you ache for the long-awaited opportunity to bow low at the feet of Jesus and love him in person?

I do.

And the wonderful thing is - we will! Jeremiah 31:4 reminds us that we will once again take up our musical instruments and go out to dance with the joyful. There is our hope, our light - our once and future joy! This cacophony of human discord and imperfection is but a fleeting moment. This place is not our treasure. It is not our home. It's only a short blink of the eye.

Dear Jesus, thank you so much for the gift of your blood as you took all of my sin upon your shoulders on the cross. Thank you for your hope. Thank you for the gift of future joy. Thank you for the earthly dances you have gifted to me and for the great and wonderful jubilee that is to come.