Working with Open Palms

I have been doing a Beth Moore study and last week she mentioned that ‘work is a good virtue unless it takes first place from God.’ As I am currently in limbo waiting to hear if I got a job that I interviewed for, that really is a primary concern. I have always worked part time while raising my children. The hours have always been mostly flexible, so while on the one hand I am excited about starting a new chapter of life (now that my kids are a little older), on the other hand I wonder how will I do it all? I have told almost everyone that has asked me about the job, that my only concern is that it is fulltime and I would really prefer 30 hours a week to 40. I know great moms that work full time, but I have often said there must be a secret society where they share the low down on how they actually get everything done. I am positive that I am not up for ‘superwoman’ status.

Alicia Keys sings “Even when I’m a mess, I still put on the vest with a ‘S’ on my chest, oh yes, ‘cause I’m a superwoman”. I think there are a lot of us that do try to put on that ‘S’ even though we are a mess. So what do we do? How do we continue to contribute, get everything done and still keep God front and center?

This week in the video Beth Moore alluded to the fact that we must put our open palm toward God. That many of us will say ‘Take it Lord” while still holding on with that pinky finger. How awkward is that? Try to hold on to something with just your pinky finger and the rest of your hand open. It hurts.

Work is so central to our lives. We were given dominion back in the garden and it is only natural that we use our abilities and skills to tame and settle our lives and the world around us. Work is a good gift that is to give us a purpose and focus, BUT it does tend to vie for primary purpose and focus, which is not its role. I would say even those in ministry must fight against the instinct to make their ministry the focus instead of God their focus. Let’s face it, we make our connections at work, we get pats on the back at work, we get empathy and sympathy at times from work (as we moan about working), we get a paycheck from work, we get stability in our day-to-day schedule from work. When I resigned to stay home with babies, I missed all that. I was blessed that my husband coerced me into staying home, but I did miss it.

Lately I have been drawn to Matthew 22. Actually that would not be true. I have not been drawn to it; it has continually stalked me, showing up in studies, in lessons, in thoughts.
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I have been trying to figure out how to do that. I have heard that you can tell what a person loves by how they spend their money and their time. I introduce a whole other concept here that we could spend countless hours looking at. How do I spend my money and time? Does it reflect a love for my maker and ‘neighbors’? But I think another important question is how do we develop that love for God and others?

It has been my experience that those I love most dearly I spend the most time with. And even in developing that love, time was required to deepen that love. Clearly I know we can’t all go to a monastery and spend hours and hours communing with God (technically I guess we could- but most of us won’t). Even if we could, I’m not saying that is necessary. Luckily we can talk to God anytime. However, I do think it necessary to set aside time specifically for Him. How can I learn to love Him if I don’t know him? How can I continue to love Him if I don’t communicate with Him?

I feel as though I am talking in circles today. But that’s okay too, because I just have to choose to hold my open palm out with no pinky finger involvement and say, “here it is, take it- take my job, take my time, take my money, take me, take my love, choose me and love me”.

I know it will be an ongoing struggle. Even now as I have a little more free time, I don’t always choose what is best. I don’t always spend the time I should learning about and loving my God, but regardless of my circumstances working for someone else, or working for my family, He is there.

Thank you Lord that you have always been and always will be reaching out to us. Even holding out my hand as high as I can, it still requires that you reach down to meet me. Thank you that you do reach down, and once again I say, here take it- take my work, my time, my money, my life, my love, choose me, love me, draw me close.