Years ago during a continuing battle with the ballet school to respect our Sunday morning mass we had to cave on the Wednesday night service. Even the staunchest atheist knows Wednesday is not a sabbath.
The owner of the ballet school said,
“I am sure God will understand that you need to be here at ballet…”
To which I thought, yes I suppose He will.
Recently I have thought about this again. My star barista went through a time when she worked weekends and could not attend either the Saturday evening vigil mass or any of the Sunday masses because of her shift hours. I don’t think she minded and at first I didn’t mind but then I began to think, did God mind?
And as her parent, should I say something?
I did. But was it enough?
And would it have made a difference anyway in the light of walking the talk of today’s luke warm Christians?
Today I no longer believe God will not mind this putting of Him second. A re-reading of the ten commandments and a teaching from one of my devotionals, Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell, brought this truth home to me anew.
God commands Moses and the Israelites,
“I am the Lord your God…you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20: 2-3)
My heart started to beat really fast as it dawned on me for the first time ever (and I’m a cradle Christian back from the days of ponies and traps), that God does mind playing second fiddle.
He minds a lot…that he doesn’t strike me down for putting him at the back of the queue is a measure of His unconditional love and respect for me…that I don’t always (well hardly ever), put Him first is a measure of my lack of love and respect for Him.
Why aren’t I in a permanent prostrate position before He who created me?
Why do I have more time for my computer and my books, my food and my exercise than I do for He who saved me?
Why, when someone has a good word for me do I glow yet I fail to acknowledge the state of grace I bask in daily?
What gives me the right to treat God as I would a family member…saying over and over again, as I make excuses for my weaknesses and unreliability, he won’t mind, she won’t mind, he won’t mind…?
And yet God loves me, He chose me, He gave me a choice and He watches and hopes I will put no other gods before Him but very often I do. And because He’s God He does mind, He minds a lot and that should bother me.
He minds a lot because He loves me more and wants His perfect will for me to play out in my imperfect life.
By professing to being a Christian I should be transformed, then I wouldn’t be able to put Him second.
Close your eyes and imagine what your life could be like by putting God first.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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