Once again Cass ( Zoe’s puppy) has taught me a great theological truth. I was reflecting on how easily dissuaded we become from pursuing Jesus with our whole being. We start off with good intentions but somehow we lose the energy of the pursuit.
I have noticed something about Cass. Zoe brings him in on a leash each morning. As he enters the building and sees me he begins to pull with all his might. Everything about him indicates that nothing is going to stop him from getting to me to shower me with wet kisses and an entire body that is wiggling with joy to see me. Cass barely weighs 4 pounds but when he sees me he can pull Zoe across the room against her will to get to his target. She may pull against him and chastise him to wait for a minute but that doesn’t stop him. His size (or lack thereof), things going on in the room, and Zoe telling him he can do it later, do not stop him. He is being moved by his passion.
Then it came to me. It is not a busy schedule, it is not aches or pains, it is not inconvenience that stops us from hot pursuit of Jesus on a daily basis. It is the result of a passion that has cooled over the years. Once it was sheer joy to rise early or stay up late to dig out another nugget from the scripture or to carve out time to sit in HIS presence to bask in HIS love. But now it is easy for the “to do list” to overcome our “to be with” list. To allow times when we might not feel as energetic to give license to skip intimacy with Jesus that day.
Cass is teaching me if you “really” love someone nothing will stop you from getting to them. No one can prohibit you showering them with all your love. That is it is inconvenient for others to have to witness your display of affection, so what. After all, Jesus made a pretty spectacular display of HIS affection on the cross.
I am asking the Holy Spirit to stoke the fire of my heart with passion. As a song says, “I don’t want to be a flickering flame, I want to be a raging fire”.
Hope to see you in the Tea Room soon,
Elizabeth