“I don't want to walk today. I'm tired and I don't want to walk." I said the words out loud, but nobody was listening because once again I was sitting on the side of the road all by myself. I was about 1500 miles into my 4000-mile journey and I felt confident that day that I was crazy to have begun such a long walk. Perhaps this morning you are in the middle of a very long journey.
I could see a town just up ahead and I made it my goal to get there and find a place to quit for the day. I walked into town and found its only motel, which was less then inviting. Its red carpet was threadbare and it smelled of rancid smoke, but I didn't care because I didn't want to walk that day. I laid the money for the room on the counter and then hesitated for a moment and withdrew the fifty dollars. The desk clerk who had a cigarette burning in a nearby ashtray looked me up and down, "You want a room or not?" Perhaps you are considering quitting for the day.
"Hey Miss, you want a room?" I shook my head and turned to leave. Something in me, something very small but very persistent nudged me back out the door. The desk clerk mumbled a "humph" under her breath and I opened the door and walked back out into the light. Perhaps you would consider listening to that small nudge.
The whole earth outside that door was brown. I'm told South Dakota is always blanketed in an earth tone but it seemed especially dull that day. It didn’t help that the terrain was flat as far as the eye could see and it’s always difficult to get motivated when everything looks the same. As I squinted in the sunlight I did see a small rise in the road and I decided to make that my first goal. Perhaps if you look closely you will find a small rise in the road…your first goal.
I'd like to tell you that walking for Jesus is a piece of cake, or even that everyday I experience something spectacular, but the reality is there is a whole lot of earth tone in my walk with Jesus. In fact a good share of the days that I get up and walk out my faith are more about a decision than a desire, more about my will than my “want-to”.
I can tell you however that there are moments within these disciplined days that God gives me a peek at the brilliant and the breathtaking. I won't make this a rule or anything, but I would say that most of glimpses have happened after I've made the decision to walk in the earth tone world. Perhaps today you will override your “want-to” and continue the discipline of walking.
On that particular day somewhere near Presho, South Dakota God broke into my brown world and gave me enough of a glimpse to keep going. You know that small rise in the road, my first goal for the day? Well it took me about an hour to travel to that small rise and I worked for every step. I recall singing a few songs but mostly I just remember that I watched my feet…step….step…step.
As I came over that little ridge I gasped and then began to cry. Not a sad cry, but rather a hysterical, laughing sort of cry. There in front of me bloomed a billion sunflowers in the middle of the earth tone world. As far as I could see, their smiling faces were lifted to the sun. I ran into the field and sat down amongst them and as I swayed back and forth I felt like one of them. I must have been quite a sight from the interstate sitting but I didn't care because I was embraced by pure joy for on that day, the day I didn't want to walk, God broke in with something brilliant. Perhaps today there will be glimpses of something breathtaking and brilliant…you will never know unless you keep on walking.
This month in chapel we will be talking about Growing in Christ-like Character which grown best when we decide to keep on walking a disciplined walk with Jesus. I hope you will decide to walk with us this month and I pray also that together we will catch glimpses of the brilliant things that God is doing.
This morning in chapel we will celebrate together Hispanic Heritage Month. In honor of the celebration our own Lorenzo Florian will be leading us in worship along with Father Joseph Tito, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy who will be bringing the message to us today. We invite you to join us this morning as we worship together in song and in prayer and in joining together in communion around the Lord’s Table.
Come and catch a glimpse of something brilliant.
