Spent the morning today at the foundry cleaning out an old inventory supply area that had turned into a catch all for anything that folks wanted out of their office, but didn't necessarily want to throw away. Files, old computers, furniture, and miscellaneous bolts, nuts, bearings, castings, supplies...My goodness, when I say that the place was a bit cluttered, I mean it was impossible to even walk through. So with roll-away container nicely situated outside two windows, we commenced to going through and throwing away a century's worth of accumulation.
About mid-way through, my Dad came out and started questioning some of the items that were being tossed. Old bearing assemblies (30 plus years old), bolts, random office items...see to him, some of these things still had value. And given just the right circumstances, he was probably right. The problem is, the right circumstances would take nothing short of a miracle to align so really, the only value that almost any of it had was sentimental. It's funny, I actually had to walk him out of the area so that the guys could continue with the cleaning. Within about 3 or 4 hours, we had completely emptied the place.
As I was sitting back at my desk for a few minutes before running to watch Ed play a basketball game, I started to reflect on Dad's concern for things and his attachment that was so evident. The things that I consider with such low esteem, he looked at completely differently, and would have stopped us all together had he not understood the vision for what that area could be...and of course the eyesore that it was to all of us before.
Immediately, God zoned in on that thought of my Dad and basically said, "Who are you to talk? You have been fairly attached to things laying around in the rooms of your heart as well, you know."
Whoa. Part of me hates it when He starts using examples out of my own life...Generally, it means He is about to expect some change from me.
"From the time that you have asked me into your heart, you have been willing for Me to come into some areas of your life, but you have jealously guarded other areas. You placed a value on things in those areas that really does not belong there, because you see, I would have to orchestrate the perfect set of circumstances for that value to be realized. And what you are not willing to see is that those circumstances are not in my plan right now. But in fact, the things I do have planned for you will bring a value that you cannot measure in to your life now. However, as long as you have those areas closed off to me, I don't have room to lay my plans out before you."
Man, I'm telling you, the picture could not have been clearer to me. After all, it was just me who was using this logic with my Dad to encourage him to let go of things from the past so that we could move into, first the present, and then the future without all this baggage. So immediately, I prayed...
Lord, help me to open the entirety of my heart to you. Reveal to me the areas that I have not given you authority over and strengthen my resolve to give them over to you and leave them there. In the name of Jesus, I lay me down in order that You may fill me up. Amen.
It's a message that I am being handed quite a bit these days. The Lord wanting more of me, while I try to figure things on my own. Slowly but surely, I think, He is wearing me down. Slowly but surely, I know, He is making me more like Him.
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Ed, I do believe God wears down the part of us that won't or can't glorify Him. But, I believe He simultaneously build us up so we can be strengthened in the face of adversity.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. This is going to make you a better business owner and manager.