Inconsistencies ..... Taking out the lumps.

Inconsistencies ..... Taking out the lumps.

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."  Phil. 3:10 

I just bought a used Vitamix Blender.  It was an expensive but necessary step for me, largely due to our son Andrew's impending jaw surgery.  I had a Cuisinart one and it did a decent job of making smoothies as long as you could tolerate the occasional larger pieces of ice, fruit, or whatever sucked up through or stuck in your straw.  Now the vitamix is a different animal altogether with a two horsepower motor literally crushing everything thrown into the blender.

One "lump" in my life inhibiting the consistency of a smooth, faithful walk with my Lord was brought to the surface this summer.  I flew to Hawaii to assist our daughter Melissa and family with their second move on the island.  I was apprehensive due to the length of the flight and my economy seat purchase.  Ten hours plus is a long ride in a cramped "tin can".

Due to frugality, I specifically prayed to the Lord for a "miracle" ... the free provsion of an extra legroom seat en route. When I got on the plane, I was thrilled to discover my seat in the far back of one section had ample leg room and even a section behind my seat for storage.  It was wonderful and I thanked the Lord ... all was well!   My delight was short lived.  Within a couple of minutes, a woman my age got on the plane to sit next to me and immediately asked if I would consider changing seats with her daughter who was about seven rows up as she would like to sit next to her. I thought to myself, "I don't want to move. This seat is great. Plus, there is a man with huge headphones sitting next to the daughter and who knows how that will go for 10 hours."

So, I told the woman that I would think about it but that this seat was carefully selected due to leg space, etc. As the trip went on and as I listened to "praise" music on my headphones, I thought to myself, "Lord, what would you do here?" (as if I was unaware).  While disdaining WWJD bracelets, I briefly allowed myself to imagine having to sit next to a stranger when one of my own precious daughters was in a plane for 10 hours. I begrudgingly then said to the woman, "If your daughter would like to switch with me, I am willing to switch with her."  I later learned the daughter was a mother of quadruplets and had never gotten  a chance to get out or do anything by herself since their birth four years ago. The daughter then says to me after I had offered, "I think my seat is one of those extra leg room seats because it is stated on the tray in front of me."

Well, I literally laughed out loud that I almost missed the "miracle" of an extra leg room seat due to my own selfishness! I then had the privilege of sitting next to a 30 year old man whose title is, "Chief, Cyber Defense Analysis" for our government, United States Pacific Command, and who more importantly is a born again Christian from South Carolina and a pastor's kid!!!!! We excitedly talked for hours and the trip seemed (at least to me:) to last only a few hours instead of 10. Isn't that absolutely amazing!!!!! The woman and her daughter ended up being so grateful and the Lord allowed me to bless them as He blessed me.   I needed to hear the gracious, inspiring words the man had to share with me as a black man in an often prejudiced world and he needed to hear the words I spoke of blessing to a pastor's kid old enough to be my own son.   

So, although the consistency of my life can often be more lumpy than I would like, I am thankful the God of this universe holds the Resurrection power of Christ at His disposal.  And, he gracously pours it out within His own precious children making the inconsistencies smooth, little by little.  Hopefully, I will not soon forget this lesson  next "trip" around!