You thought we were done with the museum analogy, didn't you! Well, I thought we were too. But then God kept drawing more and more of a picture for me and I thought I would share it with you.
So, we were talking about how we have the potential to get stuck in the "lobby" of life - spiritual or otherwise - and have no desire to go further with God. Like my girls, in the lobby of the museum, quite content to play on the airplane and had no clue what they were missing. But I knew. And finally was able to get them to come exploring with me.
What I want to mention in this post is what happens when we do go further. And let me continue to use my girls at the museum as the example. My girls are 6 and 1.5. It was important for them to stick with me. Especially my youngest. Being so small and so young she needed to either be holding my hand or within arm's length of me at all times. We weren't the only ones at the museum that day and statistically speaking, not everyone was there for respite from the snow...if you know what I'm saying. So its important for her to stick close. She's still learning to listen to my voice and gets distracted by every shiny sparkly thing. So I stay extra close to her when she gets distracted...until she learns to stay extra close to me.
My baby doesn't understand the dangers that are out there. On this particular day at the museum, part of the building was sectioned off for some new exhibits. Had she gone into those areas, she might have been hurt. She didn't realize that, but I did. And it was my job to steer her clear of potential danger, no matter how interesting the tape and tarps looked.
Now Rachel, my 6 year old, has a bit more freedom. She doesn't need to be holding my hand all the time. But she certainly needs to keep her ears trained for my voice. And she knows if she doesn't respond to my voice immediately (or within the next 3 seconds!) her "freedom leash" gets yanked a bit short. We have a rule that she needs to be able to see me at all times. If she can't see me, she's gone too far. This allows her to have the freedom she needs to grow and make good choices (and not feel like I'm suffocating her with my presence!) and yet still maintain protection under my watch. She knows major danger when she sees it and is wise enough to stay away. But there are still other potential hazards that at her young age she may not be aware of. So its my job to allow her in a safe way to learn wise choices. All under the umbrella of my protection.
Can you see the parallels? There are many. MANY my friends. And to keep you from feeling like I don't think you have a brain, I'll let you draw some conclusions on your own. But let me just state two.
Never would I let my girls go where I am not. How foolish would I be to let my girls run alone through the museum! In the same way, WHEREVER God leads you, He never lets you go alone. It may be all new to you, but never to Him.
Though museum staff was walking around available to help if needed, Rachel knows who her final authority is. She may take suggestions from them, but she would never leave with them. It would go against what her momma had told her. Spiritually speaking, when God takes us to a new place, there will probably be others there, ahead of us, with some semblance of authority. And though following their lead may be helpful at times, God is our final authority and the One we listen to. If what others say or do goes against what God says, we stick with what God says.
This is obvious when written, right? You're thinking, "Duh!" But here's the thing. In real life scenarios we seem to forget the obvious. Especially when the obvious is unseen. Could I be so arrogant as to ask you to read through this again and pick out the other "obvious" parallels that you see? Maybe there's a word for you in it. Maybe just a reassurance. I know that one simple trip to the museum for some momma/daughter time has turned into a spiritual pause for me.
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