The Day-To-Day

        by Jan Brinson

    Do you ever wonder about what day-to-day life looked like with Jesus and His disciples?  I get caught up in that thought when my days go awry and I am trying to just make it through.  Days so full of stress and complexities that I think, “Wow! You can’t make this stuff up!”  Those days wind up either in tears, arguments, or falling into bed with a prayer on my lips that tomorrow will be easier.  Then, the morrow comes with all the noise, confusion, frustrations, battles, family angst, and on and on. 

            “Boy, I wish I could have walked with Jesus and the disciples,” I think to myself.  “I am sure they had it so much easier—so much peace. Just imagine walking with Jesus every day. What a great time that must have been.”

            And then I hear the sound of brakes screeching to a halt! Woah! Easy? The Son of God walking here in the flesh on dusty roads, traveling from town to town in sandals with dirt between His toes, and always having to be aware that some wanted to run Him out of town.  Someone was always coming and pulling at His heart, His clothing, His mind, or His strength, asking for what they needed. Being so far from home must have been really hard. Imagine how tired and discouraged the disciples must have been at times.

            And here is where my rambling thoughts are taking me. Why do I have wonder about this? Because here is the truth of it. I can and should be more aware of what life with God looks like because I should be living it, which brings understanding. From the time I step into the Word, I begin to see life for what it is and what is expected. I may not be walking a dusty road with dirt between my toes, but I walk a complex road, nevertheless. 

            I know the Word of God and should be telling of Him whenever I can. I sometimes think that all the things we have in the present day are what keep me from spending the time I need to sit with God and trust Him. It takes away from my ability to use my time and talents for the things of eternity instead of this dusty road.  The disciples and Jesus had a single-mindedness that is hard for me to comprehend. The men He chose left everything for Him.  What have I given up to be with Him? There are so many distractions today that make it hard for me to settle. 

            I am tired. I wonder if it is my advanced age, after all, my t-shirt says, “I age so well that I have turned 25 three times!” But then I hear my younger sisters saying the same thing: “I am tired!”

            We need to be like Jesus. I need to be like Jesus. I need to rest when I am tired.  I need to walk away when it gets hard and regroup. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…. learn from me…. I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls” (paraphrased from Matthew 11:28-30).  I need to breathe it in, digest it, and live it. 

Even though I must keep one tiny tiptoe in this world, I want the rest of my being to be with Jesus. Will you join me in this?  Can we try to live with our hearts and minds with Jesus?  Amen!