“Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love.” John 15:9
Enthusiasm waned in perfect inversion to the length of the day’s shadows. The time had finally come to end the work and return home, which was dictated by both light and energy. The path he walked seemed inclined in all directions as he began the long walk home. Each step trudged along with heel barely higher than the sole.
The workman had been poured out. There was nothing left. He had given his all. Effort and more effort lay all about him but he was glad to be done at least until dawn. He was well accustomed to the long treading of the trail home and happily started upon his routine.
Within sight of rest, random ruminations were rudely ruined by the wreckage caught in the corner of his eye. A familiar plot, normally flourishing, lay ravished. He had never paid much attention but he had remembered this small garden as blooming and inviting, well maintained and refreshing but that was not this evening.
The workman did not know when it was wrecked. Had it been today? Could it have been some time ago? He did not know. It was not his plot. It was not his responsibility. He could walk on by and no one would care. He could turn the other way and no one would stare. He could leave this destruction for another without despair.
But that was not his way.
The workman lived amongst destruction. He knew it well. The gardens he tended were strewn with munitions; bombs buried beneath every patch. Inattentive tilling could trigger untold devastation with years of lost effort. The workman knew that some bombs were buried deep and hard to trip while other were exposed and ready to explode with a breath.
He could see several mines that would inevitably be tripped by someone less attentive and unaware. He could not simply move on. It was not his way. With a sigh, he wearily stepped out of his routine and into the blast zone of this particular plot. It was now his problem since he too would be effected by any mis-step.
The workman moved quickly with the skill of a sapper and defused all that he could readily see. It was not hard. It simply took care and gentleness to remove the danger. Yet, his heart broke over the destruction. This plot had been stripped of all pleasantness; left barren and uninviting.
U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician
The workman returned to the pathway where he had left his satchel. He removed a small delicate flower. It was all that he had left and it was all that he could give. He carefully opened the soil in the heart of the plot and planted this small gift…a flower.
A believer’s heart is the garden where Christ has planted this sweet flower of his love. It is the channel through which the golden stream of his affection runs. ~ Thomas Watson
It had been a long day and the last thing he wanted to do was to stop for some fuel. However, he did want to get home so where wasn’t really a choice. So, he broke his routine and reluctantly swung his pickup into the gas station. A swipe of the credit card through the fuel pump produced the annoying message “See Attendant”. This was not the desired result for someone who just wants to get home. Another swipe of a different card produced the same results. “What a waste of time” was all he thought as he wearily trudged toward the store with heels barely higher than the soles.
He saw the familiar face of the attendant standing behind the counter as he entered the store. However, her faced somehow seemed to be a mere shadow of itself. As his turn in line came, the workman gave his usual greeting. The reply was far from usual. It was terse, verging on rude. A quick glance into her eye caught a tear turning into a glare.
Clearly, something had happened that had wrecked her normally jovial spirit. Had it been today? Could it have been some time ago? He did not know. He didn’t really know her. It was not his responsibility. He could walk out and no one would care. He could not engage and no one would stare.
He could leave her in despair but that was not his way…he said a prayer, it was time to get to the real work of the day, for he was a loving sapper.
PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for your love. Help me to love others as you have loved me and your Father has loved you. Help me to not ignore the hurting around me. Help me to not selfishly protect myself from other’s issues. Give me a heart the feels and desires to heal. Give me the desire to share the sweet flower of your love that it may flow with your affection into the hearts of the hurting. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
A DEVOTED LIFE 