Walking my dogs yesterday was a treat!
Not only do they love the apples from our trees, but my Golden Retriever loves to chase a thrown ball. He is aging,turning gray, and his health is slowing him down. But put that ball into play and he’s like that young pup we got some years back.
“Good Boy, Bailey! Release!” And sometimes he drops it at my feet and takes off running again to chase it across the yard! As I feed them, he finally drops the ball and I retrieve it with the chucker. Slobbery and dirty. I generally toss it back to toward the house and it cleans itself as it rolls through the grass.
Only… The leaves are falling and the ball blended in so well I could not find it!
The ball is there… Hidden by the shapes and colors of the fall leaves. I don’t find it the day it’s lost… But it’s there. Bailey’s sharp smelling nose stalks it out for another play day.
Makes me think about things getting lost in the mix of life. An appointment that continually gets missed because of distraction, or emergencies. The keys that never seem to be be where you left them. And, have you ever parked your car in a large lot only to forget where you left it? Did you go to the store and forget the most important item on your list? Or that overdue notice comes in and you are surprised that you haven’t paid it in advance?
Why do we forget the tasks of life? Why do we let things slip?
One says, “I’m to busy.” Another says, “I have too much to do.” Still, another might say, “I was called away ….” Sort of sounds like a lot of “excuses” instead of “reasons”.
As Christians we are commissioned a task that should be our main purpose of living. And each of has a task to do that is unique to our God given talents. Paul tells Timothy in his last few words of writings that we have:
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another–showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 MSG)
How can we forget the task we are assigned to accomplish? Often, it gets back to the excuses, and not a true reason.
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. (Matthew 25:24-28 NKJV)
Hidden from view does not excuse not getting something done. There is only so much precious time to finish what much be done, and you have no true excuse to explain away your actions.
So, take the tasks you have volunteered for, or been assigned, and wrap them up into a productive finish that you will hear those famous words…
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:23 NKJV)