Base
My kids are full of life and dwell in a reality of possibility that I have to work so much harder at just to keep up. They can manage to have a good time doing almost anything. Which we can all learn from.
A lot of times a simple walk through a store turns into a game of tag. One will quickly tag the other and yell; “YOU’RE IT!” Then sprint in the opposite direction.
As the one who is now ‘IT’ draws near, the runner will cling to the nearest appropriate object and yell; “BASE!”
A shopping cart.
A pillar.
A clothing rack.
Mom.
Anything will do. When the pressure is on even the most insignificant object can be a refuge of peace.
Eventually the game becomes pointless and boring as almost everything has been declared base and there is almost no more running.
Just a reach from one base to the next.
The excitement is gone. The kids move on to the next thing.
Life isn’t supposed to be a constant seeking of refuge. A desire to stay safe and close to base.
Sure there are times when you need to take a break from it all, but the point is to get out there and play.
i'm sitting here staring at the comment box and feeling so conflicted. all of me is nodding along in agreement with you, and at the same time all of me is longing to stay on "base" for a while. the running gets tiresome, even though i know it's the point.
sometimes i feel perplexed by the verses that say "do not grow weary…" how do we avoid that?? reality is… i AM weary. and i wanna just hang out on base till i'm not. but i know that will never happen. can never happen. life is lived "out there". long-beyond the safe distance of arm's length to base.
maybe even in the out there, He is my base. ever moving with me, not as a place i need to return to to refuel… but as the source of my strength, refuge, and freedom even when i'm running and weary. "here is the mystery: christ in you, the hope of glory."
i need to learn to tap into that base. constantly. consistently. ever aware of His nearness, His presence, His strength…
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Vince Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:51 am
it can take a lifetime to figure out that balance…I think you have a great handle on it already.
Find your rest Alece…then fly headlong into the next calling.
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alece Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
thanks, vince.
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wow. this is some good conversation …
I'm on base right now. Clinging to anyth9ing that could possibly give me refuge from some of life's recent storms. Why can't I cling to Jesus. Why can't I take life by the horns? What is holding me back from being everything that the Lord has called me to be? Why am I so complacent? Those are some of the questions I have been asking myself lately. I really don't have any answers right now. All I know is that I'm not suppose to run away from the one who saved me. I need to be constantly running toward Him.
[Reply]
Vince Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:53 am
"running toward him" True. You'll find 'base' along the way.
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