GOING IN CIRCLES

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with persevereance the race marked out for us."  Hebrews 12:1

I was sent a short clip recently of a kitten at the bottom of a children's slide.  Its diligent mother was coming down to the kitten, grasping it firmly at the beck of its neck as she carried it up to the top.  Just as she was dropping the kitten, another came out and promptly slid down the slide.  So the mother cat repeated her actions over and over in a continuous loop.  At first I laughed at seeing the kitten come down the slide.  It didn't take long however to see the mother's side and the Herculean efforts involved to keep her babies safe as she repeated this endless circle.

I would prefer to think that I am smarter than the average cat; but how much time have I wasted going in circles spiritually?  How much time have I wasted in thinking I can do it without first praying about it?  I am so thankful our God patiently waits for me.  I have had lots of time to think about this while traveling all over Kitsap county.  Access bus rides are wonderful, but sometimes it takes an hour or more to go between Silverdale and Bremerton.  We go in circles again and again, past Applebees to the Bainbridge Island ferry and back again through Bremerton, Port Orchard and Silverdale.

What happened when that mother cat became frustrated and overwhelmed?  I must admit sometimes I do this when I'm tired; my life goes up and down, around and around until I come to my senses.  I remember God knows I am struggling and is waiting for me to turn to him.  Effortlessly He scoops me up (like a helpless kitten) and tucks me under his wing until I regain my strength and common sense.

Recently my left shoulder was injured and the diagnosis was torn shoulder tendons and physical therapy was the cure. Meanwhile, both wheels of my wheelchair still need equal amounts of strength to keep moving forward in a straight line. This temporary setback puts me in a good position to think about life's circles, as my shoulder tweaking has forced me to slow down when I start circling to the left again and again!

I have another kind of circle that blesses me daily, y wonderful circle of friends. They are rooted and grounded in God and always are on the lookout for ways to help, including pushing me in my chair. The best circle of all, is God's. God's love flows down to us, surrounding us and we can only return a small portion of it. However, when I keep myself so busy just making noise, I end up too busy or tired to listen........

Some might call this independence; I call this idiocy on my part.  God's circle is full of peace, love and joy that surpasses what this world offers.  Why in the world do I choose a more difficult circle?  Why am I so stubborn?  Whatever the reason, I am humbled and foreever grateful for God's compassion and mercy.  And for His love that sometimes means slowing down.