Take My Life

Ministerial Meandering

Take my life

I was with a someone recently whose wife is slowly dying.  He said to me that she was not afraid of death, and that the scenario that we found ourselves in was perfectly comfortable for him.  I found that reassuring for all the people in the room, though I got the impression that perhaps some of the younger ones weren’t quite ready to feel comfortable about their demise just yet.

For me, as for many of you, life has been a roller-coaster of a ride - and it’s not over yet; but it’s also OK with me if it suddenly is.  If my heavenly Father thinks it’s time to call me home - and I’ve done as much damage here below as He’s prepared to let me get away with - then I’m not going to complain.  Sure, I’d like a few more years - because I’d still like to think that I can be useful in some way or another.  But if that doesn’t happen I hope I won’t be whining about it.

My outlook on life has changed in the last five years, and I have begun to see things from a different perspective.  When you stop thinking in terms of ten - or even five-year plans, and bring your sights down to something that looks more like this week - or even this day - then what matters most is that we learn to find enjoyment in all things.  I could even learn to like the jerk in the gym who must give everyone advice, and delights in telling me what I should be doing.  I must ask him next time; ‘Did you just read the book on ‘How to be a nauseating prat - for Dummies’, - or does it just come naturally to you?’  And then I’ll tell him I forgive him for being one anyway.

But there is something more that I’m trying to understand; how to find the right path to tread.

In the Royal Navy - indeed, in the Military in general - a notice of Daily Orders (or its equivalent) is posted on prominent notice boards throughout a ship or on a military base each day, so that all service men and women will know what rig (uniform) to wear, what exercises, drills, and other evolutions are due for the day, where they should be and when, who is on duty watch - and so on.  It means that there is no excuse for not being where you should be and doing what you are supposed to be doing at any time of the day or night.  Although it sounds very prescriptive - and it is - there is a lot of comfort in knowing that you are doing a good job for an organization that you respect, and that you can reasonably expect to see results.  Within the framework of such Daily Orders there is still a lot of personal freedom, and that started with you choosing to join the Military in the first place.  I remember a colleague of mine going for an interview at the Ministry of Defence, and having waited for a considerable time, he was told he would have to wait even longer.  “That’s fine, sir,” he replied, “my time is the Navy’s.”

My first instinct had been to reach for a paper bag, but a split second of reflection made me realize what a comfortable viewpoint he was expressing.  He was happy to be where he was wanted and doing what he wanted.  He had no-one else to answer to.  The same is true of our lives with Jesus.

Following His Daily Orders is not only a duty but a pleasure, and when my days get long and tiring, I take a moment before I complain to think that I asked each morning for the strength to follow His Daily Orders, in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Of course, I don’t always manage it, but in that case I’ve only got myself to blame, so there’s no point in whingeing.

So if I take my life - and give it to God, then whatever I get back has got to be a bonus.

Philip+