SHOWING UP
"There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard'”. “I will not” the son answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. The son answered, “I will, sir” but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?" - Mt 21:28-31
On most days I try to be like the first son. God calls to me but I question, hesitate, and stumble. In the end I show up but not without a bit of resistance. On some days though I'm clearly the second son. I hear His invitations but I never show up. This can happen when I screw up, and lost in an emotional fog of shame and self-contempt I turn my back to Him. These are the days I call in sick to God. Conversely, there are times when everything is going so well that I feel so on top of the world that I forget about Him. These are the days when I don’t have time for God. It’s this pattern that continues to show me how the spiritual journey is indeed blue collar work. It's not easy nor glamorous, and indeed can be humbling. It’s where actions speak louder than words. In this way I liken the walk with God to something my Dad used to say, “Son, it's not what you do for work that matters, but that you show up every single day”.
Through the highs and lows of life, His gentle and loving invitation is there. Let us take a few moments in stillness as we hear Him say “Go and work today in the vineyard.”
Albert