The Words’ Words

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The Father, Son, and Spirit love the Word. And this Triune God has tried to let us know, in the most understandable way possible, that They personify the Word:

The Word.

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2)

Despite Their efforts to make this supernatural mystery understood by us non-supernaturals, we still have trouble getting it, getting Them. All we can do is nod our heads and in an effort to receive the truth say, “Ok, I believe you.”

But that doesn’t seem like enough. Is there any other way to join the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and His Son Jesus in honoring Them as the Word They are?

In a Bible passage familiar to many of us (Deuteronomy 6), They’ve given us some ideas of what we can do. They’ve told us to make Scripture, which is made up of Their words, part of our everyday lives, talking about it, teaching it, basing our decisions on it, lifting it up as the ultimate Authority. They’ve also suggested wearing biblical words on jewelry or clothing, whatever it will take to remind us regularly of the principles of the Word. They’ve even recommended writing them on our walls and doors.

In other words They’ve said, “Infuse every part of every day with Our Word. Make it natural to talk about Us any time and all the time, not just on special occasions. Set prompts around your homes as reminders to speak about Our importance, and if it helps, devote wall space to Scripture plaques and biblical artwork in your homes.”

The Deuteronomy verses tell us that doing these things will be evidence of wholehearted commitment to the Word, Father, Son, and Spirit, as well as an acknowledgement of our soul-love for These Three.

I saw some of this love-of-the-Word at Linnea and Adam’s house last week (wall art from Galatians 5) adorning a prominent corner in their living room.

The Word

Scripture is honored in their other rooms, too, as it is at my house, at my sister’s, and others I know. Biblical words are even carved in granite throughout our nation’s capitol, a testimony to the impact it has had (They have had) on our history.

May we jump at every chance to honor the Words’ words in what we say and do, lifting Them high every day, in every way.

“Repeat [the Word’s words] again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

Watching

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As Birgitta, Emerald, and I flew from Florida to Michigan on Monday, our 3 suitcases went a different route than we did. I glanced back after our curb-side check-in, just to be sure all 3 pieces of luggage made it to the conveyor belt, because we had high hopes of seeing them again at baggage claim.

They made it, and we did, too.

TSA note

Later that night when I opened my suitcase to unpack, I found a note left inside by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Apparently they’d taken the liberty of opening my bag and digging around inside for contraband, and they wanted to let me know that.

It said, “At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.” It’s a bit unsettling to picture a stranger pawing through my personal effects without my permission, but nobody asked.

Then again, nobody asks any of us if they can inspect us as we go through life, and many people are doing that. We’re all being watched by someone, parents by their children, teachers by their students, neighbors by other neighbors, clergy by church members, and even strangers by strangers. People are inspecting us, whether we give them permission or not.

But it goes the other way, too: each of us is watching others.

I remember as a young mom carefully observing women who were a bit ahead of me in their child rearing, watching carefully how they handled their babies. I had many questions, and seeing how they did things helped immensely. As I watched, I learned.

Jesus knew we’d have the need to watch the examples of others, so he saw to it that the Bible was written accordingly. Its pages are filled with stories of people he wants us to observe, hoping we’ll discern which ones we should emulate and which examples we should shun.

But people aren’t the only ones doing the watching. God is, too, not because he needs an example to follow but because he wants to help us. In other words, he’s watching over us much like a shepherd watches over his flock. For those of us being watched over, this is a priceless gift. He’s keeping track of us, is listening to our cries, and is surrounding us with his care. Our desire, then, ought to be wisdom-living that pleases him, which is the natural response to his loving watchfulness over us.

Suitcase content

TSA was watching me by inspecting my luggage, and thankfully they found nothing illegal inside. What they did find was a suitcase overflowing with stinky, dirty laundry: poopy baby outfits, dirty socks, spit-up-on bibs, used underwear, and the like. Maybe I should have left my own note for TSA:

“Inspect if you dare.”

“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.” (1 Peter 3:12)

Homebodies

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Some people are energized by the thought of traveling the globe, loving adventure, change, unusual food, and new friends. Then there’s the rest of us.

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A homebody through and through, I find traveling stressful, but add an infant, and the challenge looms large. Although Emerald is a model baby, she, too, has her limits, and boarding a plane at 7:00 pm last night was a plan to which she objected.

As she screamed full-tilt midway through our flight from Orlando to Chiccago, we apologized to nearby passengers, but 4 month old babies don’t “get” bribery, and delayed gratification doesn’t exist. She tested our limits before finally falling into an exhausted, twitchy sleep. By that time we were twitchy, too. Birgitta said, “Was that 4 minutes or 14? It seemed like an eternity.”

Agreed.

Getting revved up

Little babies love “bland.” They do best following a simple, repeated routine at home with the same sights, smells, people, and procedures each day. I can relate. But for babies and adults alike, if we want to spend time with the people we love and arrive at the destinations where they are, traveling is a must.

Something similar happens in the spiritual realm. From birth to death, all of us are travelers, like it or not. Each day pushes (or drags) us forward, which includes squaring off with new experiences on a steady basis. We can go with hissy-fits as Emerald did last night, or we can move with a sense of excitement for one reason: it’s God who has set the itinerary.

Even knowing that, though, for some of us it’s still difficult. Stops along the way can be scary or painful, and it’s easier to snuggle into the familiar, which doesn’t involve taking chances or flirting with failure. But the pivot-point of signing on to follow God is that he’s God, the best of all travel guides.

To blindly follow anyone else would be foolish, but because the person asking us to trust his sense of direction and choice of destination is the All-knowing One, we can travel with him despite not having a complete understanding of where we’re going or what will happen when we get there.

Emerald’s screaming didn’t get her off last night’s flight, but today she’s been her usual agreeable self and is, I believe, aware of being back home in familiar surroundings.

It encourages me to know God has plans for all of us to stop traveling one day and become homebodies, living together with him in the place he’s currently making ready for us. Just as Birgitta and I knew that Emerald’s destination last night was the home she loves, God sees our future home and is sure we’ll love that one, too.

So, despite the uncertainties of his itinerary, I do want to travel this life partnered with God, And I’m going to make a real effort not to have too many hissy-fits along the way.

“The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Psalm 121:8)