Tightrope | God Blog

There is no traffic congestion on the straight and narrow path.
- Thomas Dewar

Tightrope

Psalms in the Night…

With so many wonderful Biblical promises and powerful examples of God's interaction with mankind, see Psalms of Delight, Psalms in the Night are a way of exploring and sharing some of the difficult and challenging thoughts, feelings and experiences God's people encounter while endeavoring to fully enjoy His presence and power, protection and provision. In ever more genuine and meaningful ways. For themselves and their children, family and friends.

Psalms in the Night are written in concert with Psalms of Delight. Both series contain Modern Psalms meant to comfort and inspire those seeking the Omni-God revealed in Scripture.

Tightrope Summary

Life's a balancing act. Even as it takes toddlers time and effort to learn to walk, it requires dedication and practice to follow Christ by walking in the Spirit. Given the concerns of earthly and eternal life, discerning and growing in the wisdom from above and spiritual sensitivity can be quite challenging. Adding to the problem is the spiritual rope we walk on is invisible and subjective. We all find the process frustrating. Some fall away, letting themselves off the hook by disingenuously using reason to deny faith. For those still walking the line, admitting our struggles prayerfully to God and one another is a step in the right direction.

So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves but become strong.

- Hebrews 12:12-13 TLB

Tightrope
Modern Psalm in the Night 12

As always I'm troubled and the day hasn't even begun. You know, for as long as I can recall I've been like walking a tightrope between extremes. Belief and doubt. Sanctification and sin. Faith and presumption. Thankfulness and mourning. Hope and fear. Love and anger. Patience and entitlement. Rest and worry.

As You know a lot of my troubles are personal. Most seem reasonable to me but in the light of all You've given my generation they probably smack of selfishness. Many other aspects are Kingdom related and should trouble us all. Kind of reminds me of what You said to Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus:

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-40

I've often thought about this verse, using it in conversation with others and You. It's often quoted, quite contextually, to underscore the need of worship. But as with so many passages, here there are layers of meaning. The "good part" that Mary chose was to be with You, doing what You were doing. At that moment You were resting and she was at your feet, listening. Later You would be busy about Your Father's business.

With a world perishing and hundreds of millions of Christians in great sins of commission and omission, I doubt Your sitting around. Nor do I think You want us to be. Rather than the "salt" gathering to sing praises inside the salt shaker I imagine You prefer to season the world with us. That is if we're even salty any more:

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage." Matthew 5:13

See, it's these kind of verses, and they're sprinkled everywhere throughout scripture, that trouble me. I worry because we fit the description. And Ironically, these are the verses that I hear when I sit at Your feet like Mary did. I'd like to just sit around and worship. You certainly deserve it. Yet, instead I'm compelled to cry out against our desperate situation. I do take some comfort from James who directs:

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." James 5:13

I fear we're all in trouble and untroubled about. I worry our happiness is fleeting and judgment is coming. I'm concerned that our sins has robbed our salt of savor and our families and society are paying the price.

I walk a tightrope of thinking and speaking about these things too much while billions are in denial. I live a balancing act of convincing humanity of recklessness and guilt and begging You for more help and blessings. Of condemning our actions as inexcusable while daily reminding You even our behavior is not without explanation. As you say, "we wrestle not with flesh and blood" our Enemy from Eternity's "prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."

I'm troubled we're being devoured and lack the discernment and courage to be troubled about it. I'm afraid our Adversary's not just a lion but a serpent who's injected us with a spiritual neurotoxin disarming us as he squeezes eternal life from us.

I'm concerned with Your silence and distance in light of the seriousness of our situation, even in my own life. I'm encouraged that the Bible's full of psalms and passages of lament that comfort and strengthen my resolve. That while on the one hand You often spoke of the power of prayer and on the other you warned of the need to diligently press You, even to the point of violence:

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Matthew 11:12

I'm ready to get spiritually violent and misbehave. To be "shamelessly persistent" until You give us what we need, but who's certain of what that even means? I worry I'll be too violent and cross the line or not violent enough and fail the test. For the times when I'm either I apologize.

I also feel the constant tension of responsibility. Am I investing or wasting my time? Am I too earthly minded to be any heavenly good or vice versa? When my projects fall apart is it because of I was right or wrong? Am I wrong to rather fail at doing what's best than succeed at achieving the status quo? Do I sometimes see more than others or am I just crazy? Do You view my stubbornness to see Your will be done and all be saved as faithful endurance or the definition of insanity? Will being a man of mercy triumph over the constant attacks against my family and career? Is anything I'm doing doing any good?

So it's back on the tightrope, with one end tied to a world of problems and the other stretching out of sight. All I know to do is keep on asking, seeking and knocking and hope that You'll hear and answer before it's too late. That and trust that at the end of my rope I find You holding the line.

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