Whilst painting my aunt's home yesterday (to make at least some money) my cell phone rang. It was the company that I had applied for nearly two months ago. Long story short is I'm now employed. Thanks God.
I don't begin until July 11th so I've still got a little time on my hands. When my span of unemployment began I had imagined myself to do some disciplined fasting and praying with an extra sprinkle of Biblical study. Instead what I've found is that I'm lazy dead-beat at heart whether employed or no. My wife asked me as she lay in bed tonight what I had read in the Word. Fumbling through the disorganized files in my cranium I realized that I hadn't been in the Word, but instead read a book about it's importance. Is this ironic? I'm not really sure as I've heard a famous musician sing an entire song called, "Isn't it Ironic?" without many of her scenarios being examples of true irony. Or so my brother said. It's attempted profundity crashing on the shores of ignorance. Perhaps that was the true irony of the song.
Anyway, it got me to thinking about this. One can pretend to have a relationship with another person without really having one. However, if the pretender bumps into someone who really knows that person, the gig is up. Fraudulent claims are revealed. Our relationship with God is just that revealing. When I run into someone who really makes a discipline of cultivating their transendent relationship, I feel like a guy on a commercial saying, "I'm not a Doctor, but I play one on TV." If I'm an actor, when the patient is on the operating table, there is no life at stake. It's all for show. But if I'm the real deal, I've studied the books and put the knife to flesh. I literally use my knowledge and practiced actions to cut away the bad and save the good. Similarly, when it comes time to counsel or to examine even my own self. If I'm not studying and practicing, spiritual well-being is at stake.
So I'm dusting off and organizing the files in my cranium. When It comes time to metaphorically put knife to flesh I don't wish to be unprepared. Sheesh, this wound up more profound than I expected. Is that ironic?