A Passionate Commitment

It's Wednesday morning as I write. I promised someone a phone call today, and those calls are usually pretty lengthy. I have some other things to do --you know, the usual sorts of things one does when they wear clothes or assumes responsibility for meals and things like that. And another friend just texted: she wants to talk. All good things, right? Laundry means we have clothes to wear. Meals mean there is someone to share them with you. And friends and family? Well, we all know what a blessing they are. But here's my conundrum, I have a blog article to write. I have a blog article because, while I normally write weeks in advance of when the article actually posts, I've not been doing that as of late. Days I typically spend holed up in my office with our sweet Luci Blue snoring contentedly beside me, I have been spending with my husband making memories. I am dying. So is my husband. If not, we'd be among the very few exceptions. But recently we've had one of those scares that makes you aware, palpably aware of your mortality. We're not quite out of the woods yet, our hearts are still racing from the alarm so, our senses have been awakened. As is the case with many of these types of jolts, these "Come to Jesus" moments, this has prompted us to make some commitments.

More frequent date nights.

A better diet. More activity.

Greater appreciation for all we have.

And the list goes on. But time is the great revealer of sincerity. In six months, a year, two years, how much of our list will be forgotten? What items on the list will bring us shame to think how we have allowed this revival to grow cold? A doctor who spoke with us suggested a second "birthday" celebration each year as an opportunity to remember the pardon we have been given and to reevaluate the path we are on. A date on the calendar: an appointment with passion and an inescapable reckoning.

That is the very definition of our following of Christ. Emotion drawing us ever nearer; grief, fear, joy, love, wonder, anger, pity, gratitude. And structure, discipline, commitment, circumspection, routine. Passion with practical implementation. Without one or the other, our relationship is cold, dead. Revelation 2 and 3 are God's warnings to the churches. Some had forsaken church discipline and structure; evil had gained a foothold. Some were without passion, doing all the right things but having no real love. We are not one-dimensional beings. The quality of our relationships --with our Savior and with others --depends on our impassioned keeping of commitments. Speaking of which, I have some phone calls to make. Blessings!