I should have been a nun.

1 Corinthians 7:34 In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

 

I’m a social person.  I love hosting events, mixing at fancy parties, I’ve got no fears of speaking in public, I have friends from many walks of life….

But I also really love being alone.

Before kids, I traveled with Steve on his business assignments all over the world.  Often, he’d be gone all day.  But, for me, exploring new places by myself was a treasure.  Sometimes I walked for miles, returning to our hotel with blisters and souvenirs.  Other times, I found a quiet bench or cafe to hunker down and watch the mystery of a new culture unfold around me.  At the time, I thought my life was filled with distractions.  In retrospect, I see that life was simpler, quieter, in those days.

13 years into my marriage and 2 kids later, I can see now that Paul was right.

To my knowledge, 1 Cor 7 is one of the only times in the Bible where the author was allowed to give his personal opinion on how we should live.  Paul literally says “I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is… those who marry will face many troubles in this life and I want to spare you this.”

I never liked those verses – certainly couldn’t relate to his perspective either.  I couldn’t wait to get married and have a family.  And my husband and kids have taught me so much about Christ.  Through triumph and trial, I’ve grown leaps and bounds.  Make no mistake, I totally adore my family.  And I know I was created to be a wife and mom.

…But, alone in this room right now, my head has time to process — and there is a lot on my heart that needs the quiet attention to do this.  While I sit here praying and writing, something happens in my spirit that connects me to the Father.  I don’t have to fight nearly as hard to plug-in to that ongoing conversation He’s been having with me.  The one where I’m usually too distracted to pay attention.  I walk away from these times feeling clearer, energized, quieted, convicted, and, often, doing some healthy questioning.  And all of this is necessary.

In less than 30 minutes, my 3- and 5-yr olds will be home and this house will be anything but quiet.  And a few hours later, Steve will get home and our evening festivities will kick off with some wine and family mario cart.  Before I know it, my eyes will be heavy and tomorrow will be here.  Today will be gone.

Paul wasn’t kidding.  Being married is a distraction.  But imagine what he would have said about the internet, social media, TV, iPhones, etc.

We have to run the gauntlet to find time to focus on the Lord.  Satan is SCREAMING at us all the time.  WORK! SHOWER! EAT! TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS! CLEAN! WATCH TV! CHECK FB! RUN ERRANDS! RELAX! SLEEP!  He’s using even the healthy things in our life to pull our focus from the One who GAVE us this life.  I love how C.S. Lewis puts it in his book, The Screwtape Letters.  Writing from the perspective of Satan, he says, “It is funny how mortals (you and me) always picture us (Satan and his army of followers) as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

So what is he keeping out of yours?

Heres the deal, YOU have a purpose.  You have a purpose for TODAY just the same as you have a purpose in LIFE.

Are you missing it or are you accomplishing it?  Because today is already almost gone and you still have a lot to do.

Can you HEAR Him?

There are small things I know I can change in my life to hear Him better.  And, there are some pretty big changes I should start working on, as well.  So…

Dear Paul,

I’ll keep my husband and kids, but you are right. It’s hard to live in “undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1Cor 7:35) So, let’s do lunch in heaven one day and share stories of our distractions while on earth. I’m pretty sure, even without a wife, you had some cra-zay days of your own.

Truly,

HLY