Unshackled Moments ~ July 19, 2017~ Time To Cut Down The Tree

Yesterday afternoon I helped my father take some measurements on the site for my parent's new home, coming soon to an area near me. We double checked the markers for where the dirt work to level the land will be done and made sure the selected area is square, as in 90°, not four equal sides. We've done a lot of work, mostly clearing the land, and a lot of brush and quite a few trees have been cut down. Most of the trees that had to be removed where scrub trees, but there were a few hardwoods here and there that just had to go. These pained my father to cut down.

Now, my father is not in any way what you would call a tree hugger, but he does believe in good stewardship and loves the woods. There is just something awesome about a big old oak tree, and my father really loves having them on his property and the idea that they will be there for his grandchildren's grandchildren to see should the Lord tarry that long. We saved every oak and pecan tree possible. But there is one little oak sapling, a little taller than I am, that unfortunately is growing pretty much where the living room will be. It has to go, and we've known this for a while now.

We thought about trying to dig it up and transplant it, but that's not really going to be possible. It's the wrong time of year, the process to help move an oak and have the greatest success of continued living is three to six months long, and the tree is already too large to dig up without some serious work. Sadly, it has to go. But Dad doesn't want to cut it down. So we haven't. He's putting it off as long as possible, because it really goes against his nature and the way he was raised to waste an oak tree.

Back to yesterday. As I mentioned, we were taking measurements of the area where the house will sit, and the little oak is sitting in Mom's future living room. So, three different times we were hindered as we had to maneuver about 70 feet of measuring tape around the tree.

Now, this is really no big deal. It didn't get in the way too much, and probably cost us less than a minute and very little effort. But the fact that we had to work around something that in all truth I should have cut down a couple of weeks ago just so Dad wouldn't have to and it would be done, started me thinking. I do things like this in my life and spiritually far too often, and it usually is much more of a hindrance than this sapling. And I don't think that I'm unique in this.

I'm not talking about anything sinful or wrong in and of itself, but there are things in all our lives that take up too much of our time or our energy or get too much of our attention and detract from our relationship with God. Our relationship with Him has been likened to a marriage, and it is no secret that for a marriage to work well and be as full as possible, it must receive our priority and attention. This is a relationship that serves as a great example of how selfishness makes us miserable and works against us while loving and putting the other person first actually makes us happier. Being selfless actually makes self more satisfied than self indulgence.

I love sports. My wife does not. I am not selfless enough to completely cut sports out of my life, but I limit how much I watch. More often than not, when I watch a game I stream it on the computer with the sound off and listen to an audio book or watch a movie or something like that at the same time. Sometimes I let Leah take a nap using my chest as a pillow while I watch the game. The point is that I make her endure sports about a fraction of what she would have to put up with if I did not take her into account and just watched all the sports I wanted, I have found ways to enjoy what sports I do watch without it taking away from her, my time with her or our relationship. And the thing is, I don't miss it. I have no regrets. I can't think of a single time when I thought man, I wish I had watched that game instead of spending time with Leah.

There are things like that with my relationship with God, which I have learned to make sure they don't get in the way, don't ever come first, and that my awareness is on Him and us when I do indulge in them. So God is brought into my recreation and hobbies and free time as well as my service. But there are other things, that I must admit I sometimes blow off God and our relationship for. I don't have time to spend with You right now Daddy, I'm busy over here doing what I want to. These things are like that sapling. They aren't bad, but they are growing where they don't belong, in the way of the relationship being built with my Creator. I either need to move them, where they aren't in the way any longer, or I need to cut them down and burn them, sacrifice them in honor of what matters more, my love for Daddy and His for me.

When I do the removal or the minimizing and moving of these things in my life, I have found that I have never missed or regretted doing so. Yet, I still delay and struggle with the idea sometimes. I still have trouble denying self and putting Him and our relationship first in all ways and at all times. And inevitably when I delay, what normally wouldn't be anything bad, might even be something good, becomes a problem, a hindrance. It gets in the way. It creates an obstacle that has to be worked around. The service that gives me purpose is more difficult and takes more effort and energy because of this thing which has become an obstacle rather than the blessing it could have been if it had been kept in its proper place and size. Wisdom would dictate it would be better to move it before it gets too big or just cut it down as soon I as realize it needs to go.

Today, let us be quick to examine our lives and hearts and see if there is anything getting in the way of what we are building with Daddy. If so, let's not delay in dealing with it by grace so that there is nothing hindering the love and service that makes life worth while.

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