Soul Catch Up

Sorry I missed you yesterday.  I was studying in the book of Chronicles about Abijah, David's grandson.  Some interesting stuff in there (chapters 13 and 14).  But, that is not what I want to talk about this morning.  I want to talk about a catch phrase that several pastors, preachers and laypersons have been using for a while, Soul Catch-Up.

Depending upon where you look, it could be a South American story, an African story, or even one of the American Indians.  Where ever the story originated (it could have been an imaginary story made up by someone, as well), there is an important message in it for all of us.  So you will know what I am talking about, here is a copy of one version of the story from MissionHills Church:

There is a story about a group of tourists who went on a safari in Africa and hired several native porters to carry their supplies for them. After three days, the porters announced they would have to stop and rest for a day. When the tourists inquired as to why (they did not appear to be tired) the porters confirmed that fatigue was not the reason: “…but we have walked too far too fast and now we must wait for our souls to catch up to us."

An interesting concept, one which might even be Biblical.  Take, for example, Jesus who said in Matthew 11:28   "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  As we get weary from our hectic days---getting up at six, out of the house by 6:30, speeding along the highways to get to work by 7:30, rush to get another suspense done, grab a quick lunch, get back to work for an afternoon of tons of stuff to get done before heading out into traffic at 5, and then battle that traffic trying to get home to make dinner, clean the house, wash the clothes, eat the dinner (well, maybe not in that order), help the kids with homework, prepare lunches for the next day, get ready for, and go to bed, only to get up the next morning and do the same hectic things all over again.   Whew, I am tired just thinking about it.   With all we do, we just HAVE to take some time regularly, to 'let our souls catch up with us'.  Obviously, our souls are part of us, and we never really get ahead of them, but most times we are definitely not on the same 'wavelength' as our souls.

I am weary of all I have to do in a day, or a week, or even a month.  I need a time for rest.  I need a time to reflect on God.  And in the same manner, God needs us to take that rest so He can reflect on us.  As hectic as my life gets, I really try to find time to do some soul searching every day...luckily, I have been able to find it as I usually don't get too far ahead of it. 

Consider for a moment for your soul to be your whole relationship with God.  Are you too busy to nurture that relationship?  Are you outa the house before a quiet time?  Are you too busy during a work day to sit and reflect on all that God has given you?  Are you too stressed at the end of the day to enjoy a good story from the Bible and contemplate on its meaning?  If you are, then maybe your soul is lagging behind you.  As Christians, we can not afford that.  Your relationship with God, your soul, so to speak, needs to be in step with your life, not one step behind it. 

This simple message this morning is intended only for the purpose to get you to think about slowing down. Take time to relax, to reflect, to love.  Don't walk too fast so that God is behind, instead of beside, you.  I am not suggesting that God is not powerful enough to stay up with us, but I am suggesting that our lives are so busy that He might just as well be behind us in leiu of conversing with us side-by-side.

Slow down today and let your soul catch up with you.

Mac