26 years.......personal reflection

One subject matter that I have written about in theme more then any other in this column is the subject of “Time”. Time is valuable and her passing is so amazing when you consider all the variables one experiences as the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years arrive and pass. This month is one of reflection as I look back 26 years ago and consider individuals like: Ike Wilson; Dr. Charles F. Jones; Bill Cox; Richard Stokes; Institutions like: North Greenville College; First Baptist Church-Pineville; Centrifuge; Issues like: Vision; Purpose; Calling; Peace;
In today’s timing we like the before and after type settings, photos, and explanations. Not exactly sure why but for some reason or another we normally think of things in terms of beginning and end, or at least that is the way we reflect during funeral times, leaving out the details and valuables that filled our lives and time. The individuals, institutions and issues that filled the middle time frame of our lives are generally just highlighted in a mention only status and the focus of life is again placed on those beginning days and how things ended. I would call that a disservice and not a true representation of the real picture of time and or a good reflection if you leave out all the middle stuff. Reflecting 26 years into the past reminds me of all times. Ecclesiastes chapter three reflects on all times which includes not just the purposed, planted, built up, laughing and dancing, but also the struggle, with the reflection of dying, weeping, morning, war and hate. As individuals we would much rather desire the experience winning verses losing. We as individuals would rather to laugh then cry, unless the crying is because we are laughing so hard. Individually it is much easier to place blame then to assume responsibility or the even greater call to just forgive and move on. Verse eleven in chapter three of Ecclesiastes is a sober reminder of the real key to dealing with time and the experiences in the middle and scriptures reads, “He has made everything beautiful in His time”. The sobering thought is He does it, in His time, not in our time. Confessing the lack of ability to change anything is sobering and humbling. Our commitment must be to place ourselves in the position to be used by God as He directs.
A few Sunday’s ago I heard for the first time a song and chorus written by Israel Houghton. It was entitled “new season” and what a powerful message about new seasons. For me I made that application that this “new season” was perfect for the middle of life too. Shortly after the choir performed that song they sang “if you can use anything Lord”. Honestly at that point it was already way past decision time for this person who was in reflection mode. I found a sweet savor of the Lord present in my inner spirit when I confessed that if there was anything about me that He could use, He can use.
26 years ago I began a journey with the encouragement of the First Baptist Church, Pineville, KY., when they formally recognized talents they believed God had given to me. Confessing yourself to be someone that God can use is easy when you are young. Seeing yourself as an instrument that God can use is easy when you’ve not had many bumps or bruises from life’s journey. There are no problems seeing your life as an instrument of God’s Good News when you are strong and vibrant in energy and zeal for the Kingdom. No, there are no problems being a vessel for good use as long as you have not suffered any direct hits from the devils fiery darts, we so wrongly like to believe and teach to others.
The real truth holds that God is more then able to use those hard and roughest of days from our life’s journey, if we let Him. God is able to make full use of the middle time of our life and create a great end to our witness, if we can but simply say one thing through it all. “If there is anything you can use Lord, you can use me”.

Until then