The Thread
I can't remember now who I was comparing her to, but the difference, I said, was that at least she was hanging onto God by a thread.
"A thread?"
"Yes, a thread."
It is a connection that she never quite lets go of. She's been distracted, preoccupied with things other than God. She was dangling; but at least she was connected.
The words went deep. They hit her in a way I hadn't meant them to; an arrow that pierced her soul. She hated the thought of such a tenuous connection, but she knew that it was true.
Today, almost a week later, we talked again and she told me she'd been rising early, making time for God first. She was working, she said, on "thickening the thread."
"I want it to be like that rope made of steel--unbreakable," she said.
"After all, if he is my anchor, I want to be connected by more than a thread."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New Living Translation)
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
"A thread?"
"Yes, a thread."
It is a connection that she never quite lets go of. She's been distracted, preoccupied with things other than God. She was dangling; but at least she was connected.
The words went deep. They hit her in a way I hadn't meant them to; an arrow that pierced her soul. She hated the thought of such a tenuous connection, but she knew that it was true.
Today, almost a week later, we talked again and she told me she'd been rising early, making time for God first. She was working, she said, on "thickening the thread."
"I want it to be like that rope made of steel--unbreakable," she said.
"After all, if he is my anchor, I want to be connected by more than a thread."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New Living Translation)
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Comments
I am thankful for the time long ago when I turned my back on Him, He never stopped loving me. He loved me back until I can't even imagine ever letting go.
I am humbled by His faithful love.
There was something missing from the post. It felt as if it lost something in the translation. My friend saw the humour in her thin thread bothering her so much that she wanted to thicken it but I feel as if that didn't quite come across. And of course it is deadly serious and dangerous to be so distracted.
I didn't see it as you forgot something because we do need to draw close to him and strengthen the thin thread if that's what we're clinging to.
If we want the rich, intimate, robust relationship with our Father, we do have to seek him and develop a relationship with Him. As you shared, we do need to thicken the thread.
The other side is what I shared. That He just doesn't let go. While He's hanging on and loving us and when we're turning our backs or lounging in apathy - we do not live that abundant life that He longs for us to live. We just settle perhaps for a good life - not a great one.
I got from your post that we settle, when we just have a thread.
My comment was not meant as an exhortation but when I reread my comment, after reading yours - I see easily why you said what you did.
I wasn't trying to point out the"something missing"
Love you, sister
I'm glad it wasn't as bad as I thought it was! :)
That's exactly it, "We settle, when we just have a thread," and it can be disastrous.