Twila Paris - Blessed in Great Measure

I drop my sword and cry for just a while
Deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child. – Twila Paris -1984

Most days, my shield can cover the chinks in my armor. Today, the shield was heavy, my arms strained from the weight. Flanking arrows tested the chain-mail that normally deflects glancing blows. The foes that I face daily were reinforced by every little “supposed crisis” that came along.

I have leaned that the more you are able to do, the more indispensable you become, yet, it comes with a burden of more responsibility.

In the Parable of the Talents, the servants that returned a profit from the gold they had been entrusted with heard:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” Matthew 25:21

Sounds familiar. But just because “I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13 does not necessarily mean I NEED to do all things.

Tasks began to gather in my path, some warranted, others simply a result of apathy or foolishness. Adversaries to the left of me, jokers to the right, gathering like some Saturday morning cartoon villain, transforming into a Goliath beyond my control. Not having the strength to gather stones, nor the faith to wield a sling in battle, I retreated to a quiet place.

“I dropped my sword and cried for just a while.”

As I implored the Spirit to intercede on my behalf, because I did not know how to pray, I heard:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Well rent me a blimp! I’ve got weakness to spare and a lot of boasting to do.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

If the Son of God, the Almighty in human form, needed to withdraw to reflect and recharge, then I am in good company, stealing away moments in my busy day to breathe, and breathe in the breath of God.

I do indeed “go running home when I fall down”.

“Deep inside this armor the warrior is a child”, but the child of the Almighty Father.

Boasting in weakness
Patiently waiting for His perfect power
And Blessed in Great Measure

If you have been blessed by my meager ramblings, send me a note at john@blessedingreatmeasure.com. I love to hear good stories. And subscribe so you will receive an email when the Spirit moves me to scribble thoughts again

In a scene from the movie “Trading Places”, Eddie Murphy is recounting his arrest with “cops plural”. When asked about results of the fight, he said, “karate man bruise on the inside, he don’t show his weakness.” Hiding my weakness is something I do often whether karate induced or not, ignoring the “inside” bruises and pressing on.

A recent morning reading spoke of facing the clutches of uncertainty but offered these words of hope:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

At times, morning meditation can be a harbinger of what the day holds, but I tapped the snooze button and would deal with it in another 9 minutes. An early morning meeting and my nerves were getting the better of me, even though I had fared well in these negotiations hundreds of times. My commute was spent in silence, wondering if there was still chalk dust on my slate of errors and omissions. Once cleared by the Grace of God, I recalled previously granted wisdom of “Two eyes, two ears, one mouth – use proportionately.”

A quick check of my sword and shield and I was ushered in by an attractive young woman with a subtle hint of soft perfume. I took my battle position, but a lag in the proceedings allowed the slightly intoxicating scent to drive a wedge between my preparation and my focus. I deposited my two-cents worth to move things along and to clear my vision. The meeting concluded and I walked away a bit rattled. Battle wounds are not always a result of an exposed weakness, but simply being out maneuvered by the opponent. Evil searches for a soft spot and jabs you there. Apparently, there was a chink in my armor that I was unaware of. Grateful that God plugged up the hole until the battle was over, the task remained to find that hole and hammer it closed, ready for the next skirmish.

This brought to mind a song by Twila Paris called “The Warrior is a Child”. The heart of a knight in shining armor is not always as bulletproof as it appears. I am grateful that God sees all the bruises we try to hide, both inside and out, and can heal them with a touch.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

Showing God all my bruises
And Blessed in Great Measure

If you have been blessed by my meager ramblings, send me a note at john@blessedingreatmeasure.com. I love to hear good stories.

And subscribe so you will receive an email when the Spirit moves me to scribble thoughts again.