On the Way to Something Else

I stopped myself in the nick of time.

The day had a good foothold by the time I turned my attention to making the bed. My brain was tired already from a good workout—many things accomplished since dawn.As my hands gripped the comforter to draw it up toward the pillows, I heard cello music playing softly offstage somewhere and the pillows spoke my language. “Oh, sweetie. Come rest your head right here for a few minutes. When’s the last time you allowed yourself a nap?”

The comforter joined in. “Yeah, lady. We’ve been outta work for hours. Give us something to do. You’d be doin’ us a favor if you just took…a…little…nap.”

I resisted. And now, I’m regretting it. The bed is crisp and tidy, but my brain is still tired. However, a nap was not on my agenda. I let the agenda win. Dumb move.

I’m reminded again of how many times Jesus did some of His best work on the way to something else. His “agenda” was always dictated by His Heavenly Father, so He often found Himself on the way to a certain city when He was confronted by someone in need. Or He headed out to sea and was stopped by a crowd of people questioning their faith. Or He was on a mission to speak to many and was drawn away to talk to one person long ignored.

Jesus seemed perfectly comfortable with the idea that some of His best work was done while He was on the way to something else.

I wonder if that pillow would still welcome me.

PRAYER: Lord, my agenda and yours weave in and out of intersecting perfectly. Help me know when Your intention for me looks different than what I thought it should. And in this rush-rush world, give me insight to know when the voice coming from my pillow is really Your Voice.

“For so He giveth His beloved sleep,” Psalm 127:2b KJV.

Today’s devotional is by Cynthia Ruchti, writer/producer of THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio ministry and president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Cynthia’s debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—released from Abingdon Press May 1, 2010–http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtZb0by984g. Cynthia writes stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark (www.cynthiaruchti.com).