Rusty Locks & the Tin Man

The same thing happens at least once or twice a year with our monthly menus.  If you caught my post “Learning to Love Lists“, you might remember we grocery shop once a month to accommodate our menus.  When our son, James, moved home recently during a transitional period, he noticed right away that the monthly menus hadn’t changed a lot since he was a kid.  I never claimed to be a good cook, but sometimes even I get tired of cooking the same old dishes.

Okay, so maybe tripping over a few words or not being real crazy about tonight’s supper may not be that big of a deal.  You’re right.  What is a big deal is when my soul gets stuck, when my heart is heavy and I’m not exactly sure why.  One thing I’ve noticed is that just like the rusty lock, I don’t get stuck overnight; it’s gradual neglect.

Earlier this week, I blogged about “Learning to Love Random“. The title may have been a bit misleading.  Trusting the Lord for just the right Scripture each day may seem random, but preparing my heart and mind for study is intentional.

But life happens, doesn’t it? A child gets sick in the night. The washer breaks down and floods the basement.  The boss calls for a bright and early meeting the next day, complete with all reports and visuals.  That’s real life.  It doesn’t matter if you are up for Super Mom or Wonder Woman of the year, there are logistical snipers just waiting to take pot shots at our carefully crafted schedules and systems.

Perhaps I’m the only one, but when there have been even a few derailments, it’s easy for me to begin to make excuses for not spending quality time with the Lord. I know that’s crazy.  As a parent, I miss my kids when we don’t spend time together on a regular basis, I don’t care if they are grown and independent, I just miss them!  If it’s true of me, how much more does the Lord long for time with His children?

I don’t think it’s possible for me to create a comprehensive list of all my blessings. Who could?  When it comes to getting spiritually stuck, there are lots of blessings, like the Tin Man’s oil can that help to get me moving again.  Sometimes it’s a book recommendation from someone I trust.  Sometimes it’s a word in due season from one of my “tv preachers”, or a lyric on the radio.  Sometimes, the weight in my heart drives me to my knees.

(To be honest, I rarely hit my knees.  Oh, it’s not out of a rebellious or arrogant spirit.  Several injuries and more than one surgeon have told me, kneeling is one of the worst things I can do.  I’m so thankful our Lord looks upon the heart, and not only upon our posture.)

One of the lessons I seem to be sooooo slooooow at is knowing and believing and relying on the fact that no matter how many times I stumble or get stuck, the Lord is always thrilled to get out the oil can and lube me up.  So let us come boldly to “the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)  I may not be big on memorizing verses for the sake of memorizing, but my Grandma taught me this many moons ago and I can still recite it.  But that’s not knowing and believing, is it?

Dear Friends, the Lord has been working and moving and sharing with me incredibly this new year.  He’s made me hungry for the manna only He can give. There is a lightness within me that only He can provide.  I’m learning that I’d much rather stay hungry, than stuck.

Do you ever get stuck in your spiritual life?  How do you know when you’re stuck? What are are some of your “oil cans”?