"I believe God made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure." - Eric Liddell
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." - Romans 12:1
We all have things we like to do in the few spare personal and quiet moments in our week. They may not seem to have any real practical usefulness to others, and we may not think they have any significant impact on the world. So when we talk about them we try to minimize them and reduce them as our little hobbies or indulgences that are fun and keep our hands busy.
But secretly we cherish those activities as sacred, don't we? They bring peace to our frenzied minds and refreshment to our threadbare spirits... they fill our hearts with simple delight and satisfy a piece of our soul that is underused and often hidden away.
We don't call ourselves athletes, poets, musicians, or artists because the world doesn't recognize us as such - we've not earned money with our gifts nor have we received any great honor or award. And a corner of our rational thinking scolds us and insists that we really have more important things to do with our leftover energy.
But we are drawn to the garden, the canvas, the instrument, the oven, the journal, the workbench, the yarn bag again, finding comfort as we hold familiar tools in our hands, and suddenly we feel that this is the most important thing that we need to do right now. We're alone, pouring our heart out on a span of black and white keys or a creamy square of card stock or a mixing bowl of dry ingredients.
And maybe no one will ever see or hear or taste or experience what we create - or if they do, they'll never know the care and tenderness that was generously given to this moment. It may look like we're doing this just for us... but are we really?
Because it doesn't feel selfish, it feels like an offering - a living sacrifice, even - a gift that we are creating and sharing at the same time. It's a prayer of praise and thanksgiving, an act of worship and our very best childlike attempt to present something special to the Lord.
He is listening and watching and smelling and enjoying it with us... and He is greatly pleased when we find joy in using the gifts He has given.
