Walking on the Moon
We all gazed out the large spaceship window at the glowing white surface of the moon contrasted with the haunting empty darkness beyond, pondering the vital question: was it safe to step out and walk on the moon?
"I think we should be free to walk around as we are," said one. "I believe the moon's gravity is strong enough to hold us to the surface."
"I don't think so," I said. "The moon is small, and it's gravitational pull is too weak. We might be able to walk carefully, but one wrong movement and we could sail off into oblivion!" The others nodded and shuddered in agreement.
"No way, the moon is strong enough," the guy argued.
"Let's watch the video," someone else said. The screen flickered on, and we studied the movements of Neil Armstrong as he walked on the moon.
"See? Look how he's just bouncing around out there. Even with all his equipment on, he's light as a feather."
The other guy disagreed. "He's fine. It's true, he's not super weighed down, but he's not going anywhere. The moon's gravity will keep him from going too far off the surface."
So the argument continued, and a solution was designed: a heavy, magnetic "shirt." The weight would not be as important as the magnet, which would be the main extra force pulling us closer to the moon.* It was much more controlled. No more bouncing around dangerously, and no more fear of sailing off into the terrors of outer space. We felt much safer.
But the other guy just shook his head as we put on our gear. He knew we didn't need it, and it was too confining and cumbersome. We just took the joy out of moon-walking.
What a dream. But it made me think. For my devotions that morning, I ended up reading Mark 7. The Pharisees were criticizing Jesus' disciples for not washing their hands properly. Jesus called them hypocrites and said, "You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition" (verse 9).
That made me think. The Pharisees didn't trust God's law, so they came up with their own tradition to make them feel safer, more in control of their morality. And in doing so, they lost sight of God's law of love.
I am so guilty of this. In so many areas of my life, especially when I am stressed or in a season of chaos, I long for ways to control and predict my life. I come up with my own "traditions"--my own ways to manage my feelings of insecurity. I might not be so sharing, loving, giving, or open. Instead, I might be a little more demanding of myself and others, creating a structure of expectations. I don't trust that the gravity of God's love will hold me close enough. I'm afraid if I surrender my heavy, magnetic suit of control, I might trip and sail off into oblivion, out of reach of His love.
But it's not true. God's law of love IS enough! Jesus delights in giving me the opportunity to live unencumbered in His gravity of grace. It might be scary and feel unsafe, but that is the only way I can find true joy and complete peace. I find it in being free to explore God's heart and discover the dreams He has for me without being constricted by my own fear. I find it in resting my fearful heart fully in His love and grace, confident that He won't let me go. Because I know His grace is powerful enough to both let me go and hold me close.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matt. 11:30 (MSG)
*Don't judge my scientific or historical facts. It's a dream.
"I think we should be free to walk around as we are," said one. "I believe the moon's gravity is strong enough to hold us to the surface."
"I don't think so," I said. "The moon is small, and it's gravitational pull is too weak. We might be able to walk carefully, but one wrong movement and we could sail off into oblivion!" The others nodded and shuddered in agreement.
"No way, the moon is strong enough," the guy argued.
"Let's watch the video," someone else said. The screen flickered on, and we studied the movements of Neil Armstrong as he walked on the moon.
"See? Look how he's just bouncing around out there. Even with all his equipment on, he's light as a feather."
The other guy disagreed. "He's fine. It's true, he's not super weighed down, but he's not going anywhere. The moon's gravity will keep him from going too far off the surface."
So the argument continued, and a solution was designed: a heavy, magnetic "shirt." The weight would not be as important as the magnet, which would be the main extra force pulling us closer to the moon.* It was much more controlled. No more bouncing around dangerously, and no more fear of sailing off into the terrors of outer space. We felt much safer.
But the other guy just shook his head as we put on our gear. He knew we didn't need it, and it was too confining and cumbersome. We just took the joy out of moon-walking.
***
What a dream. But it made me think. For my devotions that morning, I ended up reading Mark 7. The Pharisees were criticizing Jesus' disciples for not washing their hands properly. Jesus called them hypocrites and said, "You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition" (verse 9).
That made me think. The Pharisees didn't trust God's law, so they came up with their own tradition to make them feel safer, more in control of their morality. And in doing so, they lost sight of God's law of love.
I am so guilty of this. In so many areas of my life, especially when I am stressed or in a season of chaos, I long for ways to control and predict my life. I come up with my own "traditions"--my own ways to manage my feelings of insecurity. I might not be so sharing, loving, giving, or open. Instead, I might be a little more demanding of myself and others, creating a structure of expectations. I don't trust that the gravity of God's love will hold me close enough. I'm afraid if I surrender my heavy, magnetic suit of control, I might trip and sail off into oblivion, out of reach of His love.
But it's not true. God's law of love IS enough! Jesus delights in giving me the opportunity to live unencumbered in His gravity of grace. It might be scary and feel unsafe, but that is the only way I can find true joy and complete peace. I find it in being free to explore God's heart and discover the dreams He has for me without being constricted by my own fear. I find it in resting my fearful heart fully in His love and grace, confident that He won't let me go. Because I know His grace is powerful enough to both let me go and hold me close.
***
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matt. 11:30 (MSG)
*Don't judge my scientific or historical facts. It's a dream.
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