Questions, unquestionable love

I'm jealous of trees.

And the sun, and the moon and the flowers. And anything in creation that does exactly as God commanded it from the beginning of time.

I forget exactly what I was reading at the time that made me jealous of these things. But for the first time, I paused and contemplated this fact...

God spoke and the sun, moon, stars and planets came into being. He told them what to do and they obeyed Him. It's their obedience that makes our life possible on this earth.

And think of the trees. Each year, they put forth buds, grow leaves, store energy in the summer to make it through the winter, lose leaves, drop seeds and await the warm breath of spring (again made possible from the sun's obedience).

Sigh...

I wish I had that unquestioning obedience to God's voice. For He, too, called me forth into creation. I know He has a specific purpose for me. But do I go about this purpose with unquestioning obedience? Ummmm...no!

I mean, really, what if the sun or moon or trees starting questioning God's authority?...

God: Sun... it's your job to provide unceasing light to the earth.

Sun: That sounds like a lot of work God. I don't know if I can keep up that kind of pace. Is it all right if I take a little break now and then. You know, like a vacation?

God: Moon...it's your job to reflect the sun's light and to help my people determine when to plant and help the oceans know when to ebb and flow.

Moon (pouting): Why can't I provide my own light sometimes? Why should the sun get all the credit for the light? If I'm helping people and the water, why am I relegated to being a mere reflection?

God: Trees...you shall provide life-giving oxygen to all living things and help keep the air clean. Every year, you shall be subject to the seasons...there will be times of storing energy and producing seeds and growing.

Trees: That sounds like really important work, God! Thank you! However, we think there might be a better way - what if we did all that without depending on the seasons. That way, if the sun decides not to shine and the moon gives up reflecting, we can still get our job done. In fact, maybe we could be the back up if the sun and moon don't work out. Our leaves could be reflectors and I'm sure You can figure out some way for us to produce light.

Sounds kind of silly, huh? But that's exactly what I sound like when I doubt what God has told me or convince myself He doesn't really mean what He says because, of course, there is a better way.

And this led me to thinking, if God made the sun & co. to unquestioningly obey Him, why didn't He make us, make me, this way? Wouldn't it have been easier on Him?

I think I might have found the answer in reading from "The Jesus Storybook Bible." Though geared for children, this Bible, has some powerful insights for adults.

And the answer is love. The more I thought about this, the more it made sense. God created us in large part because He wants a relationship with us - a loving relationship. He could have created us to behave as robotically as the sun & co. where everything runs smoothly, where sin doesn't enter in, where He doesn't have to die for us.

But where is the fun and love and adventure in that?

Think about it...you may love your garden and get great enjoyment out of it's beauty, but can it love you back? You may love the money you make and the creature comforts it provides, but when you have an ache in your soul to be loved for yourself, to be comforted to, to hear tender words of encouragement, can all the stuff in the world provide that.

Parents...What if you had children who always did what you say, when you said it and never, ever, talked back? (Believe me, I know this sounds like a pretty good deal, especially since writing this post has been frequently interrupted by the need for me to repeatedly ask my children to clean up the room...and not hurt one another.) But take a moment to ponder this more deeply...wouldn't life become rather monotonous? What kind of adults would they become? How would you grow to be a better person if your children always did what you said? How would this prepare you for dealing with people and situations that challenge you to become less selfish?

I wonder if part of the joy God gets in loving us is when we turn to Him after struggling to obey Him. Can't you just picture Him cheering and wanting to wrap you in His loving arms when you finally get it? When after a time of questioning Him, doubting Him, rejecting Him, you finally realize that He was right all along and now you'd do anything for Him.

Oh, how I can picture that.

In fact, it's even in Scripture. Remember the parable of the lost son (or of the crazy father, as our Rector, Keith, alternatively titled it)? Maybe Jesus shared this story because it's a reminder that God can take it all and to use it as an encouragement that even in our times of disobedience, God is always there to welcome us back and bask in His lavish love.

Not that I want to turn from obeying Him on purpose. That would be ridiculous. But, it eases the strain of always trying to get it right.

Okay, so maybe I'm not so jealous of trees after all.