It was a long weekend in Canada. One of my favorite Christian bands was
performing in Toronto, and it was with excitement that I bought tickets to the
concert, reserved a spot in a hotel, and printed out all of the MapQuest
directions we would need.
The big day finally arrived and at last we were all in the car, ready to begin
our weekend adventure. Our plan was to stop at two different places on our way
to Toronto, and these two stops took quite a bit more time than I had originally
anticipated. As a result, when we had finally settled down on the highway,
heading for our final destination, I couldn't seem to fight off that "rushed"
feeling that often overcomes me when time is short.
Fortunately, traffic was unusually light, and we quickly made up for our lost
time. In fact, we were right on schedule when we found ourselves turning into
the parking building connected with our favorite Toronto restaurant.
Nevertheless, I couldn't relax. Time seemed to be in control of me, and I
couldn't seem to do anything except make everyone miserable.
Just as we arrived at the ticket machine to purchase our parking ticket, a car
drove up beside us and the driver rolled down her window. Thrusting a parking
ticket, good for the entire day, in my direction, she simply said, "Enjoy!" Then
she sped away.
I was dumbfounded. So there WERE caring people, even in such a big city! Now I
wouldn't have to pay to park! This little gesture served to brighten my day
enough for me to semi-enjoy my meal; however I still couldn't completely shrug
off that "rushed" feeling, and more than once I could feel my wife's eyes upon
me, silently pleading with me to relax.
After our lunch, we headed for our hotel. Here we quickly unloaded the car, and
much to my delight, I discovered we still had about 45 minutes before I wanted
to leave for the concert. Just enough time to explore the nooks and crannies of
the hotel, and even its shopping mall! My family sure was walking slowly,
however, and nothing I could do would make them speed up! I couldn't believe it
when we finally returned to our room to find we still had 30 minutes before we
needed to leave!
I was still nervous when we finally headed out for the concert. The doors were
to open at 6:30, but I wanted to be sure to have good seats. I was a bit
surprised to find that we were the first ones in line. After all, it was already
4:30!!!
"We will have the best seats in the concert!" Exclaimed my boys.
Yes, I was sure we would. But somehow, as we waited, and waited, and waited, I
still couldn't shake that feeling of nervousness. It didn't help that the lobby
we were standing in was incredibly warm. It was bad enough while we stood there
alone, but when, an hour later, a crowd of other eager beavers joined us, it
became overbearing. Just imagine several hundred warm bodies fighting for the
same stale air! We could hardly move, let alone breathe, and as more and more
people pushed into the room, we began to feel like lobsters in boiling water.
Sweat was pouring out of every pore I had (I never realized I could have so
many!), and soon I was an ambulatory, albeit overheated, swimming pool!
Finally the doors to the theatre opened and we were literally pushed inside. I
didn't mind. At least we would be able to choose our seats and . . . Seats? Did
someone say seats? Wait a minute! Who took the seats???
Sure enough, we found ourselves in an empty theatre. For some reason, my lower
back had started to complain after the first half hour in the steaming lobby,
and now I really needed to sit down! Much to my relief, we were told that a
limited number of seats were available in the balcony. We pushed our way through
the crowd, but by the time we arrived, most of the seats had already been taken.
I gritted my teeth and took a seat along the back wall. All that waiting . . .
For BACKROW SEATS! I'm not sure why, but a Bible text began to float around in
my mind: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last . . ." (Matt
20:16 NIV) Could it have had anything to do with the fact that we had stood
outside for 2 hours just to have the worst possible concert seats???
Much to our chagrin, the concert hall was also hot and stuffy. The concert began
with an unknown singer with a deafening voice. As I watched my boys try to stuff
even more fingers into their ears, my lower back let me know, beyond a doubt,
that it was STILL THERE! I couldn't stop myself from asking: "Do you guys want
to go back to the hotel?"
My boys looked a little relieved at the prospect, but my youngest voiced our
common concern: "Wouldn't that be a waste of money?"
He was right, and by gritting my teeth against my screaming lower back, my
pierced ear drums, and my sizzling skin, I somehow made it through that first
hour. I couldn't help but feel more and more sympathy for those poor lobsters,
forced into a deathly overheated marinating experience. They had one advantage
over me, however: They would soon be out of their misery!
The intermission couldn't arrive soon enough. After finding cold drinks (which
seemed to sizzle in our throats!), we couldn't help but wonder how on earth we
would be able to survive the next two hours . . .
Then the real concert began; the one we had been waiting for. What a change in
atmosphere! The heavenly music and visual effects mesmerized my entire family,
and it wasn't long before we were joining in with the band in praise and
worship. Where moments before we had felt like lobsters in a pot of boiling
water, God's presence soon restored peace to our minds and hearts.
It was interesting to note that I never once noticed my lower back during the
next two hours, and though the temperatures only continued to climb, I was no
longer aware of being too warm. In fact, for the first time all day, time was no
longer troubling me. I began to realize that I had not given my day, my time and
my troubles to Jesus.
It is amazing how everything looks so grim when I let time and circumstances
dominate me. However when I hand my day, my time, my activities and my troubles
to Jesus, I find myself surrounded by inner peace and divine love. Everything
seems bearable, even enjoyable!
The concert ended with the praise song called "I am free!"-A reality for anyone
who lets Jesus be Master of his life. I purchased an "I am free" t-shirt, and I
am wearing it as I type this devotional. I want to remember that a day without
Jesus is a day in hell where no breakfast is served. However a day with Jesus at
the helm is a day when I can really enjoy freedom from stress, freedom from
worries and freedom from time-dominated agendas.
"I am free! Would you like to join me?"
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV); "Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt
11:28 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.