Abandon

This post is part of the Great Blogging Experience hosted by the ever gracious and hard working Alicia. Everyone is welcome to participate!
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I am not at all sure that I like the word abandon, not that it has ever done anything unkind to me. I just do not care for the ideas that it brings to my mind. Abandon friends, abandon ideas, abandon projects, abandon faith, abandon hope. Or being abandoned.

Perhaps it is because as a boy I was quick to quit if I thought I was going to fail. And I did not like the feelings quitting produced in me. I was about 25 before I truly embraced the idea that I should always do the best I could and never give up. Up till that time the only place I was dogged was on the baseball diamond, but probably that is because I never expected to be beaten there.

I can easily attribute my growth in perseverance to the relationship I have with my bride. We married young and she had to put up with a lot of immaturity and selfishness on my part in the early years. I am glad she took her vows, “for better or worse” seriously. I am committed to see that she gets the “better” the rest of the way.

Our youngest daughter was abandoned by her birth mother at 18 months. She has made some bad decisions and had some bad breaks in the past ten years and we are raising her boys, 8 & 7. We will never abandon her, or them. I can think of no greater cause than providing them a place of security and safe haven.

My God did not abandon me to my sinful self, and I will never abandon Him and His will for my life. He has to pick me up quite often, but He knows I will keep trying to reflect His love and light to those around. I don’t want anyone to be abandoned in the darkness.

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Where are the Valiant?

I have just been reading the Bible story in the last part of 1 Samuel 13 and into chapter 14. The situation has the Israelite army surrounded by the Philistines. The Israelites were vastly outnumbered and without proper weapons. Many of the army had already deserted. Things must have looked pretty bleak.

But in the story, King Saul’s son, Jonathan, decided it was time to do something, believing that God would provide what was needed. So he and his armor bearer determined to approach the enemy stronghold, seeking a chance for something seemingly impossible to happen. His valiant effort led he and his servant to slay 20 of the overconfident Philistines. An earthquake shook the ground and panic set in on the Philistine troops who fled. The Israelite army took heart and chased the Philistines out of the region.

The story made me reflect on the lack of hope and confidence that I perceive is prevalent these days. It may be seen in small ways in families that are pressed by busy schedules and jobs that demand so much, or financial woes, or dysfunction in the home. It can be seen in the local congregation that sees its task of sharing the Good News of the Gospel as an overwhelming task for the Christians; and as unwelcome by non-Christians. It can be seen in a country that would like to have all the war over, not to mention all the political venom put away.

The natural tendency seems to be to shrink back into the background and let the tide wash us away. Have we lost the will to present ourselves for service to our neighbors, our church, our country in the hope that Divine Providence can and will use our service to make a difference? And perhaps inspire others around to rally to the possibility of victorious living?

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