Full of Care

While volunteering at CHAT tutoring Tuesday night, I held little Rakim's hand as we crossed the street. 

"Watch the pud-"

One foot smashed into the puddle followed by the other.  The splashes were followed by a chorus of cackling laughter from Rakim and the girls behind us.

Drenched.  Neon light-up shoes have now become water moccasins.

Why is it that most kids seem immune to rain, puddles, and all forms of liquid mess?  Have they just not yet been brutally introduced to the world of laundry?  How do they not care? 

For better or worse, I think the youngest of children haven't learned to be careful.  They haven't needed that skill yet and that works, mostly because someone else is usually being careful on their behalf.  For the most part, they have not yet been taught to be literally full of care.

I wish I wasn't so doggone full of care all the time.  During a warm evening run last summer, a torrential downpour rained down just as I neared the halfway point and was as far away from home as possible.  These were not raindrops, these were sheets of rain so dense that it was impossible to pinpoint where one drop stopped and another started.  One might picture that as beautiful, but I couldn't comprehend it as anything but frustrating.  Feebly guarding my ipod as best I could, I raced home, annoyed at my misfortune and fretting the death of my beloved running companion.  As I neared my neighborhood, I recognized that I was supersaturated with water; I could not possibly become any wetter.  So I finally freed myself of care and decided that I might as well enjoy the squishy, drenched mess for what it was.

In the Bible, God speaks about being careful with surprising frequency- at least 120 times.  The only catch is that instead of advising us to take care of our possessions, our comfort, our convenience, and our happiness, He always stresses being careful in regard to eternally meaningful and life-giving, fruitful kinds of things.

Listen to God's advice on being careful as directed to all of humanity, from the patriarchs to Jesus' friends, from the New Testament church to us.

Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you.

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.

Rakim's soaked shoes reminded me of the multitude of circumstances, people, and situations about which we can fill ourselves with care.  Thankfully, Rakim hasn't yet fallen for this sham in regards to his light-up shoes.  Conversely, God's word reminds me of the endless possibilities wrapped up in upside down Kingdom living that I can be full of care about.  They are different from one another, to say the least. 

Some things warrant our care and some things simply dupe us into caring too much.  We can be full of care when it comes to our light-up shoes, ipods, and dress, or we can choose to be careful in things like devotion, grace, obedience, and compassion.  When I step back to think about it, I can clearly see the shallow concerns that divert my mind and heart from overflowing with care in regards to the life-giving things God asks me to exercise care about. 

I want to see with God's eyes and think God's thoughts after Him on this one, being careful only about the things that matter and freeing myself from caring about the things God says simply don't.  That means some fixed and comfortable habits will need to take a hit.  Anyone with me?