Christian Living

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On the Road Traveling Theology

Recently I was talking with a preacher. Now he wasn’t my Favorite Preacher Husband or my Favorite Preacher Son. Granted during this particular son’s growing up days, there were times when he was not even my favorite son.

Our conversation went something like this, “I write about my grandchildren because they teach me about God.”

His response was, “Yes, I know. That is called Toddler Theology.”

Since I haven’t been to the seminary, I wasn’t sure if “Toddler Theology” was correct or not. Just in case it’s not, I’m going to use “Traveling Theology” today.

What do you do when you travel? We have good friends who listen to book tapes. Others, like my husband, listen to music-all kinds of music from Pete Fountain to Tex Ritter.

One Sunday morning as my husband and I traveled to church I read road signs. They turned into theological thoughts about God and reached out and grabbed me. I was trying to focus on the Sunday School lesson I was to teach from the book of Deuteronomy about how God relates to each of us, but with little success.

I have come to know through experience that God relates to me at the point of my need, revealing different facets of Himself in different ways on different days. For instance, this day as we traveled I found myself walking on a tightrope of conflicting feelings and emotions. I’ve been on this tightrope before and I hated it.

I knew it would claim all my attention and drain me. Closing my eyes (now that may be a dangerous thing to do, especially if you find yourself on a tightrope) I asked God to get me off right now. He didn’t.

Instead, through the road signs, He reminded me; He repaired me; He taught me; and He embraced me. The signs were:

WRONG WAY

I knew my thinking was stupid. It was good to know He agreed with me. It was no way for a Christian to respond to a frustrating, no-win experience. It was wrong.

REPAIR WORK AHEAD

I was given hope to realize God can and would forgive and repair my heart and my influence. All I had to do was to let Him up on the tightrope with me.

LITTER CONTROL

My part was to get rid of all the litter: my way, my feelings and my self-centeredness. I think you do this by focusing on others who may need help on their own personal tight rope journey.

COME GROW WITH US

Assurance came in knowing with the help of the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of His Son, I can continue growing into a fruit filled and fruit-sharing believer.

FIREWORKS

I needed to feel the fireworks of the faith hidden away by my silent, tension filled tightrope walking.

SHADY ACRES

Finally getting off that tight rope, I found acres of shade in the shadow of the cross and in His agape love. You do know that agape love is love that loves without any thought of return. It just loves.

As we listen, He speaks. He speaks through our Bible, our preachers, our friends, our praise, our grandchildren and our road signs along the way. Don’t forget to read the signs today.

I’m not sure if that’s good theology or not. But one thing I do know, I’m not hanging on to that emotional tightrope for dear life any more. "Traveling Theology" worked for me.

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