We
get invited to do things all the time. And
no, not because we’re just so popular :), it’s just that there’s a lot of
work to do here. I would love to become more involved with House
of Hope, help lead our small group, finish all my Institute homework on time,
develop a new Sunday School system, be able to (somehow) run our business and
still teach the majority of the time, cook real
meals every day (or even every other, let’s be honest…), help translate,
improve our ESL program, be in the classroom more, teach violin, get to know
the youth of our church, lead worship, and help coordinate our short-term
teams. Oh, and train Osita to do more
than “sit” and “shake.” And read more
fiction. Ok, now I’m pushing it, I know…
Obviously, all
of that = not gonna happen.
Without a specific job title or specific hours, we’ve
been careful not to say yes right away to things because we know 1) we would always be working, and 2) we would be
spread too thin to do any of it well.
And after 28 years, I’ve learned the damage that a
lack of boundaries can bring to your life.
Bad boundaries with relationships = unfocused and unhealthy. Bad boundaries with work = exhausted, burnt
out, resentful, and again, unfocused. Especially
coming from teaching in the States, where it is very easy to work 12 hour days to come home and do more schoolwork, I know how easy it is
to get so distracted from the big picture.
So this week when we were asked to help out with House
of Hope, my first thought, as usual, was to be careful. Don’t say yes too quickly, don’t add one more
thing to the agenda that already has a list of things you want to do when you
have time… Just be cautious.
And then, almost instantly, I hear this still small
voice gently reminding me –
“Christine, I am never
cautious with you. I loved you so
recklessly that it put me on a cross...”
Wow.
So this is what that means then? Completely forgetting about myself? Not worrying about my own needs? Is that even possible? Is it healthy?
And what I have finally realized is that it’s not
about being reckless with other people, it’s about being reckless with
God. It’s in loving Him recklessly that we find our true selves, and that we not only
find but are also given the energy to do whatever He calls us to do. (FYI, that’s not always easy. Actually, it’s usually harder than not. And that’s why you need to be recklessly in
love :)
There is room (PLENTY) for boundaries in our
world. I still believe in saying no,
limiting work hours, and having to sometimes distance yourself in
relationships.
But not with God.
I don’t know exactly what it looks like or how to do
it; all I know is that every time I try to figure that out, I sense Him
reminding me to stop looking at all the people and things and just look at
Him. If I am fixed on Him, everything
else works itself out.
So maybe you need to set some boundaries in order to get to the point of knowing God and
loving Him recklessly. (You won’t have
any other choice once you really know Him, I promise!) I couldn’t encourage that enough.
And maybe you’re like me. Who still, after all these years, needs a
good reminding that He is my first
love, and He will never let me down.
