When i get home my daughter (1) hands me her coat to signify she would like to go out for a walk (Jacob's happy enough about this too). When we get our coats on and head out the door she is skipping and jumping and shrieking with excitement as she holds my hand. But after about 5 minutes the skipping & squealing stops, and while she never once holds her hands up to be lifted, her walk has less drive to it. When we finish our circuit and turn the last corner the skipping etc starts again as she sees home.
In many ways this can be like the Christian life - we begin with such enthusiasm and energy, making lots of noise as we share the Gospel and praise King Jesus. I'm about 14 years into my walk with Christ and if i'm honest, and i don't think i'm alone in this, there is a waning of that vibrance that my walk once had.
There is no notion nor desire to drop out and leave The Way, but it often feels more of a plod than an adventure.
I have no doubt that excitement will grow as time gets closer to that homecoming at the end of the Christian walk, but i also have a fear that this 'mid-christian-life-crisis' may cause a lot of regrets. And that on that day when we are about to step across the thresh-hold many of us will wish we had done a lot more skipping and jumping, Gospel sharing and Christ praising along the way and especially in our mid life.
This Tim Hughes Song can be quite a good prayer to cry with to our Father . . .
There must be more than this
oh breath of God come breath within
There must be more than this
Spirit of God we wait for you
Fill us anew we pray
Fill us anew we pray
Consuming Fire
Fan into flame
a passion for your name
Spirit of God
fall in this place
Lord have ur way
Lord have ur way
with us
Come like a rushing wind
Fill us with power from on high
Now set the captives free
leave us abandoned to your praise
Lord let your glory fall
Lord let your glory fall
