Sunday morning came in the form of an alarm. It lulled me back to reality as quickly as most mornings do. I was tired but the ambitions I held firmly in my grasp were not. There was much to accomplish today and I, Katie Pezzutto, was going to beat with gusto each challenge that decided to loom its smirking face over me.
After grabbing a banana and some toast slicked with peanut butter I loaded my things into my car and tore down the road towards work.
“Whoops!” After an abrupt stop at a red light, my water bottle fell over my armrest and landed on floor behind my chair. I twisted my neck to retrieve it and in doing so caught a glimpse of something I had failed to “champion” that morning. Even more awful still, it was the most important thing I could have accomplished.
My faded, leather bible sat on the cushion of my backseat. Its unopened pages rested snuggly against each other.
How did I forget that in the car? Oh, that’s right… I had decided I didn’t have time to spend with Jesus this morning.
Not cute.
The fleshy nerves around my raw heart seared. I had substituting busyness for time with the One who brought peace.
I was leaning on my achievements to make me happy and not my Saviours hands.
Ouch. Not cute.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much I could do as the clock was ticking down and I was expected to be at work in five minutes. Things would have to wait.
Seven minutes later I arrived, set my bag down on the floor and sunk into my cushy chair. As soon as I had typed my name into the data base, a winged dot caught my peripheral. The thumb sized creature was inside the office and from the fuss it was putting up this was the last place on earth it wanted to be.
Smash, smash, smash. If I listened close enough I’m sure I could’ve hear him screaming for freedom as his tiny wings pattered against the glass. My heart melted for the little guy.
Without hesitation I snagged a fresh toilette from the kitchen and tromped towards the moth. Those emails could wait. As I reached out for the tormented insect I was struck with the ridiculousness of my situation and with a startling thought:
the hairy intruder was me.
We weren’t all that different from one another in a lot of ways. The two of us were trapped by our propensity to overcomplicate the simple things in life. Unlike the moth, I had a sure-fire way out of any mess I had created for myself. My problem was that I often chose not to take it.
Until I stepped in he didn’t have either luxury.
Things were about to change.
My little friend put up quite the fight, despite the fact that he was already exhausted from beating against his prison for so long. If only he would have allowed himself to ease into the cloth. I would have quickly and easily swept him away and into the great outdoors.
Silly beast… silly me.
Why had I been fighting against the wind, neglecting what was most important for temporary things, when I knew the powerful Being who could calm the greatest of storms?
My question for you today is this: why fight the battles by yourself instead of relying on the One who, like a daring lover, is willing to conquer them for you? Why spend time with exhaustive goals when the arms of the Prince of Peace are wide open and welcoming, His face bright and shining with a smile?
Don’t.
Run to Jesus.
No matter what storm you are facing. No matter how inadequate you may feel.
He will always take you back and give you peace. He will give you purpose and joyfully release you to beat your wings into that wild, blue yonder.
With much love,
K.L Pezzutto
