Saturday, August 28, 2010

Hidden Agendas

Hidden Agenda, image courtesy of John Casey, blkmrktgallery.com

Some time ago, I read something that resonated with me; it was something which only recently I could identify with. Kim, who blogs over at From the Heart Online recently wrote:

If you’re thinking,Joy isn’t happiness? What?! What’s the difference?I’m with you. Then I learned the difference - that happiness is an emotion, and joy is more a decision or belief.1

This caused me to reflect on a recent change in my thought process. First and foremost, I’ve seen myself as a man for a number of years. My concept of manhood has defined my view of not only myself but others as well. If someone got in my personal space, I wouldn’t step back, I'd move forward. I learned to meet any perceived act of aggression or intimidation with resistance and force; push before someone pushes me was my thinking. I remember one night as a teen, I was standing outside a bar watching two men fight; it was the most intense physical conflict I’ve ever seen. What registered in my mind was that confrontations are a fight to the death; there can be only one victor, opposition must be vanquished.

Realizing there were problems in my marriage coincided with recognizing the failure of my relationship with Christ. But I still was comfortable with who I was and if others had a problem with me, it was essentially their problem. I began writing two years ago, and at the time it was a new experience for me. I joined a writer’s group who critiqued my fictional short stories on romance and relationships, I took classes on writing; I discovered a passion for writing. The irony here is that I was comfortable writing about fictional relationships while never having to address my own relationship issues. I did not write about Christ or Christianity although I did sense the Lord was trying to gain my attention.

When it became apparent that problems in my marriage weren’t being addressed, I decided to cease writing (in December, 2009) and rediscover the passion I once felt for Christ, my wife and my life. In January of this year I began daily prayer, bible study and meditation. During this time, the only thing I sensed from God was to start a blog but I resisted those thoughts because I felt I was in no position to talk to others about Christ. The more I prayed, the more distant my relationship seemed to be with the Lord. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t sense or feel His presence. I felt isolated from God, thinking He withheld communication from me and I didn’t understand why.

I was doing the things I’m supposed to do and yet it seemed as if things were actually getting worse. In March, I decided to start a blog because this was the only consistent area I believed God was directing me in. Still, I couldn’t understand why God remained silent to me. After all, this was a big risk I was taking to write about my relationship with Christ. In actuality, I began writing about a relationship with Christ; not my relationship with Christ.

I’ve only discovered recently the difference and it occurred in a way which could only have happened by the grace of God and the Holy Spirit.

I decided to clean a toilet.

I need to explain that first; I’ve come to acknowledge that I’m lazy. All my life, I’ve despised housework, deferring it to those I lived with. Secondly, I want to say, I cannot imagine the thoughts that my wife, children, mother and brothers held of me as I sat around watching television, or running off to do my own thing while there was work to be done, but in actuality, I really can imagine their thoughts.

As I cleaned this toilet, I wondered why I’ve avoided household chores and the Holy Spirit clearly enunciated the words because you’re lazy and selfish. As you can probably tell, the thing I’d been praying for, to feel the presence of God, to sense His direction in my life and to know He still loves me had been answered but I had not expected it to get this personal. Submitting my life to the authority of God meant that things were going to get ugly before they got better.

I’m cleaning a toilet and I’m enjoying it.

It occurs to me at this very moment something which I didn’t even recognize until just now.

The toilet was a metaphor of my life.

I desperately wanted my wife back but she’d convinced me that our marriage was over. Any attempt to talk with her was met with stiff impenetrable resistance. I could now feel the presence of God in a way I had never experienced before but my wife was no longer a part of this experience.

I love my wife. She is a gift from God and yet I took her for granted just as I’d done with Christ and everyone else. Apart from her, I am empty; a wandering vagabond.

Over a year ago, she decided to leave but she didn’t leave, physically. Emotionally, she’d left the building and make no mistake about it, this was all my fault. The house was large enough for us to conduct our lives separately but it’s not what I wanted. I’d created an impasse that undid the one person who really mattered to me.

Even though I wanted her back in my life, I still had not fundamentally changed from who I was before. I’m fortunate that the Lord understood me in ways I never imagined and just as He gave me the desire for daily prayer, bible study and meditation, I began doing household chores. Initially, I was doing just the easy things like taking out the garbage. I realize now that was the only thing I took ownership of.

Next, I took up the laundry and I even did some ironing. But again, these were things which I found easy to do and they didn’t seem to be cumbersome for me because it was something that occurred as a weekly (sometimes even bi-weekly) task. Soon, I found myself washing the dishes and I must admit that although I wasn’t trying to show her that I was changing, I recognized an evolution in my attitudes as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit influencing me to change; I did these tasks because I recognized they needed to be done and I really wanted to do them. Up until this point I’d never considered cleaning the bathroom as something which needed to be done (by me).

I believe this is a good breaking point so I'll stop and resume this discussion tomorrow.

"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."2

"...Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning."3

"Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit."4

Father God,

You have been so gracious to me in ways which are totally unwarranted and yet, in spite of my ignorance and selfish ways, You penetrated the walls I erected around my life. I marvel now at how You are restoring me by breaking me down into workable parts that fit together in a way I could never manage on my own. How can I truly express my gratitude to You? You've given me joy, placing it before me much like a parent extends their hands to an infant preparing to take those first of many steps. Thank You for a wife who loves me, in spite of me. Through her, You continually bless and enrich my life. Thank you for allowing me to experience such joy. My journey has not been without hazards and difficulties but You've been right here with me through every one. I bless the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Thank you for those who took up the fight of spiritual warfare on behalf of me. They never ceased to pray for me. It is because of their example that I have taken up the mantle to pray for the needs of others. It is a joy I share with so many others standing before me. I count it all joy. Thank You Holy Spirit, for the gentle manner You employed to gain my trust in You. You fill me with a love, joy and hope that overflows. Amen.


Footnote:
  1. Lies That Rob Me of Joy: Lie #4, written by Kim, for the blog From the Heart Online, August 19, 2010
  2. Psalm 16:11, NASB
  3. Psalm 30:5, NASB
  4. Psalm 51:12, NASB
References:
  1. From the Heart Online, Blog written by Kim
  2. The Layman's Parallel New Testament, Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  3. The Ryrie Study Bible (New American Standard Version), Edited by Charles C. Ryrie, Moody Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 0-8024-8920-6

7 comments:

Karen said...

"I began writing about a relationship with Christ; not my relationship with Christ."

I can't wait to read the rest of the story....

Amanda said...

I have seen your name here and there in various comments, so I thought I would pop over and see what you have to say. I am glad I did.

What a blessing that you have learnt to be totally honest with Him, who sees all anyway. Even more, what a blessing you have a blog in which you can share such precious lessons with the rest of blogland.

Cleaning toilets. I can so relate to that. I am a female, but a few months the Lord impressed on my husband and I to start our own cleaning company. We did that, and we were humbled in ways I couldn't express in a little comment box.

He knows what He is doing. We can trust in that, and we need only agree with Him quickly, so we can get on with walking out the rest of His glorious plans for our lives.

Keep cleaning the toilet, and there you will find the deeper revelation of Who exactly this Prince of Peace is.

Blessings to you and yours...

Teresa said...

I love this post! Wow! I am really blessed by this and to read the analogy of cleaning the toilet...isn't God amazing? He can use anything we are doing and give us a visual like only He can! I'm on my way to read your 2nd post! God bless your confession...praise God for His freedom in the midst of cleaning a toilet!

Peggy said...

Blessings MTJ... How was this HIDDEN from me? I am so thankful that you are openly, sharing honestly "cleaning a toilet" from a man's perspective (lol)and love how the Holy Spirit talked with you about
this really well chosen & written analogy for each of our lives.

Though I am a new reader, I see the hand of God drawing you into that right relationship with Christ and how He is changing your thinking and thus behavior. Your admitting this is the beginning only of making healthy choices. At first, I could not get the transition from "being pushed", "personal space",
and manhood to the unpeeling of the
marriage relationship to cleaning the toilet. Then the connection came.

I need to read this and gain an understanding because I too have a failed marriage as regards relationship but mine is with an unbeliever who does not think he needs a relationship with Christ or a church. So I'm separated from that for 15+ yrs. I could no longer battle with his demons and never saw how my toilet needed to be cleaned.

By the way, before I commented,
I got up and went to clean my toilet. Now that's inspiration!
Oh, and I tried a new gel, it's called the oil of gladness and the joy of humility.

As we come before our Father, may His Spirit change us, tear down any strongholds and create in us a clean heart, a pure heart, a heart softened and ready to be changed.
Attitude readjustment and a perspective from God on our own accountability before Him.
Washed, cleansed, refreshed, reawakened, new through His Spirit.
Refine us, O Lord!... love your prayer.

Thanks bro... looking forward to the rest of this "Hidden Agenda" now that I'm behind for taking the time to clean myself up, rest & be restored. Thanks for your visits too...maybe that was a prompt of the Holy Spirit, He is gentle ya' know...not a pusher. And His space is your personal space, a temple of the Holy Spirit... give Him room to work & finish the "job".

MTJ said...

Karen: It's only recently that I allowed the Holy Spirit access to this part of my life. To expose myself in writing was something I was very reluctant to do on a personal level. I was asking the Lord to "Give me a makeover", while I thought I could remain comfortable with my personal life. My approach just wasn't working for God and I'm happy now with my evolution.

Amanda: Thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to visiting your blog and reading about your family and what God is doing in your lives. I have to remind myself that I'm not yet where God wants me to be but I'm not who I was. I'm taking steps in faith allowing the Holy Spirit to show me things about myself which I've either denied or ignored. In this evolution, I've discovered a joy and passion which I previously never encountered.

Teresa: What can I say Sis except that you are so right about the amazing God we serve. I'm discovering the joy you and other believers often speak about.

Peggy: I am learning lessons in submission, humility and service; I have found joy in those lessons. I'm sorry if my words lack the ability to place my thoughts in context but I'm glad you were able to sort through them and find the connection. As I continue to write, I hope the Lord gives me the clarity of thought that I may express myself in a way that isn't confusing.

My mindset today is as you have said about the Holy Spirit, "give Him room to work & finish the 'job'."

Peggy said...

MTJ...clarification: it was not you, no way...it was me. And that's exactly what I need to work on!

Aren't we all learning these lessons on one level or another?

I'm so glad you can say JOY in learning these lessons. As for me, the discipline and learning the lesson is the most difficult and painful, I can't say JOY until I'm through the lesson. Perseverance!
Pressing On in this journey of life!

MTJ said...

Peggy: I believe whether one finds joy in the midst or after they are through, the benefit is they found joy. For me, I'm thankful that in these two instances, I have joy in the midst of doing them. I don't know if the Lord will allow me to know joy in other areas this same way. In these instances, I'm uncertain that I would have been able to continue in them without knowing joy in the midst of doing them; God knows my need in this area.

The joy was definitely a benefit for me but the real benefit is that I learned to have a desire to do something as a praise offering to God. I wanted to do this and I wanted God to be pleased with the results.