Camel-Like Submission??

I have been ruminating on some New Year's Resolutions for the last week, until I read recently a blog post of another missionary who writes of intentional choice and concise declaration for her NYRs.

My NYRs have always tended to be the open-ended generic type - and typically Christian - to study my Bible and pray more. These top my list again this year, but the above definition of an NYR has struck home. And thus, my New Year's Resolution has incorporated an idea on which I have been meditating for a few months. An idea which started in French class back this Spring, which God used - through an object lesson on a camel ride - to cause me to meditate on my life.

Spring 2008 - French Lesson:

verb - se genouiller: used to describe the action of a camel kneeling to the ground

Fall 2008 - Conversation:

Yes - this verb can be used to describe the action of us kneeling before God

Fall 2008 - Object Lesson:

Location: West of Niamey, Niger, West Africa

Purpose: Camel Ride Trip with RockPointe Prayer Team

Subject: Camels

I noticed on this trip that the camel is definitely a stubborn and often one-minded dromedary. When asked to kneel to the ground to accept a load or passenger, more often than not, the camel will loud groan and protest said activity before eventually submitting to the command of the camel driver. During the camel train ride, the camel driver walks in front of the camel - leading him.

At one point in the trip, the camel train paused to transfer one of the team children from one camel to another. During this brief pause, one of the camels broke line to sit down in the adjacent field to munch on some plants - much to the chagrin of his driver - and of course, he loudly protested having to leave snack behind, get up and rejoin the train of movement.

Lesson:

As I made the connection behind camel's behaviour, through the verb for it's action of kneeling, to my kneeling before my God; I realized that we (Christians in general - me specifically) sometimes behave like the camel. How often does my God ask of me submission and I respond with groans and loud protests - sounding much like the camels that day?

New Year's Resolution:

This year, I resolve:

be more attentive to His voice calling for submission , in the small details of life . . . .

Sure I succeed at times in the big things - I'm in Africa right?? Well, long story short - that was a series of submissions to align my heart with God's. I've always had His call on my life to serve Him overseas, but when it came down to it, it was a huge step to leave family and friends for a lifetime in another country. But, back to my NYR . . .

the small details of life. Daily life. The shaping and molding of my life to be like His.

He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. Malachi 3: 2b-3a

Be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

There are times when His call to submission resounds loud and clear in my heart. And there are times when His voice is a soft stirring, a nudging to heed His voice and follow His will.

In either case, I also resolve to:

heed His voice and kneel before Him without protest.

As I wrote, I reflected that my oft-times camel-like submission was described by Jesus in the Gospels:

The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-31)

What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard."

"I will not" he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, "I will, sir", but he did not go.

Which of the two did what his father wanted?

I could take this parable two ways:

1. Permission to behave as a camel
or
2. Encouragement throughout this year in the times I will fail

Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

I want to strive beyond camel-behaviour. I desire to kneel before my God in submission to His voice - in daily life, in the molding of my character, in following Him. I have no doubt that it will require sacrifice, and I am sure my camel-nature will rear it's head from time to time; but, as the camel has a driver - so my Father goes before me, leading me on this path.