Here’s my typical morning routine.
I wake up.
Drink a cup of coffee.
Have quiet time.
Read.
Pray.
Think.
Then the kids wake up and all sanity disappears.
Case in point: last week.
During quiet time one morning, I read something that deeply resonated with me.
“There is enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed.” -Gandhi
Ten minutes after reading that quote, normal life invaded.
The phone rang.
The kids started fighting.
The laundry machine beeped.
And a full box of cheerios splashed all over the floor.
Basically, my life went from quiet to loud and peaceful to rushed in 2.5 seconds (which is nothing new).
Normally when life invades like this I instantly forget what was speaking to my heart in the first place and I go about my day as if nothing had resonated at all – which is so frustrating.
But I’ve been so tired of this happening, and that this craziness is what sets the tone for the rest of my day, that I have recently found myself praying that God would invade and take the craziness away.
And you know what? The coolest thing started happening.
Take for example, the above-mentioned quote. The words “need and greed” just wouldn’t seem to leave my brain alone.
As I was driving my kids to school, need and greed.
In the middle of a meeting, need and greed.
While getting gas for my vehicle, need and greed.
During dinner with the family, need and greed.
But rather than silently mulling over these things independently, I felt prompted to vocalize these thoughts with the people around me – to make God part of the conversation.
So I looked for opportunities to do exactly that.
As I was driving my kids to school, I asked them what they thought it meant to live a generous life.
At the end of the meeting, I asked my friend what she thought Gandhi meant by ‘enough for everyone’s need.’
While getting gas for my vehicle, I asked the cashier if she was familiar with Gandhi and what her thoughts were on the quote.
During dinner with the family, I told my husband about the variety of responses I had gotten and how thought provoking everyone’s perspectives were.
And before I knew what was happening, the tone of my days started changing.
Because that’s what He does, isn’t it?
So here’s what I’ve concluded, and I assure you it’s nothing profound:
Allowing God to invade your life has more to do with inviting Him into the craziness rather than asking Him to take the craziness away.
Look for opportunities to make Him part of the conversation and watch as He starts to invade.
Wouldn’t you say this is what Gandhi meant?
To hoard God and keep the amazing things He does for us all to ourselves is greed. But to share Him with others and invite Him into the conversations of our lives at every opportunity we get is need.
”Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” Deuteronomy 6:7 (NLT)
