Next Monday we’ll be launching another women’s Bible study at our church.
As I was blocking it off in my calendar the other day, it occurred to me that it will be a bit of a sacrifice to give up the next 10 Mondays. Especially during the busy Fall season, with a daughter who has dance twice a week and a son who has football games here, there, and everywhere. We have some stretches where every night of the week has SOMETHING.
And, then, it hit me again when I went to the calendar to make dinner plans with friends. “How about a Monday,” I offered. And, then, “Oh wait. No Mondays until November.” For a moment I was sort of ticked about that Bible study, hogging up my Mondays. The nerve of it.
Until I remembered. Remembered that I love the Bible. Not because my religion demands it or because I get a better seat at the table because I carry a big, leather-bound one. But, because it’s communication to me from the God of the universe.
Have you ever tried to have a relationship without much communication? I have a few friends that I’ve kept up with since my college days. Honestly, it’s hard work because the communication is so limited. And it’s usually pretty stunting to the relationship. They know I care for them… but it’s hard to maintain much intimacy when you only talk sporadically.
This happens to marriages all the time. I know of couples who have invested years (sometimes decades) of time being married. But somewhere along the line they stopped communicating. Maybe when kids came on the scene and life got crazy busy. Maybe when one of them got a promotion and started working longer hours. I don’t know when… I just know that they got to a point where they didn’t really know each other at all. Because they stopped communicating.
God knows this. You might not realize this about Him, but He’s a talker. It’s true. Since our time began, He’s been talking. Speaking things into existence. Revealing bits of Himself in conversation with His Beloved – His people. Sending prophets and teachers to inform us. Writing things down so we wouldn’t forget. Before that, He was talking to Himself. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect communion with one another.
The Bible is full of His thoughts. Things He wants us to know… about Himself, about ourselves, about the flow of the universe and this thing called Grace.
Ahhh, yes. There it is. My Mondays are all blocked off for the next two months. And, now I remember why. It’s more than just an appointment in my calendar. Another night of religious activity. Nope. Much more than that.
It’s God speaking to me… and me getting to talk with some other women about that. Time to ponder and discuss and ask questions as we delve in to it together.
Remembering has been good for my soul. In fact, I think I’ll take the rest of this week to ponder it some more by blogging each day about with more reasons for investing my time into reading this Book. Join me?
