as to the Lord [drive time journal no. 1]

I fly on a lot of airplanes and that means I have quite a few trips to the airport. Those trips to the airport are about 30 minutes and that is a significant amount drive time. Sometimes I listen to my iPod; sometimes I listen to talk radio; sometimes I just keep it quiet; but today on my way home from the airport, I had a little talk with God (that’s a Stevie Wonder quote, not me being trite). Seriously, I prayed and here’s what transpired….

drive journal no. 1 [9.4.06]

Thinking about Labor Day (that’s today) got me thinking about working, which triggered a thought about NOT working today; which got me visualizing ways to spend time with my family and that triggered ideas about how to love and serve my family which made me think of Brother Lawrence which brought me to a modified version of Paul’s words to the people of Colossae. “As unto the Lord” (Colossians 3: 23 PAR) or “As to the Lord” (Colossians 3: 23 TNIV)

And yes…I’m in denial of my O.C.D. ☺

As I thought about what I was going to do on my day off, I thought and prayed out loud about ways to serve my wife and my daughters – as to the Lord.

Washing the dishes…as to the Lord.
Taking out the trash…as to the Lord.
Changing diapers…as to the Lord.

And then I felt a bit awkward saying “Lord” so many times. I’m not sure why I felt awkward, but as I questioned myself I realized it’s just another sign of my humanity. Think about it…

We humans are total control freaks. The sooner we admit that fact the better off we will be. We naturally want to be in the driver’s seat of our life. That way we can ask Jesus for guidance but, when it all comes down to it, we’re the one driving so ultimately ANY direction will be controlled by us. Whereas, if Jesus is driving the car, then He is in complete control of where we are going. That means He is Lord. Lord of our life and completely in the driver’s seat. We (humans) do not naturally give up control of our lives, thus, our (and my) small discomfort with saying Lord so many times. I’m human and as I realized my humanity on the drive home, I was thankful that God (in His Spirit) made me aware this. It triggered more tasks and things in my life that I could do “as to the Lord”.

Just as Brother Lawrence practiced the presence of God at all times, my hope is that each and every one of us would do the same at all times in our lives….you guessed it – “as to the Lord”.