It's Not About the Rocks

On Saturday, I returned home from a week of ministry at First Baptist Church in Memphis, NY with the youth group from our church. We worked alongside a team of church builders and the Memphis church in various construction projects in their new church building.

The primary job was picking up rocks. Many man-hours were spent in removing rocks from the church yard so that it could be seeded. Almost every day included rock-picking. By the end of the week, we had a good system and were able to clear out, seed and spread straw over a large area in a shorter amount of time.

When we weren't able to work outside, team members were busy painting, running electrical wires, installing smoke detectors, hanging dropped ceilings, sweeping, mopping, putting together a chandelier and numerous other odd jobs.

But it wasn't about the rocks. Or the grass seed. Or the straw. Or even the church building.

It was about what God was teaching us through those activities.

Patience. Endurance. Joyfulness. Overcoming fears. Learning new skills.

That's a lesson that I need to remember as I go to work this morning.

It's not about the mattresses that I'll have to carry upstairs. It's not about the sofas that will have to be manipulated to fit through the doorways. It's not about the personnel conflicts. It's not about the paycheck.

It's about what God is trying to teach me through those events.

Patience. Endurance. Joyfulness. Giving God the glory. Thankfulness.

"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him." (1 Cor 7:17).

It's not about the rocks.