How many times do we hear God speaking to us, sense the Holy Spirit nudging us to go a certain way, and we do exactly the opposite?  I had an important reminder of the importance of obedience this week.  Actually, I’ve had a LOT of reminders recently (like blinking neon signs!), but I’m just writing about a couple today.  🙂

I decided to drop some bags off at my office early in the morning before hopping on the train so I wouldn’t have to lug them all over tarnation.  Reasonable enough, right?  Well, there was a red “No Parking” sign affixed to the meter in front of my building (that wasn’t there the LAST TIME I dashed in); during morning rush hour, no parking was permitted on this thoroughfare.  Hmmm, drag all these heavy bags for 3 blocks, or rush up to the 23^rd floor to drop these off?  I slipped into the parallel parking spot way before 7:30 a.m. as I justified the validity of my risky choice.  I saw a police officer nearby and asked him if it would be okay for me to leave my car for 3 minutes to put the bags into my office; he was “hands-off,” saying he didn’t have anything to do with parking matters, and that I’d be rolling the dice.  (Like he was gonna say, “Go ahead, disobey the law.”) 

I thanked him politely, then darted with my cadre of bags and full-sized umbrella up the elevator shaft, asking the security guard at the front desk to watch my car as I raced by.  Heart rate elevated, I dropped my load and ran back to the elevator and headed for my car.  The security guard said, “You’d better hurry; you’re about to get towed.”  I got to my car just as the parking man (accompanied by the tow truck!) was taking my plate information.  The cherry on top was him saying, “You parked here and the police officer said he told you not to.”  I had no recourse at all.  I humbled myself and said yes sir, thank you, you’re right, I apologize, and got into my car shaking as I drove off.  How would I have explained the car getting towed to my hubby???  I shudder to think…God is truly gracious.

But it didn’t have to be that way.  Had I been obedient in the first place, I would’ve never encountered the parking law enforcer!  No need for an adrenaline rush when we obey – whether it’s God’s laws, or the law of the land.  It really is simple – we just have to obey.  We were created to.  Things work better when we do.

With that said, I am adding an extra layer of accountability as I announce to the blogosphere that I’ve gone from do-nothing to joining a gym AND joining Weight Watchers in less than a week.  Okay, I’ve been resisting the idea while knowing I need to lose weight and start exercising (again) for a very long time, but I finally decided to do something this week.  And it took messages (like blinking neon signs!) from soooo many people God placed in my path to help me get back on the right track.  Making a decision is powerful.  Taking action is even more empowering.  Now that I’m here, I welcome you to join me on my new journey.  I’ll have lots of new stuff to write about, that’s for sure.  I have my first Personal Training session next week.  Stay tuned…

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

(II Corinthians 10:4-6)

© Copyright 2010 by Kayren J. Cathcart