What could Toby Mac and the 17th Century monk, Brother Lawrence possibly have in common?
Here’s the story of the day I came to the conclusion that in fact they have quite a lot in common.
The day was going to be busy: phone calls, meetings, emails, projects to finish. As I drove to the office, I was rearranging my schedule in my mind one last time and wondering how I could possibly get everything done.
There was one consolation: tomorrow was Saturday. At least I could look forward to a day that would be … Busy. Pick up laundry. Buy groceries, Run errands. Finish projects around the house. Get ready for my volunteer gig at church. See a movie. Visit my granddaughter.
It was going to be a busy Friday, followed a busy Saturday.
But never fear, I would get it all done! If they made of movie of my life for the next couple of days, I’d be the super hero, with onlookers gasping in amazement as I completed every task.
As I pulled into my usual space in the parking lot, a song came on the radio – Toby Mac’s “Steal My Show”.
If You wanna steal my show, I’ll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin’ to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can’t wait to watch You go
So take it away
Nice sentiment. But I had things to do. If I didn’t get them done, I’d look bad.
At the end of the day, I picked up my IPad and started re-reading Brother Lawrence’s “The Practice of the Presence of God”. The book details the daily life of a 17th Century Monk renowned for seeing God in all his circumstances and giving each moment back to God.
There was Brother Lawrence, getting ready to go to work in the monastery’s kitchen or shoe shop, saying to God, “O my God, since You are with me, and I must now, in obedience to Your commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech You to grant me the grace to continue in Your Presence …Receive all my works … and possess all my affections.” (Read more about Brother Lawrence at Christianity Today)
So what do they have in common?
Brother Lawrence: “Receive all my works… Possess all my affections…”
Don’t let me fall in love with the work itself. Don’t let me fall in love with what people think of me when I do the work well.
Toby Mac: “Steal My Show…”
Because it was yours all along, God.
To You be the Glory!
