Sorry Is Not Just a Board Game

   Way back on April 23rd of this year, I began going through the 5th, 6th and 7th chapters of Matthew's Gospel, his account of the Sermon on the Mount. I have tried to, if not catch every verse, at least catch the meaning of the thoughts of Jesus as they seem to apply to my life right now.

   It has not been an all-inclusive study, just one that relates. I have not tried to pick apart every verse or part of a verse. I just tried to catch the tenor of Jesus' words.

   I have not looked forward to the day when I got to the end of chapter 7, but it has arrived. Here is the thought for today, from The Message:

“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

   When I read this, I think back to all the blog posts I have written on the verses of these 3 chapters, and have to wonder, "how many of the insights have I actually incorporated into my life?" "How many of the admonitions and warnings have I even thought about after I typed them on my computer?"

   As I look back at some of those many postings, I am often chagrined by my callous disregard of what I have written. It sounded so good at the time, but it was so much harder to live in the light of that Truth.

   When our family gets together, especially with the kids, we often play games, and one of our favorites uses these pieces on its board.

   I usually play the yellow men, for some reason or another, probably because one of them is broken, (there is probably a great psychological study in that fact), but I also find that this simple game displays some true findings about life.

   At any one time in the game, the player's four men are in various positions around the board. Some are still in the start circle, some are making their way around the outside and maybe some are already in the home spot.

   That seems to be represented by this shot, and, as I think of the slow progress of getting the men to the home circle, going back to the start and starting over several times, my life struggle with following Jesus' words is brought out in living color.

   There are victories, sure, but too often my attitude is reflected in the one word name of this board game.

   SORRY

   God has given His Words and even the insights into some meanings of them, but often my life is characterized by realization and then forgetfulness.

   I want all my men to get around that board and into home, even the broken one.

   Go on, get back out of "start", get on the board and into "home". Sorry might be OK for a minute, but action is better.