The Rule of the Day

"I don't have enough bathrooms!"  My mom woke up to this realization several nights.  She was planning my wedding.  I wanted to get married outdoors in my parents backyard.  She was an excellent planner because she worried about the details.  Yet she did not let the "tail" (of a potential restroom shortage) wag the "dog" (my wedding). 

I remember her telling me about her mid-night revelations. There were other panicked thoughts, but I don't recall her trying to convince me to change the venue for the wedding.  She was also perceptive.  She knew if I was engaged to this man after a couple of weeks that I probably would have married him sooner than 9 months later.  So I must really want that outdoor wedding in her backyard.  So my dad re-landscaped and she problem-solved to give me the wedding of my dreams.

"The tail does not wag the dog" would be my section heading for Mark 2:23-28.  Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees when His disciples picked some grain as they walked through a grain field on the Sabbath. They had a rule that declared this grain picking unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus answered them with a reminder that when it was necessary David and his companions entered the house of God and ate the bread that only priests were to eat.  He concluded with "the Sabbath was made for man, not the man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is head of even the Sabbath!"  (I added the !)

The Pharisees made the rules the "dog" or the point. Today these verses remind me that the "dog" or the point is my relationship with God, not how I follow the rules of the relationship.  The rules should be the "tail" or the expression of the "dog".

In our spiritual lives we construct "rules" so we will be consistent and comfortable in our worship of God and relationship with God.  Too often we allow the rules to rule rather than let God be the ruler of the rules.  The point (or the "dog") is not how I keep the rules or how well I've followed the rules, but that I glorify God. Times change and I need to be ready to experience God in a new and deeper way.  I can't take God's gifts and try to rule them instead of enjoying them.  Then it becomes about the rules and not the gifts.

Most believers think the rule for time spent with God should happen first thing each day. I've been to many seminars to learn techniques to deepen my relationship with God.  I've gathered many tips.  Yet my observation is to be realistic with my situation and put my relationship with God time in the best possible spot in my day.  Now I'm early to rise and spend some of the first moments of the day (after feeding the dogs and brewing the coffee, I've learned eliminate some distractions and wake up are good ideas for effective learning.)   When my husband was in seminary and I was working fulltime, my study time was during my break at work and doing the dishes was my prayer time, so much so that I often turned down help from guests with the task.  When my child was very young, I spent bath time in prayer (yes, my eyes were open) and nap time studying.

Today I am reminded not to let the "tail"  (the rules of my relationship) wag the "dog" (my relationship with God).  The point is not the rules and how often I accomplish and fulfill the rules but the point is the worship of the Ruler, God.  Jesus is the Ruler of the rules!

My relationship with God ("the dog") should be apparent by my "tail"( the rules) management.  My two dogs express their emotions through their tails.  When I arrive there is a lot of wagging as they are excited. When the tails are straight up they are concentrating.  I want my time with God to be full of excitement and concentration, not just a time to "check a box" and get it done.  I look for new ways to break my own "rules" of relationship so I will be ready and excited to hear and experience God.

I can't let my rules rule rather The Rule (Jesus) rules my rules!