Today’s scripture: I Timothy 4:7-16 (NRSV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Julie Walsh):
“A music major’s homework is never finished,” I used to whine in college. “Those pharmacy majors may have a six-year program, but at least when their science test is over, they are through, unlike our daily playing routine.” I spent many nights practicing until all hours of the morning — especially toward the end of the semester when we had our playing proficiencies.
I literally shed blood (with my calloused fingers adjusting to a four-mallet percussion grip), sweat (would they ever turn that air conditioning on to compensate for the 90 degree heat?), and tears. It took motivation — that many days I just didn’t have — to drag myself to the practice room. Some of the toughest sessions contained mistake after mistake resulting in a feeling of failure and inadequacy deep inside.
In today’s reading, I realize that my spiritual journey is no different than the musical one I have taken. There is a theme that Paul continues to dwell upon in this passage that he sums up with two words in verse 7: “Train yourself.” Simply put, he is saying that living a productive, optimistic, spirit-filled life is not going to come naturally. It will take daily practice.
Training yourself spiritually is much like practicing an instrument, singing, playing a sport, engaging in a hobby, or trying to advance in a career. You will always have to work consciously and intentionally to improve. In addition, it takes a special willingness to make yourself vulnerable to mistakes and failures along the way. The key is to “be diligent. . . so that everyone may see your progress.”
Thought for the day: God, please make me always aware that I’m in training, learning to be more like Jesus. Please give me patience too, Lord, as I remember that others around me are also in training.
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