I’d rather be…

I used to have the license plate frame “I’d rather be paddling” that I got from Sports Chalet and many times it was true because I really love being on the water paddling along the river or the lake, or the back bay…anywhere. We see those “I’d rather be…” frames all over the place and why not? They’re free and we love to be doing anything but being stuck in traffic. Then one day as I was driving along to something that I had been looking forward to for quite some time it struck me that I really wouldn’t rather be paddling, I was going to do something really great. Don’t ask me what it was now because it was a long while ago and it could have been any one of many things, worshipping, playing some goofy game with a bunch of Junior High Students, seeing their Talent Show, seeing my own kids, going out with my wife…the list can go on because I’m blessed with an abundance of wonderful people in my life. The point is, I don’t want to drive around advertising my regret if I’m actually doing something I love so I took the plate off.

What got me thinking along this line was during a Saturday Victory Motorcycle Club ride a couple of weeks ago I overheard one of my riding friends say “I’d rather by riding my motorcycle and thinking about God than in church thinking about my motorcycle.” I liked hearing that and applauded it and support the sentiment now. There is no reason why we can’t think about God and worship Him while doing whatever it is we are doing and, in fact, we should do just that. Jesus is the perfect example of this, naturally. He was always about his Father’s business and did nothing that the Father didn’t show him to do. He was in perfect obedience and contact with God. When we are in church, that’s where we need to be focused and not on the game we’re going to right after, or seeking out a fellow member to lodge some complaint, or how we’d rather be on the golf course, or doing Pinterest. When we are in church we need to be present; God is. When we are riding, shooting hoops, or paddling along a lazy river we can and should be in His presence. Others will know it when we are just as they will know it when we aren’t.

A word of caution though before we give up our Sunday services to go and think about God at the matinee, or the mall, or even for a stroll at Descanso Gardens, we cannot and should not forgo the gathering of the saints. Hebrews 10: 25 says “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We need each other and the corporate times of prayer and worship if we are to hold fast to our faith. I’ve known precious few people, maybe one, who could honestly profess God’s love and yet not be even a part time churchman.

Peace