What'd I Miss?

The boys in my family want to know all of the details, all of the time.

Neither likes to miss anything.  They like to know what happened, what’s going on now, and what will happen.  And they ask questions.  Questions about the details.  The questions, people.  They are real, and they are many.

I am not like this.  No news is good news.  Spare me the details.  I’d rather not know.  Only tell me if necessary.  I think this stems from a) having endless questions hurled at me since becoming a mom, b) the limitless quantity of information in the world, and c) my desire to not be in charge of all the details.

I’m burned out on details.

I’ve been on the receiving end of a lot of conversations that go like this: “I have something to tell you, but it’s a secret, so you can’t tell anybody, but there’s this person, and I can’t tell you who it is, but they did something, and I can’t tell you what they did, but it was bad.  Very, very, bad.  And we need to talk about it.”

And that, friends, is the worst.  In my mind I am filling in the blanks of whatever story you’re trying not to tell me, and let me tell you, those details are much more graphic and depraved than anything you’re trying to keep secret.

So don’t tell me.  I don’t want to know.

As a result, I miss a lot.

And that’s okay.  I’m a simple girl.  I can count on my fingers the amount of things I do every day.  I like to see empty spaces on the calendar.  I like to have big, open areas in the day to fill in when the time comes.  Or not, if need be.

I only have a vague idea about what's in the news.  I hear chatter about things in the world, like sextraffickingweatherpatternswarstrifeextremistgroupsviolenceracerelationschildrendyingdiseasepovertyhatecrimesrecessioncorruption

and I know I have missed a lot of what most people think are important because I don’t pay attention to the details about The Issues.  The World Events.  The Way Things Are Going.

Am I an avoider?  Maybe.  Ignorant?  Sure.  I’m not trying to justify my way as everyone’s right way.  I’m just letting you know: I’m okay with not knowing all the details, of missing some things.  I can’t be bogged down in the details – they keep my focus away from the important stuff. 

Love God and love your neighbors as you love yourself – this is the way to heaven, says Jesus.  I love that Jesus really knows how to get to the point.  When we remember these things, we are ready for whatever the world can throw at us.  He doesn’t promise that it will be easy, or that we won’t suffer, or that we may doubt his ways and dig in our heels and refuse to go on, but if we keep these simple instructions in mind, we can face anything.  When I put my trust in him, and let him lead me into the unknown, I know that I am doing exactly what he planned – not what I plan.

When I live my life according to details, I miss the lessons that God has for me.  Life gets in the way of my focus on him, and I’ve learned from experience that I can’t really live like that.  I miss too much of what’s important.

And I can’t risk that.  Not for all the details in the world.

*******

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.  For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.  When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.  For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.  So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.  Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.  But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NLT)

***

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”  Luke 10:25-28 (NLT)