Nothing Else Matters

A picture came to mind this morning as I start my “routine“ work week. In the early days of this COVID quarantine, I was very structured in my new home work routine. I actually think I was more productive than when in the office. I thought this was good.

Now, four weeks into this routine, it has lost much of its glamour. I feel much more passive about the home office environment. Not that I really miss driving into work. But I see something is missing. What I have found has been precious time with my Father. Time to read His Word and learn more who He is. Now, those all too familiar other things are distractions. Even as I write this thought, an incoming email distracts me and almost derails this writing. But I see the ploy of the enemy and put it down and come back to this before I lose my thought.

Now, this morning mental picture.

A group of children in a room playing with whatever they can get their hands on; very busy making up games and coming up with childish social orders. And over to the side is Daddy; watching and waiting. Waiting to spend quality time with them. Patiently waiting. Now and then, He takes a toy aside that no one is paying attention to and slides it out the door. One by one, He’s removing the distractions. As the number of toys dwindles, the children become frustrated and uneasy. Daddy offers that He tell them a story of times gone by or a great adventure, or just a sharing of His wisdom. With all the toys and all the play, they couldn’t even hear Him, but as distractions decreased, more children with less to do, hear and notice Him. One by one, they come to hear what He is saying. His Helper continues to quietly remove toys from the room. Now the dynamics in the room look different. Many of the children are gathered around Daddy listening intently to His words, His stories. They are learning things from and about Daddy that they really never knew about Him, and His Son, and His Helper. He is fascinating!

Now there are still children who see this as an opportunity to finally get unchallenged access to the few things left in the room to play with. They go to the furthest corner of the room just to avoid notice by the others. They are so focused on what they hold, they care little about the gathering group around Daddy. More for them, they think. Some of these slowly realize these things just don’t hold much interest and they become growingly curious about this gathering, and this Daddy. They slowly put down their distractions and move closer; close enough to hear Daddy. Soon they are pressing in to hear more clearly. “Fascinating!” they think.

I think our toys and distractions are being removed. What we counted on and relied on are failing, one by one, including ourselves. Gradually, as the room gets quieter and less cluttered, we notice the One who has been here the whole time, waiting patiently to spent time with each one of us, relationally. He loves us enough to wait until we come. He will not drag us over or order us to come close. He waits and He helps by creating quiet. We may not like it at first and I may even lose my temper and cry out. But He waits, with open arms, and a story to tell.

Is this the time to stop worrying about which toy is mine, will I get my turn next on that? Is this the time to step back from my distractions and look at Who has been waiting quietly for me to finally notice Him and go sit at His feet, or even in His lap and let Him hold me close. This may be the season I need nothing else but His arms around me holding me close so I hear nothing but Him speaking tenderly to me.

Nothing else really matters.

 Blessings,

David Berryman

“Freedom is not the license to do what I want, but the strength to do what I ought.”

David has enjoyed a 40+ year career as technical support in national defense until his retirement at the end of 2023. He has also served as chaplain support in Virginia since 2011, first in the Prince William Adult Detention Center until 2019 and now at Coffeewood Correctional Facility beginning in 2021. All that along with guiding a legacy of 20+ grandchildren. David feels a deep calling to walk alongside the forgotten and rejected, helping inmates find their way back and discover their purpose.