There's a Hedge in the Way...

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world"- Mother Theresa

Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Yes, I know.  I've been on a "service-kick".  The topic of serving others has been implanted in my brain the past few weeks.  God has really been burning his love for people into my heart, asking me to follow in His steps.  But here's the thing- I don't want this idea of serving to be a phase, a fleeting idea, a momentary fixation.  I want it to be a part of my everyday life.  And that's the hard part.

I was talking to a friend the other day as a group of us were discussing this idea of serving.  She agreed.  She has been wanting to reach out in service to her elderly neighbor for the past few months, but doesn't.  "What's been stopping you" we wondered. 

"There's a hedge in the way".

The idea was hilarious to us at the time...that a simple hedge was preventing her from doing something her heart had been desiring to do...until we saw the picture of the hedge, that is. 

But here's the thing...how many of US can say the same thing regarding our lives?  How many of us are not doing what we were created to do because of some sort of obstacle that seems too difficult (or too inconvenient) to overcome?  For us, it may not be a literal hedge...but what about the hedge of time, of fear, of insecurity.  What about the hedge of finances, of career, or of reputation.

Let's be real with ourselves...we, Christians, are afraid to really give of ourselves.  We are afraid to give until it hurts.  We allow the obstacles in our worlds to get in the way of really following Jesus.  But nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little. 

There is something profoundly final in the words of Mother Theresa who regarding this topic says, "I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love".