Last week, as my family was trying to watch a sermon by Bill Johnson on YouTube, we kept watching that little “loading” circle appear every few minutes. For some reason, the fact that this was happening during my family’s “God time” moved me to action. It’s not like we hadn’t spent countless minutes–hours even–watching the buffer sign on Netflix, and even having our dinner music interrupted for the past 3 years.
The sick part is that I’m an IT professional, and I have the tools and even the box of wire, the crimpers, the mod plugs and the wall jacks IN MY TRUCK to do the job. I had put the job off because I had to run a cable from my cable modem in my semi-detached FROG (for those of you in the North, that’s a Finished-Room-Over the-Garage) through a bit of roof that used to be a covered deck, and into the main house attic, and down through the wall to my entertainment center. It seemed like a big job. Bottom line is, when I finally got to it, it took me less than three hours… total.
Now we watch clear movies, listen to uninterrupted sermons and music, we don’t have to wait, lose our place, and stare awkwardly at each other while waiting for the medium to continue.
Why write about all that… and take up all your time?
Because it all has a deeply spiritual significance, as do many annoying and difficult things in our lives.
Imagine if you will, applying this to spiritual growth (this hit me in the shower this morning)…:
I have ample broadband, way more than needed to stream a HD video. The Holy Spirit is always there – even right inside me, with all the information from God, the maker of all things.
I bought the best Wireless Access Point I could find 3 years ago, to cover a distance of only about 30 feet. Too often, I rely on getting “the signal” through others. Bill Johnson is great, as are Pete Cabrera, Tom Loud, Todd White, and countless others who have “discipled” me through my wireless signal. I have even attended ministry schools, got ordained, serve regularly and have a “ministry”. But out-dated good doesn’t hold a candle to the current best (listening directly to the Lord).
Reception was not the best. On the receiving end, my Roku box is buried in a shelf, under a fish tank, behind the kitchen pots and pans… Our souls are cluttered with activity, a to-do-list, demands of others, entertainment–all things that kill our “reception”.
I thought the job would be tough… and it was. I had to take apart part of the eaves and drill through some walls and rafters. I had to drill through the carpet on the office end, and belly-crawl through insulation on the other end. It was itchy, nasty, and only a little bit risky, but with the help of the Holy Spirit and my daughter (both of whom I frequently enlist), the job went well, it was actually easier than expected (Providence), and the results are fantastic, making me wonder, “Why the hell didn’t I do this sooner?”
And there is is. Because hell would have us settle for an indirect, weak signal, that casts a blurry and non-coherent message, all while having us believe that our current efforts are reasonable, and that the best is too hard to achieve.
I hear God using this event to challenge me to go the extra mile to obtain the direct signal. Make the effort, remove the distractions, get alone… belly-crawl though uncomfortable circumstances if you must, but find and maintain that direct signal from the Lord. It’s worth the effort.