Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s that time of year when the morning air is cool but the sun is scorching, so my time outside is sometimes shorter than my Heart wants it to be. Before I headed inside out of the blazing sun, I was entertained by this little guy as it ventured away from its mother to play. Although she was grazing away for her sustenance, she didn’t miss a move, and I’m sure she would be ready to jump in should anything threaten her little one. Every once in a while the fawn would run back to check in with its mother and get a little sustenance from her. Right now it is totally dependent on its mom for food, but one day soon it will be ready to graze just like all the others. As the baby learns more and more about life and how to maneuver safely, it will soon become strong enough to make it on its own. Watching the deer dynamics, reminded me of how that’s the way it is in the Journey of Faith. As we learn more and more about our Father we become strong enough to make it through the Journey of Faith and we eventually trade milk for Real Sustenance. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

This world is made up of all kinds of people in all kinds of shapes and sizes…with each one walking a unique journey of their own. It seems as if more and more of them are so afraid of the world that their growth has become thwarted, and they’re depending on their parents for sustenance long past where they should be. Even a common deer intuitively knows better than that! But those people don’t care if they ever grow up. They have no natural desire for independence…or at least not if it comes with any sacrifice on their part. They don’t mature and they don’t realize what they’re missing – all those amazing things that come to us with maturity. These people are robbing themselves of the Joy of Life because they refuse to move forward. It’s one thing to rob yourself, it’s an entirely different story to rob the Living God. It’s one thing to allow yourself to be a perpetual teenager with a future you couldn’t give away or sell to the highest bidder…it’s an entirely different thing to allow yourself to become a perpetual Spiritual Slug missing out on all the Rewards that will come to those who Choose to Mature in the Lord.

There are (almost) as many Spiritual Slugs as there are stars in the sky. These are the ones living as if they believe that Christianity is a spectator sport and that God is the kind of Father willing to tolerate a child who refuses to grow up. Even a common deer knows when it’s time for more, and it works hard to reach the point where it can eat the Food of an adult even in the “presence of mine enemies”. As for me, I don’t want to roll back the clock and I don’t want to be a child. I’ve been Sharpened for the Journey which was only possible because of my Desire to Mature. There’ll be plenty of time to “spectate” when He calls me Home. As for now, it’s my goal to learn as much – to walk as Far – to Love like never before, and to Live out the Journey of Faith in such a way that is pleasing to my Father. Prayerfully One Day He will say “Well done”!

How about you?

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied”