Stay in your lane…

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

“Stay in your lane…” that’s advice my children receive when poking their noses in business not their own.  They occasionally snap it at one another.  I am hopeful that it gets repeated on playgrounds and in the halls while they’re at school or otherwise off living their busy lives.  I try to live by my own example, staying in my lane. 

http://releasingmetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/3500052635_f1fafd53bf1.jpg

(from the Flikr account of the mighty Canadian juicepig)

I am generally loathe to give advice, preferring to listen to someone’s perspective on their challenge, and then, because I have a differing perspective, offer feedback (when solicited, almost never uninvited) on what I get from where I sit.  I read just this morning “Seeing things from a different perspective is a way of making space for grace.” I may be on to something, but there’s more good to be gained here.   According to Dr. Kirk B. Jones who authored this perspective “thank God, grace doesn't need a lot of space to make a real difference.” Apparently, it is possible to stay in your lane AND stay in grace.  I truly may be on to something here.

For me, staying in my line is mostly about not borrowing trouble, as goes the old expression.  I have enough in my life to stay occupied without taking on the additional (and unnecessary burden) of bearing and attempting to solve the world’s problems.  I am choosing to bestow, and make space for Grace.

In my continuing attempt to master peace, I am learning that the less I say, the more I observe.  I am also learning that the more I am still, the more space I leave for quiet, the greater opportunity for the words I choose to speak to be received, because they are more precious (there are less of them). Can you imagine the impact in your life of saying less, and sharing more peace? I don’t just mean peace as in quiet, I mean peace as in the peace that comes of following the instructions provided by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Colossae.  In my own zany hearing, it sounds like Paul is admonishing the early church to "stay in their lanes." 

Answer this...is your conduct consistently pleasing? Would you want those who love you to model your current behavior back to you, or might it need a little tweak? Are you staying in your lane? Remember, staying in your lane is a way of making space for grace.  What’s your perspective? Interestingly enough, I discovered, in writing Friday, that mine perspective is (aspirationally, at least) “imprisoned by hope.”  I am bound by my belief that it will all be well, according to His Will, and it is there that I rest; hidden in Him, desiring to be still.  And that is today’s blessing.  Today’s reminder that God is good.