On Acceptance, pt. 2

See pt. 1

Accept what, tho?

Many times pastors will come up with a word or phrase at the beginning of a new year, something like a slogan that should guide our thinking during the year. Usually I forget in a few weeks what the word is and go on with my life. Our pastor, however, had a different idea for us on this retreat: We would pray to God and ask Him for a personal word to guide us. I figured I’d forget that word quickly, too.

As I was sitting nice and dry in the nook of our group’s bedroom, I flipped back and forth in the Bible and prayed. I asked God to show me something. But rather than a particular verse, a particular word came to mind: Accept.

“Accept what?” I asked.

I started thinking about my Leap of Faith earlier. In retrospect, I realize I shoulda told my friends beforehand that I sucked at swimming. But then they woulda probably talked me out of the jump. But it was called, literally, “Leap of Faith”—and I did that by not knowing how to swim. But then again, I coulda drowned, weren’t it for the quick thinking of my friends who saved me.

This brought me to the first lesson in acceptance I learned in 2020. Basically, what’s done is done. There is no value in focusing on the shoulda, woulda, coulda. But where do I go from here?

Again I heard the word “accept” in my heart.

I would at least accept that the word accept wouldn’t leave me for a while. Then a Scripture caught my eye:

“Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NET‬‬

This brought to mind an old favorite:

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NET‬‬

But what did this have to do with acceptance?

That Sunday we all left Lion King early to get to the church service back home. It was a very normal Sunday, and I was happy to be onstage. I did have the word “accept” in the back of my mind as I sang. I wondered then, should I just sit back and accept 2020 will be good like those verses seemed to imply? Straight paths sounded real good to me, especially after the headaches 2019 had brought me.

See pt. 3