Tip of My Iceberg

He does everything with panache. No halfway measures. Whether it’s drawing, playing soccer, or goofing around with his sister, Ward has a tenacity that I envy. His interests are broad; besides drawing, he also practices soccer and has a theatrical bent. His ability to follow through to the end with excellence is a talent I wish I had.

I can be disciplined for certain things. Not everything. Follow-through has never been my strong suit. I’ve discovered that if I’m not interested, full implementation can be a challenge.

When our oldest daughter was first born, I thought it would be great to stitch something special to hang on the wall by her crib. I chose a piece with the numbers one through ten, each made in the shape of an animal.

I managed to finish number one.

When our son was born two years later, my motivation returned. I made it through two and a half of three.

By the time our third child was born, I pitched the thing. I knew myself well enough to know I didn’t value it enough to put the time and effort into finishing it.

Achieving a goal with excellence isn’t valued today as much as it once was. We want everything quickly–fast rewards, fast food, and fast answers. Waiting is a challenge that is often avoided by choosing not to do as planned. Giving our word to fulfill a responsibility sometimes pales in comparison to what it will cost us to finish well.

Abraham understood what it meant to be “all in” on a decision. He and Sarah were unable to have children, but God promised them they would have a son. They finally had a son twenty-five years later, having waited so long that it was beyond the expected time for Sarah to have a child.

When Isaac was in his early twenties, God asked the impossible of Abraham. He asked this man, who had waited so long for his promised son, to sacrifice this young man to Him. Abraham, in an act of faith and faithfulness, traveled to Mount Moriah with his son and prepared to sacrifice him, as God had asked.

The Lord stopped him before he could hurt his son. He called out, “Abraham, Abraham”. Abraham’s answer was “Hineini, Adonai”. The word Hineini is a Hebrew word that translates to “Here I am”, but it means so much more than mere physical presence. It’s an intentional, spiritually charged commitment to do as God has asked, a total availability to serve and obey. It’s a matter of faith and faithfulness, even in the discomfort of the moment, even if there doesn’t seem to be an understanding of why you’re doing it. It’s a posture of the heart that indicates humble obedience, no matter the cost. An attitude of submission.

The obvious question is, why would anyone want to commit so wholeheartedly and without hesitation to God?

For Abraham, it was a no-brainer. God made a covenant promise with him, bringing him into a deep and lasting relationship with the God of all creation.

“The LORD said to Abraham, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’” Genesis 12:1-3.

God’s promise to Abraham, at a time when he had no children, sounded impossible and yet amazing. He decided to believe God for what he couldn’t yet see, and God honored his faith. He is the father of the Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Many nations have been blessed by him.

Ward does what he does with a passionate intent. He never holds back from doing his best.

God is incapable of doing less than perfection. When He promises something, He follows through.

That’s the kind of “all in” I can get behind.