My 14 year old and his friend recently were asked to not ride their bikes through a neighboring farmers property (rightly so). Being the super spontaneous person I am, just kidding I have planning problems, I decided to look up bike trails nearby. I chose the closest one, put the bikes in the back of my husband’s truck, and drove. I knew I would be scoring BIG “cool mom” points, especially since I was staying in the truck to work giving them the freedom of independence.
After signing the waiver (yes, this should have been my first sign of trouble) and looking over the 14 mile loop with them (second sign), I sent them off. While working through a work training video I would periodically check their location from my phone. As they moved further and further away I began to question my spontaneity. I casually pulled up the website and for the first time noticed:
Difficult level; not for the beginner.
Now I am frantically scrolling the website reading the descriptions and screen shotting it for my husband. I am not exaggerating when one section said, “as you come down this hill you will exceed 30 mph to find quick turns and ramps at the end.” Reading this was followed by heart palpitations and messages of, “What have I done?”
This isn’t the only time in my life I found myself in a situation where I was thrown into a difficult level without preparation: being a teacher, motherhood, survival after child loss, writing a book, starting a business, moments in marriage, and the list can go on.
I am also not the only parent to panic after giving my child some freedom. We notice Mary does this in Luke 2:41-51 when she realizes on returning from the Passover in Jerusalem that Jesus is missing. They search the crowds, they ask everyone, and for THREE days he is gone. Can you even begin to imagine the scenarios going through her head? The anger for him being missing then the sheer panic and exhaustion?! They do not stop searching, as any parent would, but they retrace their steps and find him teaching the religious teachers back in Jerusalem. This is what I WAS going to talk about but when I opened my Bible to find this scripture I noticed the title “The Prophecy of Anna.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Luke 2:36-40
The real quick snapshot of what is happening. Mary and Joseph are following the law of the purification offering by bringing him to the Temple in Jerusalem and having him circumcised. They are greeted first by Simeon who gives them a blessing and then we meet Anna.
When I read that she was only married 7 years before becoming a widow and then remains a widow the words “difficult level; not for the beginner” are flashing boldly in my mind.
When I keep reading the small amount of information that is written about Anna, I don’t notice the problems, overwhelming situation she is in, not does she choose to call herself Mara like Naomi does in Ruth to let everyone know of her woes.
Live your life like you are not a beginner.
How do we live like this? We can take the guidance of Anna through fast and prayer. Anna COULD have made her situation known to each person who passed her by. Anna COULD have allowed her circumstances to break her. Instead she lived the rest of her life at the temple fasting, in prayer, and praising God.
Our job doesn’t have to be in ministry for our life to be filled with ministry. Each day we make a choice to live for ourselves or to live for Him.
The day I took my son and his friend out to the bike trail was certainly a “cool mom” fail as upon their return I discovered my son’s bike back brakes don’t work and he said, “It was too intense to be fun.” It was also confirmed to me that spontaneity is a horrible idea for me. But in my fear I prayed. I prayed for their safe return. I reminded myself that I am not in control and He will provide and protect.
Will you join me this week and live like you are not a beginner?
