Today I Will Commit
Size: 30” x 30”
Date: 7/17/2022
Scripture: Judges Chapter 6-7 (Story of Gideon)
When Doug told me about the theme for the service, I knew right away what I was going to paint. Gideon got called by the Angel of the Lord to save Israel but was afraid God wouldn’t be big enough. This is exactly how I felt as the date of our 2022 summer vacation approached. My kids asked me repeatedly, “Where are we going, Dad? What’s the plan?” I knew in my bones that God wanted me to take them camping across Colorado, but I felt incapable—I thought, “It’s just too much of an undertaking,”—and up to the last minute I considered canceling. Like Gideon, I asked for signs repeatedly, and God with patience and understanding came through by sending me clear messages—a friend, Frank, who grew up in Colorado even gave me a clear itinerary, another friend, Jonathan, reminded me that, “We’re never really ready...just go.” I saw messages on TV commercials, in sessions with patients, songs, dreams–two days before leaving I read the obituary for a wonderful elderly neighbor who loved to go white water rafting in…yes…Colorado.
So, I went for it! On day four when we got to Buena Vista, a town famed for rafting. All the tours were full, but the attendant saw how much we wanted it, and made some phone calls to get us in the next day. We prayed for safety. Then, driving to the boat launch, getting instructions on what to do if we fell in the river, it sank in…we were about to be in class III white water. Our guide, Emma, with a blend of steel nerves and whimsy gave us an injection of confidence. Then, halfway down the river my youngest daughter started to fall overboard! I caught her by the vest and pulled her back. The second time though she went over the edge! I caught her hand, my brawny 15-year-old son Daniel secured her leg. Then, as Emma steadied the raft and calmly coached us, my oldest daughter, Isabella, got a hold of Elena's vest and yanked her back in. We didn’t think: A force within moved us into action.
We high-fived with our paddles as true champions of the Arkansas river that day! And to think I was ready to give up on Colorado and stay in Arizona for a week of 110-degree weather. Despite our fears, we all wanted to be there. We all trusted. Like Gideon’s 300 taking on 135,000 Midianites, we took on 135,000 drops of white water, and for me, 135,000 doubts in myself and God. But He is a big God, infinitely bigger than my fears. After God cleared away nearly the entire Israelite army (32,000 who were not committed to the battle) and left only 300 mediocre but committed warriors with trumpets and vessels filled with fire—symbol of the life of Christ—they won! To win with torches and musical instruments, with the most outnumbered battle ever, clearly God got the job done for them. So, today I will commit: Today I will let Jesus handle it.