2012. A new year. An opportunity to set new goals and resolve to keep them. In the past I haven't been very good about keeping my New Year's resolutions, probably due to lack of motivation and dedication. However, this year will be different -- I can feel it. How can I be so sure? Because in the past I have focused too much on my own efforts. This year, I am learning to lean on God's strength rather than my own. This year I will shed some much needed weight. I am not talking about physical weight (although after this baby is born in March I will need to do much exercising and dieting in order to fit back into old clothes!). What I am talking about is losing spiritual weight -- everything that I self-impose to occupy my time, my energy, my efforts, my thoughts, and my heart, leaving less room for Him to work in my life and keeping me from serving Him fully.
I want to share a story that I read in Joanna Weaver's Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (the story is actually adapted from the original by Rosemarie Kowalksi):
The story is told of a man who met God in a lovely valley one day.
"How are you this morning?" God asked the fellow.
"I'm fine, thank you, " the man replied. "Is there anything I can do for you today?"
"Yes, there is," God said. "I have a wagon with three stones in it, and I need someone to pull it up the hill for me. Are you willing?"
"Yes, I'd love to do something for you. Those stones don't look very heavy, and the wagon's in good shape. I'd be happy to do that. Where would you like me to take it?"
God gave the man specific instructions, sketching a map in the dust at the side of the road. "Go through the woods and up the road that winds up the side of the hill. Once you get to the top, just leave the wagon there. Thank you for your willingness to help me today."
"No problem!" the man replied and set off cheerfully. The wagon pulled a bit behind him, but the burden was an easy one. He began to whistle as he walked quickly through the forest. The sun peeked through the trees and warmed his back. What a joy to be able to help the Lord, he thought, enjoying the beautiful day.
Just around the third bend, he walked into a small village. People smiled and greeted him. Then, at the last house, a man stopped him and asked, "How are you this morning. What a nice wagon you have. Where are you off to?"
"Well, God gave me a job this morning. I'm delivering these three stones to the top of the hill."
"My goodness! Can you believe it? I was just praying this morning about how I was going to get this rock I have up to the top of the mountain," the man told him with great excitement. "You don't suppose you could take it up there for me? It would be such an answer to prayer."
The man with the wagon smiled and said, "Of course. I don't suppose God would mind. Just put it behind the other three stones." Then he set off with three stones and a rock rolling behind him.
The wagon seemed a bit heavier. He could feel the jolt of each bump, and the wagon seemed to pull to one side a bit. The man stopped to adjust the load as he sang a hymn of praise, pleased to be helping out a brother as he served God. Then he set off again and soon reached another small village at the side of the road. A good friend lived there and offered him a glass of cider.
"You're going to the top of the hill?" his oldest friend asked.
"Yes! I am so excited. Can you imagine, God gave me something to do!"
"Hey!" said his friend. "I need this bag of pebbles taken up. I've been so worried that it might not get taken care of since I haven't any time to do it myself. But you could fit it in right between the three stones here in the middle." With that, he placed his burden in the wagon.
"Shouldn't be a problem," the man said. "I think I can handle it." He finished the cider, then stood up and brushed his hands on his overalls before gripping the handle of the wagon. He waved good-bye and began to pull the wagon back onto the road.
The wagon was definitely tugging on his arm now, but it wasn't uncomfortable. As he started up the incline, he began to feel the weight of the three stones, the rock, and the pebbles. Still, it felt good to help a friend. Surely God would be proud of how energetic and helpful he'd been.
One little stop followed another, and the wagon grew fuller and fuller. The sun was hot above the man pulling it, and his shoulders ached with the strain. The songs of praise and thanksgiving that had filled his heart had long since left his lips as resentment began to build inside. Surely this wasn't what he had signed up for that morning. God had given him a burden heavier than he could bear.
"Oh God," he wailed. "This is too hard for me! I thought you were behind this trip, but I am overcome by the heaviness of it. You'll have to get someone else to do it. I'm just not strong enough."
As he prayed, God came to his side. "Sounds like you're having a hard time. What's the problem?"
"You gave me a job that is too hard for me," the man sobbed. "I'm just not up to it!" God walked over to where the wagon was braced with a stone. "What is this?" He held up the bag of pebbles.
"That belongs to John, my good friend. He didn't have time to bring it up himself. I thought I would help."
"And this?" God tumbled two pieces of shale over the side of the wagon as the man tried to explain.
God continued to unload the wagon, removing both light and heavy items. They dropped to the ground, the dust swirling up around them. The man who had hoped to help God grew silent. "If you will be content to let others take their own burdens," God told him, "I will help you with your task."
"But I promised I would help! I can't leave these things lying here."
"Let others shoulder their own belongings," God said gently. "I know you were trying to help, but when you are weighted down with all these cares, you cannot do what I have asked of you."
"The man jumped to his feet, suddenly realizing the freedom that God was offering. "You mean I only have to take the three stones after all?" he asked.
"That is what I asked you to do." God smiled. "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I will never ask you to carry more than you can bear."
"I can do that!" said the man, grinning from ear to ear. He grabbed the wagon handle and set off once again, leaving the rest of the burdens beside the road. The wagon still lurched and jolted slightly, but he hardly noticed.
A new song filled his lips, and he noticed a fragrant breeze wafting over the path. With great joy he reached the top of the hill. It had been a wonderful day, for he had done what the Lord had asked.
I think most of us can relate to this man hauling the rocks up the mountain. He was feeling overburdened, overworked, overwhelmed, and probably unappreciated. What started out as a joyful journey turned into one of resentment and frustration. What started as determination to do God's will turned into doubt about God's plan and provisions for his life. Not all the burdens that the man put into his wagon came from God. Many of the weights that he carried with him, holding him back, were self-imposed. True, many were honest attempts to help and serve friends and neighbors. Often the things that weigh us down in life are "good" things born from good intentions. They are not bad in and of themselves, but they become bad for us if they burden us and keep us from accomplishing the simple tasks that God asks of us. Can you think of anything like that in your life right now?
God calls us to love our neighbors and to serve them as He and Jesus love us and serve us. We are called to be selfless and to place others above ourselves. However, NEVER are we to place others before God or his plans for our lives. The moral of this story is clear: self-imposed obligations, duties, and burdens (even those masked as service to others) can ultimately keep us from God's will for us. Instead of becoming frustrated and angry with God for our heavy burdens, we need to realize that He did not cause all of the weight. We need to realize that we often weigh ourselves down with unnecessary things and that we are the ones putting more items into our wagon. Pray each day this new year for Him to show us the tasks that need to be accomplished and how we can best glorify him, and focus on these things rather than being distracted by other self-imposed obligations. Being a disciple of Jesus may not mean putting more things into our wagon, but putting LESS into it so that we ultimately can focus on Him and his will, praising him while we work.
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