“‘All right,’ he said.”
Matthew 13:37a NLT
___

Someone very wise once told me that the best way to get beyond whatever current “rut” I am stuck in, is to reach out to someone who has already been in that rut and has gotten out. He said that the people that are really and truly out [of that rut] are so grateful to be out that they will gladly take the time to share their story with you.

I found out he was right.

I reached out many times – to “big” people and to “little” people – and found that one of two things happened:

• They responded. They told me their story. They genuinely rooted for my success and they left me with a deeper understanding of why no wo/man is an island.
• They avoided. They cut me down. They dangled clues to their success but never actually offered anything real to ease the pressure of where I was currently stuck.

Later on, in retrospect, I looked back on those interactions and clearly saw that the first kind of people were definitely out of their rut and the second kind were definitely just as stuck as me.

And, if I’m being honest, I’ve been guilty of BEING both those kinds of people, too. Depending on the day, the rut, or the season of life, I’ve been the responder AND I’ve been the avoider. I’ve missed opportunities to help a friend in need because I’ve been too stuck in my own rut to see the way out. Other times, I’ve been so grateful to be out of the rut that I actually pray God sends me someone to share my joy with – to help them out of that same rut!

Reading Matthew 13, I was so struck by how many times he says “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand.” He wanted anyone who GENUINELY WANTED to know, TO KNOW. In 13:36, his disciples come right out and ask him to demystify one of his famous parables and his response is simply: All right.

“Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, ‘Please explain the story of the weeds in the field.’
‘All right,’ he said.”  (Matt. 13:36-37a)

AKA: Hold on tight – this is going to blow your mind! Let’s do this. 🙂

No commercials. No gimmicks. Just pure, honest, been-there-get-that answers.

He came to earth to experience everything we had. He became human to see what it was like in the ruts and to climb out of every. single. one. in our place. And he doesn’t hold it over our heads that he succeeded where we’re stuck. He offers his awesome, perfect answers with open arms to anyone willing to listen.  

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you always tell stories when you talk to the people?”

Then he explained to them, “You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.” (Matt. 13:11-12 NLT)

No matter what rut I am stuck in, no matter how I fell into it or who I didn’t help while I was there, I have access to someone who will give me a hand. He’s never too busy. He won’t give me “I told you so” lecture.

And he’s as big as it gets. He should be sending a secretary of a secretary of a secretary to answer my questions. But he doesn’t. He answers my call every single time.

___

Dear Lord, you know what paths I’ve been down. You know all my highs and lows. And every time I’ve called on you for your wisdom, you know what my heart was looking for. You see beyond the walls and the ruts. You love through the valleys and the mountains of life. Please protect my heart from being too proud to call on you. Give me a soul that never stops being open to your teaching. Amen.