receive and respond

Shiloh Baptist Church sat right in the middle of an Indiana cornfield. At least, that’s how I remember it. There was a song we used to sing there in that little church with the worn red carpet. It was called Trust and Obey. The refrain said “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

While the song brings back sweet memories, it was never one of my favorites. Not that I disagreed with the message, more that I wasn’t sure exactly how to do that when I was younger. Trust is hard to pin down and obey is just a plain yuck word. It felt very outside – in. Not that I am advocating disobedience. I have three children. I am a fan of obedience, letmejusttellyou. Still, the mental pictures that rise to the surface when I think of that word are sort of harsh and robotic.

When The Man asked me to help him fix our broken attic door last night, I did so for two reasons. One – I love him. Two? I’m kind of the one who broke it. (Yes, our 45 year old pull down attic door is stuck. Open.) But mainly, I love him. And I responded to his request because of that.

Respond? That is an inside – out word. Something happened on the inside, and now it is showing on the outside.

I’ve been thinking so much about this lately. Trust and obey? Sure. But I rather like receive and respond. Trust: receive security, worth, and acceptance from the only One who can fully give it. Obey: respond to the love that has been lavished. Not to earn it, but because you already have it.