Running Head First into Reality

     When i was in the first grade our school had a policy of having us go downstairs to the bathroom mid morning as a whole class. We lined up along one wall and then our teacher escorted us. It became a matter of intense competition among the boys to be the first in line so as soon as the teacher gave the signal to line up we raced towards the front of the line. Because of the position of my desk in the middle of the room I was not able to do this well. One day i determined that i would be first no matter what. In order to do this i needed to run through the desks to the wall, make a right turn and run along the wall until i made it to the door where the head of the line was located. When i heard the signal i ran as fast as i could towards the wall... but i was going so fast i did not make the turn. Instead i crashed into the wall and knocked myself out. Eventually a man brought me home to my mother as she did not have a car.
     While i have not run into any physical walls since then, I keep running into reality. A long time friend who simply does not have time for friendship. That i am in a Brazilian church with services in Portuguese although i am not Brazilian and do not understand much of what is said. That despite every effort and prayer and fasting i do not see God moving around me. Other situations that i have prayed and hoped and yearned for over decades that do not change. The reality that it is unwise to have any expectations. That my years in the "desert" ( like Moses) do not seem to have ended.
     On another topic, while reading in Romans, several things jumped out at me. Chapter 1, verse 5 says that Paul "received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith..." ( ESV) Not just faith but the obedience of faith. True Biblical faith produces obedience. Jesus must be on the throne of our lives, not just a part of our lives. In chapter two he goes on to write ( as inspired by the Holy Spirit cf. 2 Timothy 3:16) "He will render to each man according to his works; to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey ( that word again) the truth but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury." ( Romans 2: 6-8 ESV)
    May I, may we,  obey the truth.