Be the Center

i·dol
ˈīdl/
noun
noun: idol; plural noun: idols
1.    an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
synonyms:icon, representation of a god, image, effigy, statue, figure, figurine, fetish, totem; More
2.    a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

"movie idol Robert Redford"
synonyms:
o    

Exodus 20:4
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."

1 Cor. 10:14
"Therefore my beloved, flee from idolatry.

When we think of the word "idol", what usually comes to mind is Moses and the Israelites wandering in the desert, losing sight of why and creating images out of gold jewelry.  Although they had many signs of God and assurances that He would provide for them and care for them, they created something different to worship.  They thought maybe God has abandoned them, so while Moses was up the mountain they made a golden calf.  In the Old Testament we read of people who worshiped idols, Egyptians worshiped idols representing their various god's.  Today we might find ourselves giving too much of our time to our cell phones, TV or other things that are not in themselves bad but can become things we are obsessed with quite easily.  Maybe we don't have golden calves in our living rooms or a statue of Ra on our front porch, but there are still "idols" in our lives, just a bit more subtly.  What I have learned is that anything I place on a pedestal can become an idol and in turn be destructive in my life...any thing and any person.  Anything or anyone that I put before God when it comes to my time and devotion but also anything or anyone that I expect to fulfill me in the way only HE can.

I have come to learn that this has been...my marriage and my kids.  WHAT?!  How could something so good, something given to me by God become an idol?  Well it can.  The interesting way the Lord showed this to me was through what I thought to be dissatisfaction and unhappiness but I eventually learned that the only reason I was unhappy was because I wasn't putting God first.  I was expecting my husband and at times my kids to fill up something in me that only the love of Jesus can...that only stillness in His presence and acceptance of His grace can give.  When I went on a silent retreat with women from my church this was only solidified more.  For months and years I had been thinking fondly of those days in college when I was single and was "so on fire for Jesus" and wondering what happened?  I thought of my wedding day when I walked down the aisle to a song called "Be the Center".  We purposefully chose a song that would help us remember to keep Jesus at the center at all times, at the center of our lives and the center of our marriage.  How easy it is to forget.  When He is not at my center and the focus of my heart and life, I fall apart.  I get disappointed and lonely, at times bitter and angry.

We all know the scene in Jerry Mcguire when he says, "you complete me" and she says, "you had me at hello".  Awww, so sweet.  But here's the thing, people cannot complete us, only Jesus can.  When we go into relationships thinking that this other person will give our life meaning and purpose, make us whole...we are doomed for disappointment and the relationship is set up for failure.  The only person who can complete us is the person of Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial love.  He loves us beyond our wildest imagining.  Yes marriage and family is a beautiful gift from God, of course I am thankful and do find great joy in being married to Norm and having 3 awesome children...but when I forget WHO is at the center of it all, I start to question everything and no wonder because I was not meant to find my meaning and purpose in anything other than Jesus!


Hey, it's only taken me (almost) 12 years of marriage to figure this out.  I mean I knew these things, but I didn't really get it until now.  I wanted to play Be the Center in our ceremony because it was such a nice idea, but I had no idea what it would look like to be diligent about making Christ the center of our marriage...but not just our marriage, of our individual lives.  I still don't really know how to do that very well but I'm getting there.  For a start I am making much more of an effort to have quiet time, not just "devotional/read the Bible time", but literally just quiet.  Maybe it's a run in the morning when I don't listen to music but just listen to the birds and reflect on God's beauty in creation.  Maybe it's during my lunch hour at work, coloring or reading a book.  I'm trying to be more present in my life and focus more on making God my center and centering myself in Him.  It's all in baby steps.  None of us really have it all figured out but we make baby steps in the right direction.





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