Most of my adult life I have had Moses in a Boat.
No, I’m not talking about either a resurrected Moses nor a reincarnated Moses. I refer to a plant.
It’s easy to grow, multiply and care for. It’s purple foliage is most attractive. The inconspicuous flowers (small white blooms in an open pod, which looks like Moses in his reed boat) are delightful nonetheless.
A patch of Moses in a Boat at Yaxha ruins in Guatemala
But in Belize and Guatemala the plant grows wild. It covers areas, growing on top of ruins and along pathways. It really is fascinating.
Here in Ontario it survives only as a houseplant. In it’s natural state it grows without limits.
Now if you have been keeping Jesus like a houseplant (or pet), making sure things don’t get out of hand, consider what Christ could do in the natural state of the spiritual realm.
Without limits!
Who “controls” your spirituality? Rules and traditions and habits and religious peer pressure, or Creator?
Maybe you should start growing prolifically.
Giving up all your personal opinions and religious ideals and nostalgia seems scary. And it will lead to a life that is not so easy, but it is the life Paraclete takes any willing soul on.
And it grows in the tough places, the hot places, the out-of-the-way places. It looks beaten up and weary at times, while in others it shows fresh and vibrant.
But if you want the peace that holds you up and joy that resides deep in your soul and a comfort that amazes you at every turn, then give control to the Creator.
“Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 God’s Word).
June 21, 2013
nopew
viewoutsidethepew 
2 responses to “Moses in a Boat”
nopew
June 22nd, 2013 at 12:04
I hear this way too often. Find a translation written in simple terms (like the original was!). That’s why I use God’s Word translation in my blog, because it is accurate enough and easy to follow. But do not use the paraphrases (Living Bible, The Message) because you are getting one slant, text with commentary mixed together. And then read it as 2 things: God’s love letter to you, and a great story. Don’t be afraid to skip the non-story parts (genealogies, census, division of land – get them later – they have great lessons, but you do have to dig it out because of the cultural distance that makes easy reading harder). And expect to sense Jesus as you read. And as I always say, don’t read it as rules, but story. Stories are fun!
And, no, it’s not weird… I’m the one who’s weird 🙂 !
Peace
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Robin Claire
June 22nd, 2013 at 11:37
Hi David,
Liked this post. I’m not a ‘square pegged’ Christian – as you know. I don’t fit in their square holes. But I find that reading the Bible (of all things!!) difficult. Isn’t that weird, for a Christian to have a difficult time with the Bible? I’ve read it plenty though, but I don’t understand hardly any of it. And the more I read it (I’m currently reading it daily with my husband – at his behest), the less I seem to connect with the Holy Spirit. That’s truly weird for a full-blooded Christian to say, I think.
robin
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