Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Discipline

"it takes discipline."

ever heard that expression before?
it seems like that very word, "discipline" denotes negative conotations.
unnerving, obligation, choiceless, rules...
could discipline ever be achieved out of love?
could love be discipline?
imagine a parent holding a child's hand while crossing the street. a parent disciplines their child in this way out love. in a similar way, Christ disciplines us. he pulls and prods, gives and takes away from our lives everyday. but like the parent, he is always there.

a friend painted this picture for me today. a child sees his father fixing the pipes underneath a sink. the young boy eagerly wants to help and the father lets him. together, they hold on to the wrench, turning it and turning it until the sink is fixed. God allows us to take part in his mission, never leaving us alone but always holding onto that wrench with us.