Lately, I've been reading Traveling Light by Max Lucado. It's been a book that has challenged me and encouraged me so much. The latest chapter is entitled, "You anoint my head with oil." He talks about disappointments and what we do with them. "A dissapointment is a missed appointment. What we hoped would happen, didn't."
We can be like Miss Haversham in Charles Dicken's Great Expectations, when rejected by her fiance just prior to the wedding, her appointment became a missed appointment and a disappointment. How did she respond? Probably like I would have a tendency to do. She closed all the blinds in the house, stopped every clock, left the wedding cake on the table to gather cobwebs and continued to wear her wedding dress, while the dress became yellow.
But we have another option. This is the option I am challenged to follow. We can be like the apostle Paul. He wanted to be a missionary to Spain, but God sent him to prison instead! Seriously, what good could come out of that??? Paul could have made a decision to just sit there, but he took the opportunity to write some letters! Who would have thought? Letters, that today help to complete the Scriptures!
This year, I have sat where Miss Haversham and the apostle Paul have been, faced with dissapointments that have hurt. When I think about these two people, Miss Haversham chose the "easy," definitely more miserable path. Paul chose the more difficult but more rewarding path.
Through my reading,I found out that in ancient Israel shepherds used oil for three purposes: to repel, to prevent conflicts, and to heal wounds. Sheep panic when swarmed by bugs. The shepherd covers their heads with an oil-like repellent. The frangrance keeps the flies, misquitos, wormlike larvae, and nose flies away.
That is, until mating season, when the rams try to win the attention of his "girl." The shepherd anoints the ram with a slippery, greasy substance over the nose and head to prevent injury. This lubricant causes them to glance off rather than crash into each other.
They still get hurt and are wounded which is the third reason the shepherd anoints the sheep.
But God offers His oil to prevent wounds, but not just to prevent them, but to heal them. Like the verse says, "YOU anoint my head with oil." Thank You, God, Thank You for your oil!
So even though I finished last year dreading I'd have another just like it, the Lord gave me a Psalm 138 to end the new year that has changed my heart.
From The Message
Thank you! Everything in me says, "Thank you!"
Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: "Thank you!"
Thank you for you love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength.
When they hear what you have to say, God,
all earth's kings will say "Thank you."
They'll sing of what you've done:
"How great the glory of God!"
And here's why; God, high above, sees far below;
no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
When I walk into the thick of trouble,
keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand strike my foes,
With your other hand
save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
Your love is eternal-don't quit on me now.
