One Option

I remember a story I heard Bill Johnson tell last year about a man who had one arm. He became an incredible raquetball player. When asked what his secret was, he replied,"Everyone else has to decide which arm to use, while I only have one option."

Bill went on to say that in Christianity today, we have too many options. 

Last fall, my friend Vicky came over to transplant a few of her flowers and plants to my newly-dug flower bed. It was a freezing cold day and I was ready to call it quits. She picked up a small plant and began to pull out a spindly vine entangled within the plant. Then she began to pound it until I thought it would break apart and be no good at all. Vicky looked up at me and said something I have never forgotten.

"It's okay. I want to get that other vine out of it, because it will spread throughout your whole bed. It looks fragile but it can take it. You'll see in the spring."

I knew, at that moment, that Holy Spirit was talking to me so I tucked it away inside. 

Four months later, I have been through the pounding along with my family. On the outside it looked for a time like we would not survive. But He knew we could take it. The way has not been easy, but spring will come and we will see.

In the meantime, I am learning to do with far less options. I wouldn't say I have only one, for God is gracious to provide so much. Nevertheless, my options all stem from Him, the One true vine.