Dependence is not always a Weakness

   I am thinking again this morning of Sawyer's going off to college. They are on their way and will get there this afternoon. Thinking about what he will have on his plate for the next few days is somewhat related to Chambers' reading this morning.

   Tomorrow he can dump all his stuff into his dorm room, but can't stay there and put it all together. He has to check into the field house with most of the other freshmen and get ready to go camping for the next few days. All these people will sleep in the fieldhouse and then get up early, be divided into their small groups and be sent out. He will not know anyone in his small group at the start, and it will be led by a faculty member or upper school person that will also be a stranger to him. Then it will be a few days of doing whatever they do and bonding with other new students, building community in the process.

   Now Sawyer is a "can do" type of person. If he is ever out of his comfort zone, he does hide it very well. I can see him adapting to the situation and even becoming one of the leaders in his group. He has a lot of self assurance. He knows there are a lot of new challenges in front of him, but I believe that he, deep down, thinks that he can handle it and prosper in the process.

   I hope that he will also challenge himself with things that are out of his comfort zone. It is in these areas that real growth occurs. Success here brings a sense of accomplishment, and even failure is a great learning time.

   The major pitfall in this self assurance and success is the sense of independence, in that I don't need anyone else to help, I can do it myself. It is the American way, the pioneer spirit of overcoming any obstacle in the way. No weakness allowed in this arena. I can do all things, period.

   The Bible verse says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". It does not stop with I can do all things, with the emphasis on I, but the emphasis is on a supernatural Helper.

   God gives us strength to succeed. He gives us friends along the way to help. He gives us the perseverance to overcome obstacles and lift ourselves from defeats.

   Dependence on God is not weakness, it is simply an acknowledgment of the truth that He is God and I am not.

   I'm afraid we all need that truth.