Guest Blogger: Tammy Hodge
Today’s “Guest” is the incredible Tammy Hodge. She blogs over at InProgress. She rocks. I’ve been reading her blog for quite some and inevitably walk away with an “ouch” moment. In a good way of course. Today’s post is of no exception.
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Duty Calls
I got the dreaded letter in the mail today. The one that says this on the outside…
“Circuit Court of the State of Oregon”
UH-OH! Did those sneaky little cameras at the intersection snap my photo when I blew through that really dark, almost red, yellow light?
Nope. I’ve been summoned to Jury Duty. Again.
At the most inopportune time.
My first thought was…How can I get out of this? Even though I know it’s the right thing to do. And they did ask nicely. Even offering a gas reimbursement of 20 cents a mile. Their generosity made me laugh. At them.
Anyway…back to getting out of this. I realized today that at the first suggestion of something possibly getting in my way I try to avoid it. Even if it’s necessary. Even if it’s expected. Even if it’s something God has asked of me.
I eventually noticed on the letter an option of deferment. YES! That’s what I need. To defer the inevitable. Sign me up.
And then I heard it. You know? The voice? THE Voice. God. He took a firm little hold of my earlobe and said, “Tam, this is what you do all the time. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to show you. Will you take notice now?”
I am constantly putting things off til tomorrow that I can do today. Why? If I’m gonna be honest and totally raw here….it’s selfishness. There’s no other way to look at it. Although I don’t feel like I’m a selfish person…when it comes down to it, I am.
This is not a characteristic of God. And I do not want it to be a part of who I am.
So how do I start changing this behavior in me? I take my eyes off of my “self”. I fix my eyes on the Lord. The most unselfish person in History!
Romans 12:2….”let God transform you by the way you think…” It’s my choice. I must “let” Him transform me. If I am going to be a representative of Christ, I have to die to my flesh. He must be my motivation – not me.
Is there something in your life right now that you know is holding you back? That you know you must put to rest?
Tam, great post. Will you repost at our realitychicks website? It would fit well.
Tam….yikes.
I’m thinking discipline. Why not do the right thing when I can? Like dishes, or studying or denying myself.
Great post Tam!
I LOVE jury duty. A day without my kids, reading, snacking and $15 in my pocket. Woo hoo! Sadly I was sent home because the defense lawyer thought I had better things to do (having 3 children 5 & under at the time) than to sit on a jury. Rats. Perhaps he knew how much I love Law & Order.
great thoughts, tam.
ya know… i’ve always wanted to do jury duty. and living in africa is kind of a deterrent to that. but i think my obsessive love of all things john grisham has given me an all-too-unreal picture of just how amazing jury duty would be!
It is hard to give up time when we seem to have so little of it…having a guy that will be going to trial soon, it would be good to know strong Christians may have been selected for duty.
Aweswome Post Tam.
I love that raw honesty in you!
so, isn’t it amazing that the creator of the universe and the ultimate sustainer of all life waits for US to take initiative to change? He, indeed, makes all things new, but we, the creatures, have to “accept the summons”, as it were.
Thanks, tam! And thanks Crystal – your wisdom to have Tam here shows brightly!