Anyway, yeah, Josh, I completely hear you about having the responsibility of a family. It does become tougher, which is a strong argument to marry someone who understands that calling from Christ. It does change, though, doesn’t it? Maybe instead of taking the angry guy at work out for a beer you have him over for supper. I don’t know. Mostly, we just need to keep our eyes open and not ignore that small voice.

One thing I loved about Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey” was that he was always inviting people over for dinner, he always stopped to have a conversation with the people who crossed his path. What an image of Christ, I think!

I would like to compile a list of all the passages in the Bible (even only in the New Testament, for brevity!) in which Jesus asks or expects those around him to show flexibility and follow rather than sticking to the plan. That would be very educational.

It gets muddier for me when I add a wife and child to the mix. I have responsibilities to them that I can’t and shouldn’t get out of by being “spontaneous.” I can’t be a good husband or a good dad by stopping everything I’m doing for whatever comes up. I have to do well at my job because I have to feed them. I have to be home most evenings because I need to spend time with them. I suppose this is one reason why Paul calls us all not to get married. 😉

Still, marriage and kids don’t stop us from serving. They just change the way we approach it and require a little more coordination and understanding. Maybe a little more maturity, too. I don’t know.