Why Sandals and a Stick 

Have you ever found yourself in a heated argument with God? I’m talking about those moments of deep frustration and anger, where you just let it all out. Something like this:

“What am I doing here? Do you have a purpose for my life? Why won’t you let me in on this great and powerful secret? You’re GOD and I’m just… well, ME! So, listen to me, God—I could use a little help here, OK?”

Yes, I could use a little help!

Some people say you shouldn’t talk to God this way. After all, He created the entire universe, including you and me. It’s considered blasphemous or, at the very least, disrespectful and irreverent. But let’s remember the name “Israel” was given to Jacob because he wrestled with God.

I believe that God can manage our frustration, even when we’re not exactly grateful as we vent. I think He values honesty, even if the words and tone aren’t perfect. As our Creator, He understands us

One day, I was talking with a good friend. It wasn’t a great day, and it usually helps to chat with him. We have much in common, even though we’ve never met in person. We exchanged thoughts and discussed life with that familiar negative slant we often use. Sometimes, it’s my job to encourage, empathize, and educate. On this day, it was his turn. (I think he gets stuck with this role too often lately. My apologies, sir!)

We reflected on the Bible, Jesus, and how we should interpret life on earth. He mentioned that we should be willing to follow Jesus just like the apostles did. I didn’t take his suggestion well. With a bit of sarcasm and wit (if I say so myself), I replied, “How can GOD not realize that things are different now? Things have CHANGED! Our modern life includes house payments, car payments, insurance, gasoline, and expensive stuff! Think about it. It was relatively easy for those guys 2,000 years ago. All they had to do was put on sandals and carry a stick!”

We’ve laughed about this comment, and it’s sparked many intriguing conversations. This blog is a result of one of those chats. I have a feeling that things will evolve in strange directions from here.

One last thing. The day after our first “sandals” conversation, I heard from my friend in Florida again. This time, the conversation was dead serious. During evening prayers, he was considering how much things had changed in 2000 years. Then, he unmistakenly heard “I haven’t.”