Give Me a Line

       
          Give me a line. Not a line from a play or movie. Not a phone line or a tow line. Not even a fishing line, unless you’ll take the fish off the hook for me.  Neither my husband nor I would appreciate a pick-up line. Don’t pass along a clothesline either; I’m fond of my clothes dryer. Now, I might consider a pipeline, if it would bring down the price of gasoline. On second thought, leave that to the oil companies. A line of traffic or a check-out line? Forget it!

            I can pass up all those lines and many others, I’m sure. But I still want a line. There’s not a lot that I remember about high school geometry, but my teacher would be happy to know that I recall that a line is the shortest distance between two points. That’s the kind of line I want.

            As I go through my life, I want a line—the most direct route to everything.  I want a straight line to the grocery store cashier, the gas pump, and my vacation destination. I want a direct line of healing for everything from colds and flu to relational breakdowns and emotional anguish. There isn’t any situation I can think of where I would willingly choose a circuitous route out of or through my circumstances.

            Did I mention that that’s what I want in my relationship with God?  I don’t want to walk in circles, zigzags, or the two-steps-forward-and-one-backward dance step to learn about or understand God. I want a straight line to walk on to God and to journey on with God. Sounds reasonable to me.

            My only problem is that God never relates to me that way. Recently, when I needed some help, I realized the roundabout way I had received assistance. First I learned of an organization, and then I attended a meeting where I met someone. Later that person called and after listening, made a referral. What a meandering process! A straight line would have been simpler, faster.

            But a straight line rarely develops my character, stretches my faith, or draws me into a deeper love relationship with God.  While I’m mortal, I think I’ll always prefer a straight line, knowing full well that God will most likely send me on a circular or zigzag course. While what I want may have appeal, what God is doing on the journey is even greater.