Knitting and Obeying

I haven't written anything in over 2 years.  It seemed like a simple thing...write about my life.  Reminisce (did I spell that right?) or even project a bit out into the future.  But, somehow, things got in the way and I forgot all about my lofty ideas...until I stumbled across another blogger the other day and it all came rushing back again.

I don't like this about myself.  I start something with a gusto...only to find unfinished knitting or crochet projects in a closet...a half-finished writing course gathering dust on a shelf, a drawer full of interesting stamps waiting to be put into albums, a small notebook with the songs assigned for the next piano lesson that I quit 5 years ago...and a blog waiting to be written in.

Good intentions.  We all have them.  Have you ever read the story of Saul in I Samuel 15:1-34?  Saul had been given specific instructions to carry out a very difficult task.  In the end, he only partially finished it...but, the excuses were quite revealing as to his true character.  The prophet, Samuel, says something quite profound in verse 22. "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

The list of excuses were as follows: 1) I may not have done everything right, but I did go "on the mission".  2) Everyone else is doing it. 3) I did what I did FOR God. 4) I was afraid of other people.
The bottom line of what I'm learning is this...whether I'm knitting a scrarf, putting stamps in an album, or even writing a blog...shouldn't I be about the task of "finishing something?"

How will I be able to accomplish big things in life if I can't finish the small things?  And so, I'm back to blogging.  Digging out the other unfinished projects will have to wait for another day!  :-)