Sometimes- you need to simplify.
I signed up for "The Amazing Lace" excited- challenged. Then, I ran into problems. I wasn't "getting it" The problems frustrated me. The more frustrated I got, the more mistakes I made. The circle could have gone on indefinitely.
Sometimes- in my desire to push ahead, to keep moving forward, I get ahead of the pattern, whether in knitting, or in life. I tend to rush things.
I want to KNOW, instead of LEARN. I want to FINISH, instead of enjoy the PROCESS.
It tends to casue me to knit knots.
The same, sometimes holds true, in my walk with God. I don't understand something, so I try desperately to figure it out. Looking at it from every angle, examining every possible implication. Picking it apart in the process. Instead of relaxing and letting God do His work in me .
When I find this happening in knitting- I get back to the basics. There are really only 2 stitches in knitting. Knit. and Purl.
That lace was making me crazy. So, in an act of simplicity, I cast on for a basket weave wrap.
(Isn't that what crazy people do? Basket weaving? )
cast on a multiple of 10 (I used 60, in Noro silk garden lite colorway 2013, on a US #7 circ)
5 rows seed stitch (knit1 purl 1) for border
5 stitches in seed stitch *knit 5 purl 5 *5 stitches in seed stitch
5 stitches in seed stitch *purl 5 knit 5 * 5 stitches in seed stitch
alternating these two rows for 5 rows , then reverse for 5 rows, repeat
end in 5 rows seed stitch.
The basics. knit and purl. A rest. A place of peace, simplicity, in a crazy-making lace covered world.
What about in my Journey with God?
Honestly- the times I'm "knitting knots, spiritually"- is most often when I'm trying to knit "spiritual lace" when the pattern calls for one stitch. knit-or purl.
My problem lies, in wanting to know how everything works together--- all the details. (Ummm yeah, I see that is wanting to have the mind of GOD. To know everything. duh. what a dork.Things ound really bad when you say them out loud)
Instead of concentrating on the next stitch, a simple- knit or purl. I try to think ahead. When trying to think ahead, I lose focus. Make mistakes.
So- it's then that I go back to basics in my walk, too.
What are the basics?
Well- since I have a little guy, and God frequently uses him to remind me- this is what I'm reminded of, by his singing today....
"Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him Belong
They are weak, but He is Strong"
Nothing else really matter does it?
Where I am weak- I lack understanding- He is strong. Where I am messy, ask questions that don't need to be answered, and avoid asking the ones that I should, He loves me.
The truth? I think I'm pretty annoying. See- it's not about me...it's about God- He loves, becasue he IS love. Then, I love Him back.
God's love for me: Knit
My love for Him: Purl
all the rest--- I'll leave to the pattern maker.
Dear Lord- help me to follow you closely- with all my heart- one stitch at a time- simple, knit, purl. Help me to not try to get ahead of the pattern, to not knit knots in my walk with you, I love you Lord- amen.
John 3:16-18
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
Yeah- go ahead- picture the lame John 3:16 guy in the rainbow wig at the football game....sometimes, crazy simple people, are right. ;)
OK- that was judgemental.... assuming he's crazy because of the wig..... but come on.
Crazy or not- he's iconic- picture the rainbow wig and most people think John 3:16. They get the point.
