Well, you might ask, what do Morel mushrooms have to do with “what is Jesus doing”? Read on and I will attempt to hopefully make some sense of it. 😊
Lately, I have been working on something I call The Jesus Doer Manifesto and it was my intention to do a blog today on that very subject. Along the foundational theme of this blog, and later a wide ranging spiritual initiative, I thought it would be a great idea to put some description to the kind of people who walk in a lifestyle that is always looking for what Jesus is doing and saying and then, join together with Him in all of it. These are the Jesus Doers who live lives that are way beyond what even the most determined and intelligent can conjure up out of their own effort.
So back to the story, as I was hiking the hills behind my house prepping to climb a couple more Colorado 14er’s this summer, it dawned on me that I should ask Jesus Himself for His thoughts on the things that make a Jesus Doer. (I know what you’re thinking, maybe you should have asked this sooner since it’s all about Him and His friends?)
That said, I immediately asked Jesus directly for help in this area and began to wait for what He would show me or tell me. The only problem though was that I didn’t wait long at all as I almost immediately started to get distracted looking at the scenery and, especially along the ground, for those treasured Morel mushrooms. It’s apparently the season for them up in Michigan and, though I had never found one before in the hundreds of hours I have walked that forest, nonetheless I thought I had better keep looking “just in case”.
Coaches Question: Please read Galatians 2:20 and Hebrews 12:1,2 among other verses that describe this life and consider at least one way that it transcends even the best in the strictly natural world?
Blessedly, Jesus broke into my stupor and I sensed Him say directly to me, “Johnny, you can’t look for two things at once. Either look for the morels or look for Me!” In putting my attention back firmly on Him, Jesus then showed how He was using this to begin to answer my query by saying that, “a Jesus doer is someone who fixes their eyes on/puts their focus and attention on looking for Me all of the time”. Whoa, was that ever magnificent and convicting all at the same time!
Coaches Question: when is a time that Jesus got hold of your straying attention and what is the best way that you have found to keep it on Him? (BTW, I would love to hear from you on your answer to this if you care to share?)
Hang on though, that’s not the end of the story. After I had turned my gaze upon Him and we were sharing thoughts together while I hiked on, what do you think appeared before my very eyes? Yes, it was a beautifully shaped Morel which I harvested to take to my friend at a church service a short while later.
And, what do you think the Morel of the story was? It’s what He said to me in that moment knowing that it would show a further reality to the lesson He was teaching me, “Once and always when you truly look to Me, then I will show Myself to you and reveal everything that you need in the moment”.
All thanks to Him for everything He knows best to give us including not giving up on me and for His good humor in also letting me come across that little mushroom!
PS: more to follow on The Jesus Doer Manifesto and please be sure to comment.