NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part I)

      A pivot is a substantial, intentional, radical, abrupt, all-consuming change of direction which by its nature not only affects the one pivoting, but also is influential to the space and things near that one. It is impactful. It can be intrusive, and it can be evasive, but implicitly it is not subtle. It is a distinctive action which is exclusive of some things, while aligning with others. It unsettles the one undertaking it, and is creative, and exists as an adventurous move. It can be destructive. It brings excitement. It is the exclamation mark of a story or a life. It can be scary. It can be intoxicating. It can be crazy. It can be desperate. It can be the outcome of highest thoughtfulness, or contrarily, purely impulsive. It can be spiritual or carnal, heavenly  or earthy, charitable or selfish, angelic  or demonic. It can be additive or subtractive. It is never neutral.
The Bible is loaded with pivotal moments. And we all have them, as well.
         
     As we all are on a journey, figuratively speaking, and we 'run out of gas’ when we need to get going, that can trigger a pivot, and likewise,  moving full steam ahead to discover the loss of 'brakes,’ an eventual pivot of thought, feelings, and actions would not be a surprise. Pivots are common when our journeys take us to a fork in the road, a dead-end, an unplanned detour, an obstacle, or sharp curves. Pivots are common when our journeys acquaint us with another on the way, be they friend, enemy, or stranger. Certainly, when God demonstrates Himself in our journey, there will be a pivot.
     
      Eve took a pivot upon an undesirable conversation leading to a critical decision with a fruit.  Abraham pivoted to undertake a journey to a place he knew not.  Joseph's brothers pivoted to collectively abandon him in a pit, expecting his demise.  David, being enamored with Bathsheba, pivoted with the need to address her spouse, Uriah.  The magi, with all of their understanding and calculation, pivoted to follow an odd and oddly moving star.   King Herod, despite a certain respect for John the Baptist, allowed trickery in the form of an alluring dance by Herodias' young daughter, to eventuate in John's beheading-- a pivot.  Judas, blessed as a disciple, offers the most lamentable kiss in the history of humankind, an unavoidable pivot.  A mob, recently crying out 'Hosanna,’ pivots for the sparing of Barabbas over Jesus. Then He was crucified.

PRAYER:  Thank you Lord for the covenant of hope that You've offered us, and Your choosing of mercy. Thank You for that preference that out of freedom we might love You above all else, through worshipful and praiseful living, and that we ought to love and honor one another. Your mercy and grace prescribes we love, and Your holiness insists upon it. Forgive us when we stray, Lord. Yes, forgive me, even now.
Within these moments of mercy, Lord, help us with our yielding and the faithfulness required to be steadfast and humble in this life. Help us to be courageous, creative, generous, and scripture-bound in our blessing of each other in a world which, at the least, is indifferent to the righteous notion, and, at the most, assertively contrary. Certainly, we boasted such an inward wilderness before Your reach! You began a wonderful change! Stir us rightly now, Lord. Bring us to joy in our deliverance, and let life's lessons meet our authentic hope in You, making for an uncommon brightening of the soul. May Your Spirit as such prevail in me.  We submit to Your will all of  this, and to pray  in the name of Jesus! Amen.
by McNeal Brockington