A little more than a year ago I suddenly started
experiencing loss of balance. I
found myself running into things and even though I tried to walk in a straight
line I veered off to the right or left.
I found myself walking more and more slowly and carefully to keep from
falling. Eventually I was
diagnosed with an inner ear disorder and the doctor arranged for me to have
physical therapy to address the balance problems. The physical therapist gave me several exercises to practice
at home. Most of them involved
focusing the eyes on a certain spot while either moving the head side to side
or while walking.
I was reminded of what I learned in college
gymnastics class about the balance beam:
don’t look down at the beam, but instead keep your head up and focus
your eyes at a spot in front of you. After King David opted for the faster and
more efficient way of moving the ark rather than the way outlined in the Law,
there were severe consequences.
But when he made another attempt to move the ark three months later he
was much more deliberate:
So
David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City
of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel
were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts
and the sound of trumpets. (2
Samuel 6:12b – 15)
This time, King David made sure his focus
was on the LORD, not on the expediency of moving the ark. How often in the name of “efficiency” do I
take my eyes off of the Lord and miss an opportunity to honor, worship and obey
Him? I would rather move
more carefully and deliberately and take just 6 steps in obedience than travel
miles without fixing my eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of my faith.
Six steps in Him,
Dorinda
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