Wednesday, March 19, 2008

To Win a Riding Lawn Mower...

What would you do to help your best friend’s father-in-law win a riding lawn mower? Last June my friend called and told me that her father-in-law was in a radio station competition to win a riding lawn mower. Radio listeners wrote essays about their incredible father or father figure. The top 20 essays were put online to give the public a chance to vote. Contestants and anyone they could convince were allowed to vote once every ten minutes over a two-day time span before Father’s Day. The five stories that received the highest number of votes would then enter the next phase of the competition – “musical lawnmowers.” You ask, “How is that played?” From what I understand each man was asked to choose a numbered lawnmower. Then someone drew a number and the winner was selected.

I spent two days running to my computer every 10-30 minutes. My housework suffered needless to say, but it was fun to see his numbers climb. I sent emails to friends and solicited votes for a man I’ve never met (but have heard great things about). All of our dedication and hard work got him in the top five. Yippee! He was number one for a while, but a family with eight children stole his thunder during the last few hours of the online competition. But he still had a chance to win… Guess what – he didn’t win.

I committed a lot of time and energy to something so inconsequential… My friend and I both were disappointed when we processed our thoughts after the competition. BUT if I had it to do over, I would do it again because service to others no matter how small shows them that they are valuable. How can application be made to our spiritual lives? Do we regularly stop everything and run to our prayer closet every 10 minutes? I know I don't because I have children to teach and entertain, laundry to fold and dishes to watch, etc. Its not saying that I don’t pray as I think of things throughout the day, but I don’t make a plan to stop everything every ten minutes to go commune with my Savior. A riding lawnmower though very nice is only temporal. Prayer has eternal rewards. Let’s try praying like we want to win a riding lawnmower.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. Acts 2:42-43

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11-12

9 comments:

Indian Lake Papa said...

Well said Robin! You do good! We may not get the mower, but we can get closer to Jesus. We sure have a time getting our priorities straight don't we?! I think Jesus understands, I think He got a kick out of watching you run to the computer every hour, but you know what? If He had been at your house for a visit I think He would have reminded you every hour. He understands!

Robin said...

Thanks! Your comment made me smile. I have far to go.

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT!@!!! God has been talking to me about the same thing.

We have been "Dancing with the Stars" junkies for several seasons now. The new season started Monday. There has been no mention of it here. I have other things to do. Do you know how much I can get done in 3 hours?! 3 hours of writing a week produces several pages of my novel or a few consistent posts on my blog.

The Lord keeps telling me one simple thing: live with purpose.

I am learning to ask myself the question: Why am I doing this? How does it effect eternity? Is it investing in others?

Your mower may have been investing in others. Who knows how it made your friend's dad feel for others to fight for him? Maybe he needed it. It is hard to think that investing in others is a bad thing.

In any case, wonderful post!

I'm so glad you are my blog buddy!!!

Robin said...

Thanks Jerri! I'm glad to have you in my circle of blog friends too!

Anonymous said...

lol....I love this! Good point, right?!

Robin said...

Hi Jamie,

I stopped by your blog and appreciated your post.

Julie said...

I tag you! visit my blog for the rules. Play if you want to, I would like to know more about you.

Robin said...

Ok Julie, I'm playing - have a mild headache now and had some strange symptoms a while ago when I started this meme - zigzag lights flashing in my peripheral vision. Called the doctor and they said it could be an ocular migraine or retinal detachment. I will see them tomorrow.

Robin said...

Interestly enough, my strange symptoms were my body adjusting to pregnancy. I now have a beautiful 18 month old baby girl.