From Gary: We're one of those families that eats dinner together pretty much every night. And since that's the most calm, consistent daily time as a family, we figured dinnertime would be the best time for Good Dirt devotions.
Then comes the first week of Advent, and suddenly half our dinners are spent apart.
It could be coincidence. This is a busy time of year, after all. But it just might be something more. It might be Resistance.
I recently read a business book called Do the Work that talks about Resistance. And while the author was speaking primarily in non-spiritual terms, I was struck by the universal experience.
Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify; seduce, bully, cajole. Resistance is protean. It will assume any form, if that’s what it takes to deceive you. Resistance will reason with you like a lawyer or jam a nine-millimeter in your face like a stickup man. Resistance has no conscience. It will pledge anything to get a deal, then double-cross you as soon as your back is turned. If you take Resistance at its word, you deserve everything you get.
It's safe to say that Satan is not a fan of Christian parents seeking to teach their children the way of the Lord. And in just two weeks time, I've already felt Resistance pushing back on me--being too tired, being distracted, or just straight up forgetting.
And yet, in our first week of Advent, we shared one of the sweetest moments together as a family. On the second morning as we were rushing about trying to get out the door on time, our daughter reminded us about the Good Dirt "tilling" message. So we gathered, standing in the family room, and read together. As we wrapped up, Carolyn suggested we pray for our day--and the four of us stood in a circle, holding hands, each taking a turn with short, simple prayer.
It was a brief moment--but it was a holy moment. And it's moments like that for which we continue to fight Resistance.