“Manual” Labor

"Manual" Labor 

 

Compared to the Dominican Republic, Haiti has been a complete 180 in day to day life. In the DR we lived only with our team, chose what we got to eat, got to walk around the town and villages, had good internet access. This month the entire squad of 45 lives together, we have no input in meals, we are restricted from walking around town, and we get internet for about an hour a week. Before you get the idea that this month has been a drag, read on. This month has been amazing! Last month’s ministry (on the surface) focused daily on the spiritual realm through relationships and spreading the love of Jesus. This month, however, our ministry has been all project based manual labor. 

 

We’ve had the honor of working with Mission of Hope and Be Like Brit on their construction projects. Mission of Hope is building a school that will assuredly be one of the best in the country. Be Like Brit is building an orphanage that honors the life of a girl who lost her life in the 2010 earthquake. 

 

Our days have involved mixing concrete, pouring concrete (one day we poured 96,000 pounds in 8 hours), shoveling rock, backfilling, bending rebar, running wheelbarrows, more concrete…then repeat all of the above a few more times. The work has been physically demanding, and to be honest, I figured at first the work wouldn’t be as spiritually filling as last month. 

 

But, here’s the cool part…when you take stuff to God (it’s okay to be frustrated with Him), He breaks down self-created boundaries in your heart and introduces you into His understanding. 

 

Here I am thinking manual labor, while physically rewarding through instant tangible results, wasn’t going to be as spiritually rewarding. What God showed me this month, though, is to draw a parallel from manual labor into my spiritual walk. He wants me to be manual in my walk with Him. Not in the sense that I have to work for and earn His love, but manual in the sense of being involved.

 

man·u·al   [man-yoo-uhl] ; adjective

– involving or using human effort, skill, power, energy, etc.

 

 

Let’s compare manual vs. automatic transmission. How involved is the driver in an automatic transmission vehicle? Not very. Turn the vehicle on, put it in drive, and the gears are shifted automatically. Manual transmission, on the other hand, requires the driver to be involved in the shifting of gears. Our spiritual walk is no different. God is always manifesting in our hearts and preparing us for change, but we have to become involved if we want a deep relationship. Healthy relationships are not one-sided. There is an intentionality to grow that has to come from us and it absolutely effects our journey with God. 

 

Yes, God’s love, forgiveness and grace are automatic and do not require us to put effort in to receive them. Becoming manually involved does not mean we have to earn those things. That work was put in when Jesus’ blood was shed at Calvary. And it doesn’t mean that we need to stress out or put pressure on ourselves. God wants us to live from a heart posture of rest and joy. But when it comes to growth in spiritual maturity and a more deeply-rooted relationship with our beautiful creator, we have to become manually involved. 

 

This doesn’t mean you have to attend a certain number of church services a week. It doesn’t mean you have to read your bible every night. Remember that God isn’t keeping score and He doesn’t judge us by our works. Being manual instead of automatic means you take an active role in your heart posture with God. Seek without ceasing for Him to pour out His Spirit over you so that you can more deeply grasp His love and return that love to everyone around you. Pray for the Spirit to move in you and to bring up and break down boundaries that keep you from a deeper, richer relationship with Papa. 

 

So my question to you is, “Is it time to shift gears?”