Today the Primary children got to ask our bishop what his favorite parable was. He briefly told them why he likes the Good Samaritan.
After I wondered if the kids knew what he was talking about, I wondered if I had a favorite. Truth to tell, I am favorite impaired. When Dale was in the Tabernacle Choir, people would ask me what my favorite song was in their tour concerts, and I would answer, “The one they are singing at the moment.” Same with favorite food: the one in my mouth. Maybe it’s just lousy decision making, but there it is.
But not today. Instantly the parable of the vineyard workers came to my mind.
In Matthew chapter 20 Jesus tells of a landowner who hired workers first thing in the morning, a few hours later, a few hours after that, and then at the very end of the day, with only one hour of sunlight left to work. Those who had worked all day were paid their contracted price, but were incensed to learn that the latecomers earned the exact wage.
Jesus teaches that God doesn’t care when you come - He just wants you to come. He’ll welcome you no matter when you choose to come - He just wants you to come because you’re His precious child and He craves you the way you crave your children.
This parable has been profoundly instructive of how generous Father is in His second, and third, and three millionth chances for me to try again. I’m sure it was on my mind today because this morning, I was again having one of my prayers with a recurring theme: regret.
I know we’ve discussed Uncle Ricco, (https://www.laureensimper.com/post/the-good-news-of-no-do-overs) but there it is - I was mourning years - decades - of miscomprehension (euphemism for finger up my nose) and distraction (euphemism for laziness or procrastination), and once again asked Father if it was too late to live myself out of a myriad of consequences I’ve squarely earned for myself.
The words were barely out, and the imagery of the parable in Matthew 20 came into my mind.
While none of these words came into my mind, Father sent me these encouraging thoughts through that one image:
“I don’t care that you’ve got less of your life to live than you’ve already lived - make the changes anyway.”
“I pay the same for the latecomers, because I’m so thrilled that no matter how late you are, you still want to come and work for Me.”
“You’re not a prisoner of your choices, because you can make a different choice this second - and I’ll help you.”
Suddenly, I realized that making changes - changes me - whether the results are immediate or not.
If I reach out with good will across a gap of indifference or hostility in a relationship, I mustn’t stay my hand, so to speak, and withdraw if I’m rebuffed. If I work in God’s vineyard, I know His standard, and I love Him enough to keep throwing good will across that gap regardless of outcome.
If I read scriptures uncomprehendingly, wondering what on earth I just read (why yes, I was thinking about Isaiah, why do you ask?), I mustn’t stop reading in frustration, surrendering to my current level of understanding. If I work for God, I know His pay scale and keep reading, knowing one day, Isaiah’s words will reveal themselves like those elusive 3D pictures.
If I attempt to adopt healthy choices for the rest of my life after years of neglecting my body, I must continue to make those choices until they become true habits, knowing my body will eventually trust me and serve me better. If I belong to God, I love Him enough to trust His promises and know I will be different at the end of the day.
Even if I come at the end of the day. Even if for now, it may feel like I live in a prison of past choices because I didn’t show up earlier.
In order to think celestial, I have to disconnect telestial cause and effect. This is a higher level of faith - knowing that God’s laws of cause and effect don’t always show up in this lifetime. What I become making the celestial choice in a telestial world will always be worth it.
Even if I don’t make the choice until I’m 67.
I can’t necessarily work for results. I just need to work, learning to want what God wants, learning to love what God loves, knowing that each choice to change is the choice to come to the vineyard to work. Knowing that the pay is excellent and reliable.
Even at the end of the day. That’s why I’ll never truly be a prisoner of my choices. The Eagles sang it best: “So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key.” That’s what coming later in the day is all about. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that I can change - right this minute. At 10:00 p.m.
Every choice is like another drop of oil in my lamp, changing me and preparing me so I’m ready to go in when the Bridegroom comes.
I think I just switched parables, and so maybe this one is my new favorite…
You’re my favorite blogger. I look forward to every post. Today, I especially enjoyed this: “You’re not a prisoner of your choices, because you can make a different choice this second - and I’ll help you.”