I wanted to help God do what needed doing
I wanted to help God work it faster, better.
I meant no harm: not for others or myself
I stretched forth my hands to help
When it seemed God was about to fall
I offered my strength to keep God
Off the floor when it seemed He tripped.
I pushed the buttons when it appeared
God was too slow to step in
I volunteered to hasten the process
So it won’t seem like God has failed
I meant good, meant well, now trapped:
Good intention nonetheless.

Food For Thought: To win a race, competitors must abide by the rules. To abide, they have to know what the rules of the game are. Every game has its rubrics and seasons. Anyone willing to win the crown must comply with established standards otherwise they are disqualified. The rules cover roles and responsibilities of everyone participating in the game; the leadership, competitors and administrators. A competitor suffers loss if he wears the shoes of the leader. Everyone must abide within the limits of his role. Very often, we break ranks, jump into the shoes of God to remedy situation we assume He is not handling “properly” or rather as expected. We want to help God when it appears to us that He is failing or delaying. We want to hold Him up when we assume He is about to fall. We have invested too much hope to let Him fail. We have boasted too much about His infallibility that our own integrity is at stake if He fails to meet up. Consequently, we muscle up and do all we can to keep God on His feet, lest He disappoint and make a mess of our testimonies. We grit our teeth, stretching and sweating to hold Him up, “Stand please and don’t let me down!” If truth be told, it is not God’s integrity we are afraid of losing but ours on the line. God is able to maintain and sustain His own integrity: He doesn’t need our help to be who He is. We cross the line when we break into roles reserved for God. Yet, consciously and ignorantly like Uzzah, we fall prey to jumping in to help God be God, forgetting that each time we step into another’s shoes because we think they are not meeting up, ours are abandoned and it is so glaringly clear, who is missing and failing.

Scripture: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Job 38: 4.

Prayer: Dear Lord, when my good intentions push me to cross the line and step on toes beyond my control, please hear my cry, deliver me from my afflictions, and teach me to find and to mind my business, amen.