So describes the life course of the Great Cloud of Witnesses cheering us on to the finish line. It's an expression that keeps playing in my mind over and over again. "Just so". Did you know that Jehovah inspired that expression to be used only 8 times in all the scriptures? Yet the word obedient (obey, obeyed, and obedience too) is used some 137 times! Is there a difference? I don't know. In all my research I didn't come across a definitive answer. (If you find more than I did, let me know!) But for me personally the expression "just so" takes on greater and greater meaning.
We live in a society and climate of blame, irresponsibility and compromise. A weakening of standards at the blink of an eye. An enlarging comfort zone that dare not be judged. I have noticed a side-effect of this ill. Instead of doing "just-so", it is easy for us to do "so-so". I don't mean outright disobedience. I mean obedience with disclaimers attached. It kind of reminds me of disarming a bomb. A person being given instructions to disarm a bomb who does things "just-so" recognizes the gravity of the situation. They hang on every word, and think before every move. They humbly know their place and their dependence on the expert. They want to save the lives of those around them as well as their own. Can you imagine disarming a bomb "so-so"? "I don't have time for this, I have somewhere to be. I'll just cut a couple of the wires. The ones with colors I like and that are easy to get to. I'm sure one of them is right. I'm sure the expert knows the best way to do this, I just can't be bothered with all those details. I have to be 'practical' and 'reasonable' and go take care of my 'necessary' things." **Boom** Yeah, how's that workin' out for ya?
Why is this on my mind? Well, I've been missing my Dad. A lot. And I have realized lately, a tad too late perhaps, how much my dear Pops did "just so". I don't think I truly realized this when he was right here with me. But now, I love that about him more and more every day. Oh, he's no Moses or Noah (sorry Dad), and I don't want to put him on a pedestal. Did he make mistakes? You betchya. Did he struggle with weaknesses? Of course. Did he once in a while totally goof off and head to the mountains with his family for a drive instead of heading to meeting for service? Woohoo! I mean... yes. But I can confidently know that Jehovah would say of him, "He did just so". Never did he answer a question of mine without quoting a scripture or referring to specific direction. (How did he remember all that?) Never was there a situation too small, too uncomfortable, or too intimidating for his careful attention, even when it made him unpopular. His love of Jehovah's standards and his zeal for the welfare of the congregation was intense. He didn't have a legalistic, Pharisaical approach by any means. But he absolutely trusted direction from Jehovah's organization. No direction was insignificant or 'optional'. Even to the smallest detail he tried to be obedient. I can remember several times, as a COBE, he would try to help a newer servant make an adjustment or refinement. Never did he just 'tell'. He always taught with references. He would search high and low for a reference or scripture he remembered reading. If he couldn't find the reference, he would keep his thoughts to himself for fear he was in error. Never did Jehovah's service become routine or an obligation. He loved it! Some of my happiest memories of him was working with him at Kingdom Hall builds or in pre-convention work. He would absolutely beam.... no other place did he want to be. I always thought of that as a glimpse of the 'boy' he was at bethel, long before I was born. He was thrilled to work with his brothers then and that thrill never faded. When he knew his condition was terminal and he was weighing health care options, he said, "I don't want to spend every waking moment in a doctor's office and in surgeries trying to eek out a few weeks or months of life. I want to use every ounce of strength I have to serve Jehovah." And two nights before he fell asleep in death, as he listened to the meeting (we weren't even sure he was hearing anything), he used the precious little strength he had to lift his arms and clap for those announced for the special month of pioneering. "He did just so."
Yes, I write this through tears. But through the tears, the memories give courage. I hear a 'cheering on the sidelines'. The cheering tells me, "Don't give up, baby-girl. You can do this! Don't compromise. Don't become weak. Don't get too comfortable. Don't even worry about the lanes next to you. Stay in your lane, the one you know is right, and keep your eye on the finish line. I'll be there waiting for you!"
