What's in Your Wagon?

Christians in this world are like pilgrims on a journey, pulling our little red wagons along behind us.  The "Dreamers" pile up their wagons with high lofty dreams.  The "Planners" load their wagons down with heavy contingency plans.  The "Hopers" - oddly enough, they don't actually load anything into their wagons, but they do pull their empty wagons along behind them, hoping to come across something nice put into it as they travel.  The "Rollers" also set out with empty wagons, convinced that an empty wagon may come in handy somewhere down the path.  They all set out to make their way in life, pulling their little red wagons behind them.
As happens on all journeys on all roads, the pilgrims come to a fork in the road.  A narrow path leads up into some hills while a broad path cuts straight through the plain.  The narrow mountain path immediately appeals to the rather adventurous "Dreamers" and as well as the artifact-seeking "Hopers".  The "Planners" like the looks of the narrow mountain path, but feel it would be irresponsible to unload their heavy contingency plans.  So the "Planners" opt for the broad path, which is more suitable for pulling wagons weighed down with contingency plans.  The "Rollers" opt for the narrow mountain path, assaying that empty wagons must be of some use there.

After a while the narrow path forks again.  A very narrow path leads up into wooded mountains, while a more heavily-traveled path winds back down into the plains and rejoins the broad path.  The "Dreamers" yearn for the adventure the very narrow path promises, but the trees present a problem.  You see, the high lofty dreams in the "Dreamers" wagons are taller than the tree branches.  The "Dreamers" therefore reluctantly decide to cut short their adventure on the narrow path to rejoin the broad path.

The "Hopers" and the "Rollers" continue along the very narrow path, pulling their empty wagons.  Eventually, they come to a country store.  The Proprietor asks them to use their empty wagons to transport mail, supplies, and ammunition back and forth between several base camps and the store.  At this, the "Hopers" wince, envisioning themselves finally coming upon the nice things they've been hoping to find - but with no cargo space for them in the wagon.  They politely decline, feeling it wise to reserve all the cargo space for the nice things they hope to find.  Thus, the "Hopers" continue on the very narrow path, pulling their empty wagons behind them.

Meanwhile, there's quite a commotion in the "Rollers" group.  Upon hearing the Proprietor's proposal, they've gotten all excited!  They're smiling and hugging, laughing and singing, whistling and working.  They're busy as beavers cleaning their wagons, oiling the wheels, and tightening the bolts.  Now they're loading up their wagons as the Proprietor directs and setting out up the very narrow trail.

This arrangement with the Proprietor goes on for the rest of their lives.  Sometimes they enjoy the work, sometimes they don't.  But even on the days when they don't enjoy the work, they're satisfied that their wagons are useful to the Proprietor and the folk at the base camps.

Meanwhile, the "Dreamers", the "Planners", and the "Hopers" have continued on the broad plain path, pulling their wagons loaded with lofty dreams, heavy contingency plans, and vain hopes.  Sometimes they've enjoyed the path, sometimes they haven't.  But even on the days when they've enjoy the path, they've had the nagging feeling that something is just..... missing.  Always dreaming, but never doing.  Always planning, but never implementing.  Always seeking, but never finding.



You see, we tend to walk through life pulling our little red wagons full of our hopes, dreams, and plans. And somewhere along the way, we realize that our own hopes, dreams, and plans just do not satisfy us.  But they often prevent us from being useful to the Lord.  Sometimes we turn away from God's purpose for us in order to hang on to our own hopes, dreams, and plans.  We fail to realize that we're sacrificing our true purpose for a mirage.

The Bible urges us to "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3)".  The word "commit" actually means "to roll".  In other words, "Roll your undertaking unto the Lord, and your plans will be securely determined and settled."

If something is just.... missing.... perhaps it's time to become a "Roller".  Commit our works unto the Lord.  Roll our undertakings unto the Lord.  Let Him pack the wagon.  Let Him choose the path.  Only then will be we experience satisfaction and fulfillment.