Rust to Dust
This morning I had to do an internal vessel inspection for one of the butane driers in our unit. The whole unit is new so there was some rust formation inside. Climbing in and out of the vessel had me covered in orange rust from head to toe. It reminded me of something that I had once heard..
Do you guys know who Rob Bell is? He does those nooma videos. If you dont know, you should check it out. Some of the are pretty convicting. In the last Nooma video I saw, I remember Rob Bell talking about the Jews back in the Jesus days. Back then, Rabbis were chosen at a very young age. Once they were chosen, they trained under an older experienced Rabbi and pretty much spent every waking hour following him and learning from him. When they would walk together in the streets, the young rabbi would walk behind him and follow him. And as you know, back in the day they didn’t have paved roads and sidewalks so inevitably what would happen is the younger rabbi would get covered in dust kicked up from the older rabbi. It would be a tell-tale sign that you are a rabbi-in-training if you are covered. Not only is it a sign, it’s a good sign. It shows that you are in fact dedicated and committed in following and learning.
Back in those days, one of the ways you would bless these young rabbi’s is by saying to them “may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” As I came out of this vessel, especially after enduring the last couple days, I couldn’t help but feel that the Lord was saying to me, “Eugene, be covered in the dust of your God - the One and Only.”
My joy-giver, my sustainer, my purpose, my reason for all reasons, my comfort, my hiding place, my best friend, my savior. I will follow you to the ends of the earth.
