Almost 20 years ago, when we were moving into a house we had built, I had a wingback chair made by a local furniture maker. At the time I ordered it in a country blue and peach stripe fabric. It seemed like a great idea at the time. Now that seems quite unappealing, but at the time it was “in” and matched my other country decorating style. When it was completed, we moved it in, but for some reason, it was a very under utilized piece of furniture. You know how there seems to be one chair that catches all the stuff, but is rarely sat in.
When we left that house and moved to our farm the chair was in storage in the loft of the barn while we built our house. Four years later when it was time to move in all the stored furniture, the chair was in need of some serious work. It seems that the barn cats had utilized it plenty as their own personal kitty bed. After some deliberation about whether to chunk it or rescue it, I decided to have it recovered. Maybe at last it would be more appealing. This time I chose a plaid fabric with hues of deep red, yellow, and mossy green. It turned out great and once again the chair was moved into our home. The problem was it still suffered the same fate. I put it in our bedroom by the fireplace where it became a wonderful place to throw clothes. Later I moved it to the living room, thinking it would be more functional there. From one place to the other, over and over, but the darn chair just was never chosen as the one to curl up in. The chair remained in pristine condition because it was just never used.
Finally, one day in one of my “let’s rearrange everything” modes I decided to make a reading corner in our breakfast nook. After all, the kitchen area seemed to be where we all congregated any way. It’s the place that I loved to spend early mornings with the Lord reading and praying. What better place to have a good chair. Thus the chair was relocated once more to a sunny corner there along with a side table, a basket for books, and lamp. An amazing thing happened at this point. The long ignored chair became everyone’s favorite spot. Our youngest grandson, Griffin, is the other early riser in the family and he would come down to join me curling up in the chair. While I made coffee and enjoyed those precious early morning hours we would talk and laugh. As the others came down they would argue over who’s turn it was to sit in the chair. Everyone who visited our home commented on the appeal of the chair in the “reading corner”. Suddenly, the chair had a not only a new place, but a new purpose, and thus is became a much loved, and much used fixture in our home.
When it came time to relocate to The Ranch in NY, the chair was one of the items from our home that accompanied us here. Now it has a special place in our home here. It sits in front of a sunny window flanked by the things that speak of its use, a table, basket, and books. This time a footstool has been added to the setting. I still sit in the chair in the early mornings, as I am doing right now. However, now the chair is put to use by one of the many boys that hang out in our home. As I go about kitchen preparing meals or just visiting with them, we have some great conversations. The chair seems to make them feel at home, comfortable, and safe.
It dawned on me as I sat in the chair one day, that its journey to purpose is so much like mine and probably yours. The chair was in the wrong place for years and thus not fulfilling its intended purpose. Only when it was situated in the right place did it become a thing of value. God tells us in his Word that he has a plan and purpose for all of us. Only when we align ourselves with the plan that God has for us do we live our our purpose. Doing so doesn’t always mean a physical relocation, but may mean a spiritual relocation, a heart transformation, or denial of self. How much precious time have I wasted by not being in the “place” where God could use me? I am no longer willing to be just an under utilized child of God, but instead, want to be used and worn like the chair. I’m willing to risk the wearing, the stains, the risks of living out God’s perfect plan for me.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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