Move Me Over

…so that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and be refreshed together with you.  Romans 15:32

One of middle lovelies shared a book with me last week and I flipped open to a random page in hopes of finding some inspiration for todays blog.  First crack open I found something great to share.  Last week I wrote about the giants that make us feel like grasshoppers and the story of St. Benezet (who I have never heard of)  from Dominic’s book seems to be the perfect follow up.

St. Benezet was a shepherd but felt God calling him to solve a problem.  It seems there was a spot along the Rhone River near the saint’s home where many people died trying to cross the river so  Benezet felt he was supposed to build a stone bridge across the river so people could have a safe crossing.  The first problem was, he was a shepherd and not an engineer.  Problem two (which is a big one) he had no experience, money or materials. 

I think this is about the point in the story when I would have tossed up my hands and said, “Sorry God, you asked the wrong person, I have no way to accomplish this giant task!”  Lucky for the people of this village that wasn’t how he responded.  He told the Bishop about his situation and he amazingly supported the project in all ways despite the obvious problems with the plan.  Both men truly believed that it was what God WANTED.  I don’t know about you but I sometimes tend to see the reasons things won’t work before I see the reasons God might want it to.  I also often forget that God can do anything he wants.

Benezet worked tirelessly for seven years on the project.  I’d like to say he cut the ribbon and stood proudly at the grand opening of the bridge to hear the townspeople cheer but that’s not the truth.  The truth is , he died before he ever saw the project completed.  Many people who were inspired by his hard work and his dedication to God’s request completed the bridge after he died.  There was celebration both for the bridge completion and for the many miracles that happened through the intercession and prayers of St. Benezet.  

This humble shepherd’s life tells a great story of faith, trust, obedience and humility.  If we look at the great Cathedrals of old and a simple stone bridge over the Rhone River we see that they share something that seems to escape modern culture…humility.  Most of the great architects and builders never saw their work to completion.  They didn’t need the accoladed of humans to fulfill them.  They set out to do a task using their God given gifts and talents and they did it to bring Glory to God, the giver of the gifts and not for their own credit or glory.  

Benezet’s story is a great reminder to me that God can use us any way he needs to for his purposes.  It made me think of that famous quote, “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.”  Those are truthful words so my prayer is, “Lord, get me out of the way and show me where you need my service. Lord, allow this little grasshopper to do giant things when you ask!”

A Seed To Plant:  Spend some quiet time in prayer asking the Lord where he might be asking you to serve or build a bridge.  Then ask him for the humble obedience to follow his plan.​

Blessings on your day!