Limits

Maybe, like me, you are one who struggles with that idea - that we have limits. Angie and I were watching the show New Amsterdam on Netflix the other day and in one episode the main doctor is described as a being an "all of the above" person. When faced with the choice between things he always chooses "all of the above." The scene is dramatic because the other person in the conversation has realized that she can't choose "all of the above." She has limits and needs to live within them.

The truth is that we all have limits, whether we acknowledge them or not. We weren't created to for "all of the above." Some of us, perhaps, can do more than we currently are. But some of us need to learn to embrace the limits we have - whether those limits are temporary (due to things such as illness, additional responsibilities, impact from a pandemic) or long term (due to life-stage, injury, or simply because we need to sleep and rest!) - without guilt or shame.

In his sermon on the mount Jesus said, "Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’" I know this isn't the main point of that passage, but think about the fact that Jesus simply knows there will be times when a "No, I won't" is necessary. It is okay to say no. Sabbath, which could be defined as a day of saying no, is built into the rhythm of creation as a gift to us. From a Jesus centred perspective, embracing healthy limits can actually be viewed as a gift for ourselves and those around us.

I know this idea of limits is a complicated idea. There are times - sometimes longer periods of time - when we must push beyond our regular limits. But we weren't made to live there permanantly. Conversely, when we do need to honour our limits, there are often people who don't like it because they have gotten used to the way things have been and don't want the change.

I'm not trying to oversimplify this idea. But I am hoping that by talking about limits out loud, it can help us continue to be, and continue to develop as, a family, a church community, that works together to help each other contribute as fully as we are able while still honouring our limits.