Run Wild

Photo credit: holydistracted.com I love this quote! A friend told me about it this week and it’s been rolling around in my head ever since! I think it bears repeating.

G.K. Chesterton said, “The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”

My immediate first thought was, “How often am I just focused on the fences around me rather then on the space I have?” Actually, I was thinking about the many times I’ve found myself kicking the fence post when I could have been running “wild.”

I’ve come to the realization that boundaries (not confinement) can actually be freeing. I know that sounds backwards, but when you know where the fence is you don’t live in fear of falling off the cliff or into a pit, because you know it is there for your safety. Instead, you run with full abandon and joy! 

Our society often views rules and order as confining. But, what if God’s rules and order (and sometimes our society’s rules and orders) are actually there for our safety and good? What if they are meant to free us? I believe that this is truly what God desires for us. “Live as people who are free.” I Peter 2:16a.

I feel like there are multiple layers to this quote, like an onion. So while I’m mulling this layer over and waiting for the Lord to reveal the next, I’m going to stop breaking my toe on the fence post, turn around, and embrace and enjoy letting “good things run wild!”