Chapter 22 of The Bridge from OneDayBow is one of my favorites! You may have noticed that it bears a lot of similarity to chapter 14, which is no coincidence. Chapter 14 is about instruction, while the 22^nd chapter is about applying what has been learned. (If you aren’t quite sure what I’m talking about, you may want to take a few minutes to go back and read the two chapters. The entire book is online, and you can access it for FREE at onedaybow.com.)

When last we saw Tim, in chapter 21, he was at the Park sharing the Truth about the King and His Son. And what a great victory resulted that day as many chose to cross the Bridge. Tim seemed to be the hero of the day, maybe even the Billy Graham of HereAndNow! But as you read on in chapter 22, you might ask, “What happened to Tim?” Good question, with an important answer to follow. But first…

I still vividly remember the day I wrote this chapter. A certain grandson, who shall remain nameless – though you may guess correctly – was living with us for a short time as a young adult. (Or, an “old child” as one friend described it. It’s that awkward phase between dependent on your parents and sleeping at other people’s houses until you finally decide to grow up.) I can’t tell you the circumstances that stirred my pot, so to speak, but as I sat outside looking around the yard the rhymes started coming without effort. I think it had some therapeutic benefit for me that day, but as I read it now I see how it applies to me.

Chapter 22 describes Tim as lazy, as he stalls and makes excuses for not simply doing what he was expected to do – yardwork. Emma hung in there a long time, trying to encourage him to do the right thing, but there was even an end to her patience. The storyline is familiar to any teenager, or anyone who has ever been a teenager, or parented one: strong-will raises up against expected responsibilities. But the truth is, it can happen at any age.

So what exactly is laziness? According to one old Dictionary, it is an indisposition to action or exertion. But I see it as more than taking it easy. It’s taking duties with an attitude of disinterest or delay, so as to neglect them. And it isn’t simply idleness, because it quickly became apparent that Tim had things to do, places to go, and people to see. But it was of his choosing.

In this look at Tim, we see a certain entitlement-mentality had reared its ugly head.  Entitlement to do what he wanted to do, rather than what he was asked to do, had agreed to do, and was actually employed to do. Some might say, “Tim is entitled to do what he wants – and so am I!” But that thinking eliminates the conviction of personal responsibility. (Maybe why so many people are unemployed these days…)

But back to our original question: What happened to Tim? Had he permanently turned his back on his Dad? Or even worse, did he resign from following the King?

Before we write off Tim completely, or decide his behavior indicates that he never really committed… We must remember that even though Tim had crossed the Bridge, he still maintained free will. Every moment of every day, it was still a choice to behave as a follower of the Son – or not. On that day Tim chose, and continued to choose, to disregard what he knew to be true. By the end of the chapter we will see that Tim tightened back up the belt of Truth and acted in obedience to make peace. And we’ll even see how failure can be turned to a good purpose. But have no doubt that Tim’s laziness and bad attitude were not without consequence.

And neither are mine.