I ordered it a month ago from Amazon. It came (woo-hoo!) but the demands of ministry have been such that I just now have the time to devote to it. I could speed-read it through and move on…but I’m trying hard at slowing down these days.

Len Sweet’s latest book titled “11: Indispensible Relationships You Can’t Live Without” is something I (you?) shouldn’t speed-read. He describes 11 characters from Scripture as people we can’t successfully live our lives without. And first up is Nathan: King David’s friend, counselor and advisor who loved him enough to wag his bony finger in the king’s face about his sexual relationship with Bathsheba. Without Nathan, King Dave would have continued his alduterous and murderous behavior and corrupted the Davidic line.

Don’t, for a second, confuse this with accountability. Len makes clear something I’ve tried to say for a long time: to quote Joe Meyers, we don’t need accountability, we need ‘edit-ability’.

In the world of accounting, it’s all too easy to keep double books: one for for accountability partners and one for your secret self. Plus, the whole ‘accountability mentality’ has grown up a generation of religious pharisees who seem to love sniffing out failure like a drug dog in east Austin. Monitoring the sins of others comes easy enough: racism, sexism, ageism, liberalism, homophobism, conservatism, war, abortion, stem-cell research and condoms.

The real issue is not accountability, but editability. Do you mind your life being overhauled by someone else’s thumbs? By another’s red pen? Do you mind being sculpted by another artisan? Everyone needs an editor. Or three.

At the time of his rendevouz with Bathsheba, Nathan had already built up a good account with David. He wasn’t just a nuisiance. He had access to the king because he had already given him good advice and, as a result, had a standing invitation to drop by and ‘carpe momentum’ when the script desperately needed a rewite.

Nathan is someone who cares and wants the best for you…even when they show up on your doorstep with a sword. As best as I can see, however, he usually shows up with a scalpel.

I have a few Nathans. Some live hours away while some live within walking distance. They get under my skin at just the right time. They ask hard questions. They remind me it is very possible, in my life, to accomplish much but never amount to much. They challenge, convict, and comfort me. My Nathans help me see the truth about myself: I’m not as good as I imagine, but I’m not as bad as I fear I am either. Truth is, I’m probably worse, but that’s for another blog..

So, today, thank you, Jesus, for someone like Nathan. Keep me editable.