Lately I had a few days’ leave forced on me due to illness. It’s amazing how, in such circumstances, when you think you can tackle loads of tasks or pass-times you never seemed to have the time to tackle before, now that you have all the time you need, you lack the enthusiasm and energy to carry them out. In such a sad frame of mind, I found myself spending an appreciable amount of time gazing out of my bedroom window.
From my bedroom window, I am blessed with a beautiful view of terraced fields sloping up the valley towards a hilltop village. Calmly trying to take in the relaxing scenery, my eyes unavoidably caught sight of an unsightly heap of discarded broken-down appliances. Most definitely, they were an eyesore that spoilt the otherwise impeccable scenery.
Over those “invalid” days I spent pacing up and down my bedroom, I would continually peer out of the window to rest my eyes on the luscious greenery. Invariably, however, my eyes always ended up gazing at the unacceptable eyesore.
As might be expected, grumbling and protestations swelled in my heart against the unthinking barbarians that had caused such a crime against the natural environment. Eventually, every time I looked out of the window my gaze immediately fell upon the rubbish heap whilst ignoring completely the otherwise beautiful view.
Quite some time passed before I brought myself to reflect upon this situation. What meaning was there in hiding for me to absorb? I wonder.....
Wasn’t this situation perhaps similar to the way I normally look upon Life?
My life has undoubtedly been blessed with countless gifts from God: health, family, work, leisure, Faith, community, joy...Nonetheless, whenever even a tiny speck appeared in my life that wasn’t pleasing to me, I acted just as I was now doing with the heap of rubbish. I concentrated my gaze upon it and, doing that, I shut out all the plentitude of blessings comprising wonderful people, material things, and situations that should – no I correct myself - that were definitely intended to bring me joy in my life.
Just one tiny, negligible item in an otherwise beautiful scenario was enough to deprive me of the joy that God had intended for me to relish in!
How foolish... This reminds me of Adam and Eve. How true it is that they represent me in that Bible story. They had it all. Everything that they needed to be happy and live contented lives was theirs for the taking...That is until one fine day the Enemy strolled into the picture casting doubts about God’s intentions...
“Surely you’re missing something...”
And the entire world that God had given to them at that instant paled into insignificance compared to that one item that they had missing..........
The same story keeps repeating itself over and over in our lives... It’s a vicious circle that profoundly states that God is not Love. That He doesn’t love me, otherwise, He would have given me a world exactly as I picture it should be.
The same deceit that, to this very day, continues to deprive us of peace and joy.
However, there is hope.
Jesus came into the world precisely to demolish this deception. He bowed down in front of his Father’s will.....and came out triumphant.
This triumph he is offering to you and me so that we may regain the fullness of life that our Creator had intended for us from the beginning of time.
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