Clarity. Such a funny word. To me, it means gaining perspective and yet, once gained it is only then that I realize I didn't have any. I sat around this weekend in complete laziness and frustration over, really...nothing. After my post yesterday, I looked up some videos and pictures of Japan. Heartwrenching. I don't know how to put into words. I, along with many of you, watched with disgust, shock and awe. It is almost like watching a movie. Can this powerful current of water cause so much damage? Water...symbol of destruction and redemption. So strange. I thought a lot about the effects of this happening. Wherever you are in your faith, try to understand my thoughts...
God is begging us to pay attention. I don't think the Japanese are being punished for anything. But as I looked at these pictures, all I saw was the many tears He has shed for our stupidity, ignorance and selfishness. Really. I can't help but take this as a warning. Maybe people are using this, yet again, to discuss the end of the world. I have no interest in that conversation. (Not a good conversation to be intolerant of when I have very emotional teens who always want to discuss it!) Lent...a time to prepare within ourselves a place of God. A place that can be worthy of the Ultimate Sacrifice. Is that not what I am hearing in this warning? While FB may be one thing I have chosen to give up, it is important what I choose to fill that room.
I know this thinking may be a bit extreme for some of you. And, trust me, I understand. haha. But, as people, we must pray. At the very least so that in the depths of their sadness, frustration and fear, they know we care. So that among the many ships that are being ruined, they can follow the lighthouses to offer hope.
Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.
-- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
1 comment:
Coll, I am so with you on this post. I was reading a post from a FB friend the other day and he posted an article about a religious group that was saying how God did this because the world is so full of sin and they (Japan) deserved the destruction, etc. Obviously this is a very extremist group and I do not agree with them. I pray that they see the error of their ways and learn to talk about how the world is full of sin and that God doesn't want to hurt us but is trying to wake us up. We do need to pray and spend time on Him. Thank you for this post, I will go home tonight and pray for all of those in Japan and I will pray for those trying to spread the news about God that they would re-consider their approach. <3
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