Ever so often something would happen that would make you stand back and look at what we do, and why we do it, from the outside, looking in.
Last night someone broke into the hall at the Leratong base. This is not the first time someone has broken in to take something really stupid, which if they asked, we probably would have given them. Every time we have a break-in, the time wasted to fix and secure the buildings and the frustration that goes with that far outweighs the value of what was taken, and last night was no different. They just made a mess, took things that have zero value, and left…super frustrating.
Usually, these things that take the joy out of your day, will come by, and after cleaning up, fixing and replacing what was broken, you would just move on with life. But then sometimes, usually after a few of these incidences, the energy to smile and move on disappears. You don’t feel like getting back on the wheel that you know, somewhere down the line, will bring you right back to this same place. It just does not make sense.
This morning when I had to get up and travel to QwaQwa to clean up the mess the thieves created, I was thinking that if those we are here to serve, cannot value what we provide them with, then maybe we should go somewhere else…
Well, not so fast there, Sparky….
John 16:33. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Mmmm…this is from this coming Sunday’s scripture (remember we go through the Bible chapter by chapter, so this is no “pot luck” verse). And how true that is. In this world we will never have peace. There will always be times when people and occurrences destroys our peace. That, we can be sure of!
But it would be wrong of us to measure our peace, on the regularity of negative events. Our peace, the REAL peace, the important peace, that peace that REALLY counts…should be coming from the knowledge that through Christ, we have eternal life!!
I totally do not deserve Christ dying for me. I am 100% unworthy. But that notwithstanding, He still gave His life, so I can have life. And He never turns His back on me, even though I do just that, repeatedly.
So what is the lesson here?
1) Thinking we would have peace, when we don’t have problems, is a lie.
2) I would rather have no peace, living with unsolvable problems crowding my life every day, than have no peace about my salvation.
3)My service to please my Savior, cannot have any strings attached.
______________________________________
I decided to take the motorcycle to go to QwaQwa this morning, to clear my mind and get my thoughts together. Even though it was slightly chilly (mid-winter here right now), riding my motorcycle is one of those things that somehow brings clarity when things gets crazy. Who needs a shrink, I say……
callmejeff
