Sometimes when we look back on our experiences, circumstances and events, we see the danger we just missed, and realise how we were protected and kept safe. Give thanks. We don't always see it at the time, and may only see it in retrospect.
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Danger in retrospect
One day, as I walked along the promenade, I heard a wave breaking behind me. I turned to look at it, and saw a huge wave crashing onto the walkway right where I had been seconds before. I was pleased that it didn't wet me with its sticky salt water.
Sometimes when we look back on our experiences, circumstances and events, we see the danger we just missed, and realise how we were protected and kept safe. Give thanks. We don't always see it at the time, and may only see it in retrospect.
Sometimes when we look back on our experiences, circumstances and events, we see the danger we just missed, and realise how we were protected and kept safe. Give thanks. We don't always see it at the time, and may only see it in retrospect.
The warning crash
When a big wave hits the promenade wall, it makes a loud crashing sound, booming like thunder. It warns us that lots of spray is about to come up and drench us if we don't spring out of the way.
If there is "noise" in our lives, we may get drenched by a wave of some kind. We need to be still to hear the warning of the still, small voice in order to avoid it. Keep your spiritual eyes and your spiritual ears open. Be aware, listen.
If there is "noise" in our lives, we may get drenched by a wave of some kind. We need to be still to hear the warning of the still, small voice in order to avoid it. Keep your spiritual eyes and your spiritual ears open. Be aware, listen.
Praying on a bench
One day I was sitting on a bench watching the waves, when I closed my eyes to pray. A particularly large wave broke right in front of me and slapped loudly on the pavement, so I opened my eyes. It was as if the sea was trying to get my attention.
Sometimes, if we aren't paying attention, the Lord has to do something dramatic to get our attention and have us open our spiritual eyes to see what He wants us to see.
Sometimes, if we aren't paying attention, the Lord has to do something dramatic to get our attention and have us open our spiritual eyes to see what He wants us to see.
Reacting to the waves
People respond differently to the waves breaking over the edge of the promenade. Some enjoy it and laugh. Some get a fright or are afraid, and scream. Some run away. Some deliberately stand in the way to get sprayed. Interestingly, no one tells anyone else that they shouldn't laugh, scream, run or get wet.
When people react differently to the way we would to a problem or trial, we shouldn't tell them how they should react or feel, eg "Don't be upset", "Don't cry", and so on. We experience the same thing differently to others and don't always understand others' reactions, nor should we judge them for their reactions.
When people react differently to the way we would to a problem or trial, we shouldn't tell them how they should react or feel, eg "Don't be upset", "Don't cry", and so on. We experience the same thing differently to others and don't always understand others' reactions, nor should we judge them for their reactions.
Safe in the face of seeming danger
Sometimes and in certain places along the promenade, when the waves are huge, I can safely stand next to the railing at the very edge of the sea, and yet the waves wash out to sea again and don't harm or wet me. I don't stand where I know the waves break onto the walkway.
If we stay in safe places and live righteously, the dangers of life and temptations may come right up to us but not harm us. We will be protected, as I am by the promenade, but we must avoid spending time in places where we know there is spiritual danger.
If we stay in safe places and live righteously, the dangers of life and temptations may come right up to us but not harm us. We will be protected, as I am by the promenade, but we must avoid spending time in places where we know there is spiritual danger.
Cape of Storms
Cape Town has several nicknames, one of which is Cape of Storms because of the big winter storms which it experiences. The wind can exceed gale force, the rains lash the coast, and the waves become mountainous. When a storm has died down and the sea is calm, it is wonderful and peaceful, and then it deserves one of its other nicknames, The Fairest Cape in All the World (this name was given by Sir Francis Drake).
We only really appreciate the good after we have experienced the negative - joy after misery, health after illness or pain, peace after turmoil or unrest.
Sometimes huge waves approach the promenade, and they are quite scary. I feel sure they will break over the railing, yet often even the biggest waves dissipate by the time they reach the shore, and I am quite safe.
Looming problems and dangers don't always harm us if we are in a safe place, the place of a right choice, where we are meant to be. They too can dissipate and we wonder why we were so worried or afraid.
We only really appreciate the good after we have experienced the negative - joy after misery, health after illness or pain, peace after turmoil or unrest.
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Sometimes huge waves approach the promenade, and they are quite scary. I feel sure they will break over the railing, yet often even the biggest waves dissipate by the time they reach the shore, and I am quite safe.
Looming problems and dangers don't always harm us if we are in a safe place, the place of a right choice, where we are meant to be. They too can dissipate and we wonder why we were so worried or afraid.
Damaged pillars and a wall
Along the sea edge of the promenade are cement pillars holding a railing in place. Those that stand where the sea breaks over the wall the most often do suffer damage even though they remain in place. Some lose chunks of cement, some get rusty spots where the metal rod inside is exposed, and some become discoloured.
There are things we do which damage our spirits even though we may remain active in the church and think we are doing fine. Maybe we go to places where the Spirit won't be with us or where we know we will face temptation. Maybe we watch inappropriate movies, listen to music that doesn't have a good influence on us, or read books or look at pictures we shouldn't. We may think we are in our place and standing strong, but like the pillars facing rough seas, we may also lose chunks or become discoloured. The atonement can heal us of this damage if we choose to stay safely on the Lord's side.
In places where the sea is the most dangerous and the most likely to break over the promenade, a wall has been built for protection. We may need to build a wall of protection for ourselves and our families. We can do this by controlling the media in our lives, and by setting standards and limits.
There are things we do which damage our spirits even though we may remain active in the church and think we are doing fine. Maybe we go to places where the Spirit won't be with us or where we know we will face temptation. Maybe we watch inappropriate movies, listen to music that doesn't have a good influence on us, or read books or look at pictures we shouldn't. We may think we are in our place and standing strong, but like the pillars facing rough seas, we may also lose chunks or become discoloured. The atonement can heal us of this damage if we choose to stay safely on the Lord's side.
In places where the sea is the most dangerous and the most likely to break over the promenade, a wall has been built for protection. We may need to build a wall of protection for ourselves and our families. We can do this by controlling the media in our lives, and by setting standards and limits.
Tanned feet
Last winter I would walk on the promenade on almost every sunny day, wearing sandals. After some time I noticed that my feet had been tanned with a V on top, in the shape of my sandals. This wasn't very desirable when I wore other shoes that showed the tops of my feet, so in summer I tried to tan over the pale part of my feet, but it took a long time and a lot of work to tan over.
The things we do to our spirits through our carelessness can mar us, but through the atonement we can repent and be forgiven, and be healed. Some things may take much longer than others, and a lot more work if they are deeply ingrained, or serious addictions or sins.
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
A time to walk and a time to wait
There are some places along the promenade where the waves almost always break over the railing at high tide, even if it isn't stormy. As I walk there often, I have learnt to gauge when it is safe to walk past so that I don't get sprayed with wet, salty sea spray. Those who are careless, get wet. One needs to watch how far away the next wave is, how fast it is travelling, and how big it is. Not all the waves break onto the promenade.
The Spirit can teach us how to make righteous judgements about people or situations to gauge their safety, whether physical or spiritual. Careless people don't learn how to judge, don't listen to the Spirit, rely on their own judgements, and get "sprayed with wet, salty sea water". As they make mistakes, they suffer in some way for making inaccurate judgements.
There is a time to walk and a time to wait so as not to be sprayed by the waves. There is a time to do all things, each in its appropriate time. A time to serve a mission, a time to marry, a time to have children, and so on. Doing things at the wrong time or in the wrong order can lead to heartache. I have learnt to walk just before the wave reaches the promenade, just as surfers learn the exact moment when to catch a wave, or it will be missed. There are opportunities we should take when presented, or we will lose out, eg the call to serve a mission.
"There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries."
(Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3 Lines 218 - 221 by Shakespeare)
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; ... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ... a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ... a time to keep silence, and a time to speak... " (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-9)
There is a time to walk and a time to wait so as not to be sprayed by the waves. There is a time to do all things, each in its appropriate time. A time to serve a mission, a time to marry, a time to have children, and so on. Doing things at the wrong time or in the wrong order can lead to heartache. I have learnt to walk just before the wave reaches the promenade, just as surfers learn the exact moment when to catch a wave, or it will be missed. There are opportunities we should take when presented, or we will lose out, eg the call to serve a mission.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries."
(Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3 Lines 218 - 221 by Shakespeare)
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; ... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ... a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ... a time to keep silence, and a time to speak... " (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-9)
Cold and unwelcome
Last winter I didn't go to the promenade for awhile. I didn't feel like going. I didn't feel like the 20 minute drive. I didn't feel like walking in the icy cold wind and being sprayed by the cold waves. At that time my grandson would have tantrums when I wanted to go home because he wanted to stay longer, and I didn't feel like dealing with them.
One day, the sun shone beautifully. It was a gorgeous day so I drove to Sea Point. When I arrived, it was so lovely. The sun shone and sparkled on the sea, there were no waves, and the wind had disappeared. What a wonderful day it was. I wondered why I had stayed away for so long, why I had been so lazy. I had missed it. I was happy to be back. It was so refreshing and I enjoyed being there.
Some people stay away from church through laziness or apathy. They don't feel like attending. It's too far to travel. It's hard to get transport. They may feel unwelcome (cold in the wintry wind), people may offend them (my grandson's tantrums). But when they get up the will to come back, it's wonderful, refreshing, uplifting. They enjoy it and are happy there, and wonder why they stayed away.
Some people stay away from church through laziness or apathy. They don't feel like attending. It's too far to travel. It's hard to get transport. They may feel unwelcome (cold in the wintry wind), people may offend them (my grandson's tantrums). But when they get up the will to come back, it's wonderful, refreshing, uplifting. They enjoy it and are happy there, and wonder why they stayed away.
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