An Eternally Full Glass?
Oh no, no, not again, not now, this can’t happen. Things were just starting to look up again. Sound familiar? Just when we start to believe that our lives have regained some degree of “control”, we’re reminded that it just isn’t so. Whether it’s something we did or didn’t do, or problems related to our; family, acquaintances, friends, job, money, health or some random global disaster, there’s always a shadow of darkness lurking around in the corners of our lives or pounding on the doorways of our minds. Why is that? Is it like that for everyone?
Some life stories appear on their covers, to be tranquil, happy, even easier. However, a cover generally reveals little of the whole story. There are people who aren’t easily ruffled and take the setbacks and crashes that life promises, in-stride. One thing is sure, some of us feel the need to share the disappointments and letdowns, to gripe, complain or cry while others choose to remain silent, pick up and move on quickly. Whether you share much or little of your life, the good or bad, your attitude reveals the fullness of your glass and your level of satisfaction. Many Christians approach life, as if their glass is at least half full, reflecting the positives they experience, the work of God in their lives, while the glass half empty folks desire more, better and happier existences, the successful end-results of the evil one.
The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6: 9-13) teaches us many things. First off, the glass really isn’t ours, so just holding it is good. If it has something in it when we’re thirsty, even better. We focus on our future in God’s Kingdom and try to act today as He would have us behave in His home, with the expectation that we will we someday share that timeless retreat with Him. God takes care of all things (in the metaphoric glass) even when we convince ourselves we’ve earned it’s content. He started with our bodies and minds, our abilities and gifts, which we use to grow, learn, work and live from. God created, replenishes and provides solutions for every need of life, despite our generally undeserving, selfish actions and thoughts. To believe that we earned something, when in fact God created us, gave us life and everything else that we’ve used or touched and then sacrificed His earthly life for our ultimate well being, is over-the-top egotistical.
Everything this life lends to us is temporary and will one day be taken away, except for God’s love, the condition of His heart, attached to His eternal life and held longingly for us in His kingdom. That is the gift and grace that we need to focus and bank on for our glass to become eternally full. Anticipatory joy should fill any glass for now!
JC CALKINS with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
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