Evening Muse
I'm sitting on the bench outside the Ad building of a virtually abandoned college and academy campus. Everyone's either gone for the summer or graduated. The wind is bossily pushing moody-looking clouds past, occasionally allowing the setting sun to peek through. Despite the slightly ill-tempered weather, I'm happily eating granola and Greek yogurt, savoring the fact that I have no assignments to hand in, no deadlines, and no one to talk to. The campus flock of ducks are waddling across the grass in scattered groups towards the pond. Wild birds are twittering their evening songs. Night is approaching.
For the past week I have unashamedly enjoyed being a bum. I have started to read books I didn't have time for during the school year, journalled many pages, and took as many naps as I wanted to. It's been awesome...and I could use about two more weeks like this.
But my time is up.
In a couple of days, I'll be helping to lead another canvassing program. This time I'll be working in Kentucky for only four weeks and leading half of the time. The other two weeks I'll be canvassing.
I'm not scared, but the anticipation sometimes feels a little like fear.
I'm unsure of a lot of things, like how the territory will last, whether or not the church members will like us being there, and if we'll have a successful program. Two things I'm dead sure of though; I'm nowhere near ready to be a leader, but God is ready to use me.
"It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)
But since He's never let me down yet, I trust Him.
As I watch the ducks crossing the lawn to the pond, I observe their differences. One is tall, black, and slender, carrying itself very upright and walking gracefully. Another multi-colored one struggles a distance behind, his short chubby build making him have to sway back and forth to move his legs forwards under him.
Yet I know that once these birds reach the water, their abilities will completely change. They both can swim very well, and in the water, the shorter duck is just as graceful as the other one. In fact, the awkward black and white duck is a superhero in the pond. He is capable of submarining the entire length of the pond, and is a guardian of the younger, more naive members of the flock. The taller black duck wanders off alone, lets himself fall asleep unguarded, and doesn't seem to have much common sense.
A flash of inspiration lights up my mind. Seemingly unrelated dots throughout the week start to connect.
My saying, "I like canvassing, but it still isn't my favorite thing to do..."
The idea of giving your all...
Preparing for greater things...
The quote, "It is not the talents or capabilities you now possess... "
It makes sense. Some ducks don't find walking easy, but they do it anyway. The fat duck didn't give up walking because he was awkward and sit down to wait for the pond to come to him. He gave it his best shot because he had to in order to get to the water where he was more comfortable.
I know this seems kind of obvious, but I think the same principle of effort and perseverance should apply to my life. Just because I don't like parts of canvassing or going to school or work doesn't mean that I have the right to "give up" (in terms of motivation and enthusiasm) and just wait for the time to pass. I'm sure Moses didn't really always enjoy his time leading sheep in the desert, knowing that he could have been ruling the greatest nation in the world. Joseph probably didn't like working in a prison. I'm sure Jesus didn't always get up and feel like walking for miles to reach people who would most likely reject Him for who He is.
We all have gifts and talents. The Bible says that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, so God's not going to give us gifts that He doesn't intend for us to keep and use. However, the lessons we need to learn here on Earth are often the ones learned when we're not in our element or using our best gifts.
"The habits formed in youth will grow with the growth and strengthen with the strength, and will generally be the same in after life, only continually growing stronger. "{Fundamentals of Christian Education, pg. 27.3}
The character traits of perseverance, effort, and enthusiasm are not real if we only gained them while doing what came easy.
Now the sinking sun pierces through the clouds and illuminates the pines with an alpine glow. The lone cars on campus gleam like polished stones sitting on a carpet of living green. The dusky sky turns periwinkle as the ducks trail back up the lawn from the pond to their house behind the dorm.
I'm still, knowing the future is in the living God's hands.
"Wherever God has, in providence, placed us, He will keep us; as our day our strength shall be."
{ibid pg. 264.1}
For the past week I have unashamedly enjoyed being a bum. I have started to read books I didn't have time for during the school year, journalled many pages, and took as many naps as I wanted to. It's been awesome...and I could use about two more weeks like this.
But my time is up.
In a couple of days, I'll be helping to lead another canvassing program. This time I'll be working in Kentucky for only four weeks and leading half of the time. The other two weeks I'll be canvassing.
I'm not scared, but the anticipation sometimes feels a little like fear.
I'm unsure of a lot of things, like how the territory will last, whether or not the church members will like us being there, and if we'll have a successful program. Two things I'm dead sure of though; I'm nowhere near ready to be a leader, but God is ready to use me.
"It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)
But since He's never let me down yet, I trust Him.
As I watch the ducks crossing the lawn to the pond, I observe their differences. One is tall, black, and slender, carrying itself very upright and walking gracefully. Another multi-colored one struggles a distance behind, his short chubby build making him have to sway back and forth to move his legs forwards under him.
Yet I know that once these birds reach the water, their abilities will completely change. They both can swim very well, and in the water, the shorter duck is just as graceful as the other one. In fact, the awkward black and white duck is a superhero in the pond. He is capable of submarining the entire length of the pond, and is a guardian of the younger, more naive members of the flock. The taller black duck wanders off alone, lets himself fall asleep unguarded, and doesn't seem to have much common sense.
A flash of inspiration lights up my mind. Seemingly unrelated dots throughout the week start to connect.
My saying, "I like canvassing, but it still isn't my favorite thing to do..."
The idea of giving your all...
Preparing for greater things...
The quote, "It is not the talents or capabilities you now possess... "
It makes sense. Some ducks don't find walking easy, but they do it anyway. The fat duck didn't give up walking because he was awkward and sit down to wait for the pond to come to him. He gave it his best shot because he had to in order to get to the water where he was more comfortable.
I know this seems kind of obvious, but I think the same principle of effort and perseverance should apply to my life. Just because I don't like parts of canvassing or going to school or work doesn't mean that I have the right to "give up" (in terms of motivation and enthusiasm) and just wait for the time to pass. I'm sure Moses didn't really always enjoy his time leading sheep in the desert, knowing that he could have been ruling the greatest nation in the world. Joseph probably didn't like working in a prison. I'm sure Jesus didn't always get up and feel like walking for miles to reach people who would most likely reject Him for who He is.
We all have gifts and talents. The Bible says that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, so God's not going to give us gifts that He doesn't intend for us to keep and use. However, the lessons we need to learn here on Earth are often the ones learned when we're not in our element or using our best gifts.
"The habits formed in youth will grow with the growth and strengthen with the strength, and will generally be the same in after life, only continually growing stronger. "{Fundamentals of Christian Education, pg. 27.3}
The character traits of perseverance, effort, and enthusiasm are not real if we only gained them while doing what came easy.
Now the sinking sun pierces through the clouds and illuminates the pines with an alpine glow. The lone cars on campus gleam like polished stones sitting on a carpet of living green. The dusky sky turns periwinkle as the ducks trail back up the lawn from the pond to their house behind the dorm.
I'm still, knowing the future is in the living God's hands.
"Wherever God has, in providence, placed us, He will keep us; as our day our strength shall be."
{ibid pg. 264.1}
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