This last fall I participated in a musical. It was during a dress rehearsal the week before the show when I first met Jerry. He flew from a hidden perch somewhere in the theatre and landed on the stage, causing quite a commotion. Jerry, well, he is a bat.
A few nights after that incident, I was lying in bed, reading. Jerry happened to pop into my mind I wondered: Why would God deny such a creature its sight? It seemed slightly cruel for a while, until I thought about it a little more.
Bats are fascinating creatures. God did not give them the sight that He has given most other creatures. He gave them their sonic ability to use in place of that denied sight. Somehow, they live just fine without being able to see.
That brought me to see how much we have in common with the bats. God's plan for us is always in motion, though we don't always see that it is. Just as He gave bats their special abilities, He has given us a "replacement" as well. That would be the ability to have Faith
We must let faith guide us when we cannot see, because God knows what's best.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
In Christ,
Kyle
Friday, January 28, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Orange
In church, a story was told during the sermon:
There was a young boy. He was living on the streets as an orphan. Eventually, he made it to the orphanage, where he at least had a roof over his head and some food in his stomach. It was nearing Christmas when he arrived at the orphanage. He was told of a benefactor who donated to the orphanage for their Christmas dinner. Normally they ate low-cost, bland meals, but on Christmas, they have a real feast, complete with with a real ham. It was even all-you-can-eat! The boy hadn't even heard that before! The benefactor even donates a brilliant tree for the main hall! They decorate it with dazzling white lights and ornaments. At the end of the night, every boy receives an orange, a rare commodity in these times. Oranges were this boy's favorite foods. He's never had one, but he's smelled them. Once, when he was really daring, he scraped his thumb across an orange when the fruit vendor was in town. That was an amazing day, because he had that amazing smell all day. After hearing about all of the festivities, the boy was starry-eyed. His hopes were high, above the clouds. He couldn't wait.
Christmas day came. They had the meal, he saw the tree, and then it came time for the oranges. The boys lined up, and he was at the end, for he did not know exactly what was going on. As he reached the portly man at the front of the main hall.
"I'm sorry," said the man. "You came after we had our order placed. We don't have one for you."
The boy's heart broke. He simply nodded at the man and turned to walk back to his room. After he rounded the corner to his hall, he broke out in a run, tears streaming down his face.
He got to his room, fell face-down in his bed, and wept. Soon, there was a tap on his shoulder. Afraid to show his tear-stained face, he ignored it, but the tapping got more urgent. He turned and saw his six roommates. Each of them had something in their hands. Lying upon an orange-stained napkin in each boy's hands was a slice of an orange. They each took one slice of their treat for the boy, so he would have a full orange. And then, everything was alright.
_______________________________
We should treat God's Word like the boys did with the oranges. If we all share just a little bit of it, we can make the world a better place, by glorifying the LORD.
There was a young boy. He was living on the streets as an orphan. Eventually, he made it to the orphanage, where he at least had a roof over his head and some food in his stomach. It was nearing Christmas when he arrived at the orphanage. He was told of a benefactor who donated to the orphanage for their Christmas dinner. Normally they ate low-cost, bland meals, but on Christmas, they have a real feast, complete with with a real ham. It was even all-you-can-eat! The boy hadn't even heard that before! The benefactor even donates a brilliant tree for the main hall! They decorate it with dazzling white lights and ornaments. At the end of the night, every boy receives an orange, a rare commodity in these times. Oranges were this boy's favorite foods. He's never had one, but he's smelled them. Once, when he was really daring, he scraped his thumb across an orange when the fruit vendor was in town. That was an amazing day, because he had that amazing smell all day. After hearing about all of the festivities, the boy was starry-eyed. His hopes were high, above the clouds. He couldn't wait.
Christmas day came. They had the meal, he saw the tree, and then it came time for the oranges. The boys lined up, and he was at the end, for he did not know exactly what was going on. As he reached the portly man at the front of the main hall.
"I'm sorry," said the man. "You came after we had our order placed. We don't have one for you."
The boy's heart broke. He simply nodded at the man and turned to walk back to his room. After he rounded the corner to his hall, he broke out in a run, tears streaming down his face.
He got to his room, fell face-down in his bed, and wept. Soon, there was a tap on his shoulder. Afraid to show his tear-stained face, he ignored it, but the tapping got more urgent. He turned and saw his six roommates. Each of them had something in their hands. Lying upon an orange-stained napkin in each boy's hands was a slice of an orange. They each took one slice of their treat for the boy, so he would have a full orange. And then, everything was alright.
_______________________________
We should treat God's Word like the boys did with the oranges. If we all share just a little bit of it, we can make the world a better place, by glorifying the LORD.
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