Posted by cav on November 05, 2004 at 20:07:07:
In Reply to: the power of God on the inside posted by J on November 05, 2004 at 12:59:58:
I liked the story. I know what you mean. I think everyone feels like that at some point in their life. One thing that i recently learned is how ephemeral our lives really are. All that we train to do and think of our selves is really the most gossamer veil or reality. In fact we spend so much time training ourselves to see this veil at all that our eyes become strained and weak for looking at what is real. I don't know if you know the book "The unbearable Lightness of Being", but it's worth a read. the story isn't so hot, but the examination life is great. It really is true that being is so light it can hurt. I discovered this when I pulled up all roots and moved to Japan. I am still here, I still exist, I am...but not in the same sense. My accomplishments mean nothing, my "career" changed overnight...Everything can be shed like water rolling off our skin...
So anyway, how this relates to your story...I think we are often under the illusion that we have set out too far on one path to change, or more subtley that our identity is too wrapped up in one thing that isn't really perfectly fulfilling. I think perhaps Hope should consider what single thread she knows she must do, or just can't get out of her head, and then find a way to do it. Once the steps are in sight she should pursue them doggedly, although circumspectly at every point, always willing to alter course if necessary, but keeping sight of the end result. But most of all she should relax and realize that the most important things in her life may already be there though they seem unimportant. It is possible that she will never work in a job of immense impact to children, but that in her daily grind she will find simple opportunity, even unknowingly where she has been indispensible just by being open to her gift. I am convinced that in God's perspective, the child who chuckles at a smile in a restaurant may be vastly more important than the new school where they can receive quality and loving instruction.
Plus I think we are often blinded to these impacts by our own pride... another thing I have learned by working in a strange and alien place where in my mind "my abilities are not being utilized", though they want to keep me here. As a friend pointed out, perhaps I just don't understand the context in which I am actually working, and therefore not seeing my place.
: I was just praying today, and I was considering God's power. I thought about how God created us as individuals and has granted us certain gifts / "powers" to bless others. I have been yearning to understand and implement the power that He has put in me, and in my yearning, I thought of this little analogy...
: *** ***
: Imagine a girl named "Hope." Ever since she was a small child, she had an affinity for younger children. Hope could walk up to children she never met and immediately have them playing and laughing within minutes. One time, at the playground, Hope walked into a group and started an impromptu game of "duck, duck, goose" and the mother of two of the children turned to Hope's mother to say that she had never seen her children settle down like they did with Hope.
: Years later, when Hope was a teenager, she was able to pick up extra work as a babysitter. She was so good at it that she stayed busy with different families all week. The children she watched loved her very much, and when she finally went off to college, she spent several weeks preparing the tearful children for her move.
: After Hope graduated college and began her career, she often wondered about her gifts and talents (This was many years and experiences later). She wondered how to use her abilities in a way that would demonstrate God's power in her life. Hope found many outlets for her skills, writing, painting, and music, and although she had talent in these areas, she never felt satisified that she had "locked in" to the power.
: *** ***
: I don't really have a good conclusion to this story. I think that I am on a similar search in my life, although my situation seems a bit more vague than Hope's (i.e. she has a natural gift in her ability to bring joy into the lives of children).
: Another thought I had when considering this story is that many times we are given special abilities and we do not share these primarily because we do not put ourselves in an environment to allow them to flow out and bless others.
: I hope you enjoyed this story, although it may seem a bit corny ;-).
: Please reply if you like, or even help me finish the story...
: Hugs!
: J