Advent, christian living, Christmas, faith walk, impatience, life experience, perseverance, Prayer
I don’t have excellent survival skills. Don’t misunderstand, I have my emergency food, water, flashlights, and batteries ready, but true compass use, as in my only option of finding-my-way from point A to point B, is an unfamiliar skill. My GPS and I are good friends. Which is why I’m captivated by the Bethlehem star and the wise men who followed it. I love star gazing, but using the stars in the sky as a compass? I know it can be done, but the way of navigating by the stars fascinates me. One must intently study the heavens to know the constellations and where they live in the sky in which season.
I see a parallel between the imagery of the star the wise men providentially followed and Christ being our compass today, the One who illuminates through His Spirit and His word of truth. Like the wise men of old who studied the stars, I’m learning. The more I know of Him, the better I’m able to trust His light of truth to give direction to my angsty heart. His compass brings peace to my soul. Christ who came, Christ, the bright and morning star. His light exposes darkness.
Darkness says, “You can do this on your own.” Light says, “I’ve already done it for you.”
“The morning star appears just before dawn when the night is coldest and darkest. When the world is at its bleakest point. Christ will burst on the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and bring his promised reward.” Living Word AG, Ohio.
I read this and laughed. Not because it’s funny, but it’s so like me to try to work something out on my own. Then, when my next move is still unclear, all appears bleak. It is then I ask the One who placed the stars in the sky to be my compass, my survival guide, and the light to my path, giving direction and peace to my heart and mind.
Getting “directions” isn’t just about where I’m going, but also how I go. I can physically move, but not always in peace. I believe with all my heart, Jesus, our Bright and Morning star, also wants us to experience the peace that passes understanding. When all seems chaotic and hard, even bleak, my heart can move forward in peace because of His direction.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”
Isaiah 26:3.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”
John 16:33.
Ask: Listen for answers to the who, what, when, where, why and how questions as you read and write them down.
Ask: List the names of Jesus Christ and their significance referenced in the song.
christian living, faith walk, God first, impatience, resilience
Like a beaver out to win a logging competition, I attacked my shrubs with a vengeance. My tool of choice, a Hedge trimmer. The two-foot bar of steel teeth whirring back and forth, open cut, open cut; devouring anything caught between the sharp blades, making quick work of the pruning task. I told myself all the branches hanging over the driveway had to go. Although I encourage the natural growth pattern of plants and allow them to find their own shape, even this felt out of control. I pointed the Hedge trimmer to line up with the planter’s edge and turned the power on. It was a drastic move that gave a severe outcome. With a blur of blades, task complete, and the shrub no longer hung over the driveway. Perhaps I enjoy power tools a little too much.
Choices and consequences. A moment of haste, and well….
The now exposed undergrowth was dull and leafless. I wasn’t really going for the midwinter brown, bare-branched look. The indiscriminate Hedge trimmer removed all the greenery. In my haste to get caught up on yard work, my efforts looked choppy and extreme.
Quick, yes, but….
All the things I know to be true about caring for and tending to plants flash across my mind as I stare at the result of my impatient choice. There is a way to prune a shrub that doesn’t leave such scars on the exterior but-it takes more time.
What I know and what I do, don’t always align…
I’ve seen the skillful touch of a master gardener finding individual branches and clipping below the surface, leaving healthy plant life on the exterior. In my humanity and haste, I get frustrated and impatient. Instead of following the lessons of the master gardener, who gently prunes with a snip here and a snip there, I want radical change yesterday, so I end up creating a naked bush, begging for a do-over or at least a different gardener.
For tools, any tool will do, right?
So maybe the Hedge trimmer wasn’t the right tool for this job. The raw evidence of a job done in haste revealed my impatience. I assure myself that the plant will sprout new leaves and cover my rash decision, but hindsight reminds me, I could have chosen a different tool.
Bigger isn’t always better…
My garage is full of tools of varying sizes and purposes. Shovels, rakes, power trimmers, leaf blowers, edgers, loppers and pole saws. My favorite, the hand pruner is small, maybe 7 inches total. It has a sharp curved blade that cuts clean through small branches.
Precision is priceless…
I also know the Master Gardener for being precise. His aim is sure. He doesn’t lay bare everything in my life all at once. In His mercy and grace, He tends to my soul with finesse. He does not use a hedge trimmer on my wayward growth patterns. He carefully, thoughtfully because he knows, and loves me – reaches into the shrub that is my life and snips a little here and trims a little there. Taking his time to nurture and encourage new growth patterns in me.
Patience is a virtue, but I’m in too much of a hurry…
I need to learn it anew, Lord. Slow my pace. Teach me to believe your methods are for my good and your glory. Challenge me to trust your wisdom and the tools of your choosing.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
