Irony

The snow slowly drifts down in a rain of peace. As Sarge and I left the house for a short jaunt, the feel of quiet stillness enveloped us. Small white flakes landed upon us as though smiling at its beauty being enjoyed. Breath of warmth from the inside, and noses of red on the outside, we swiftly made our rounds of the neighborhood.
This is the time of year that can bring such business, and all the while creates a tender joy that is unique to the season. I know for certain it is a busy time at the hospital, and especially the surgical unit where many are trying to get in their surgeries before the new year and for insurance purposes. With days like this where the snow is joining the human on ground, we can find refreshment in smiles.
When I woke this morning, I stood looking out the kitchen window at the silence of a lightly blanketed ground. In the distance an ambulance was heard, and the reality of life, and the fragility therein, brought back to present.
During this season a certain irony is felt and seen. The holidays are being enjoyed as the craziness of shoppers are lining the malls. Snow may fall, and families join together and laugh around a warmly lit fire, while others feel alone, as though a snowflake falling into the silence the forest. Warm tea enjoyed, Christmas lights sparkling, carols being sung, and the hurt of family situations perhaps revisited again.
However, when reflection comes we find that there is so much to be thankful for. Perhaps that is why we should really take hold of the holiday where we are to give thanks. While situations may or may not find us in ideal situations, we need to hold onto what is good and right, and with the continuing of celebration of the following holiday, it is important to hold on to that because it can easily be forgotten.
In my walk through this short life, this season is one of great importance, for it is during this time that my family and I sit down to remember the One that is Good and Right, the One that came to earth two thousand years ago, and brought hope to the lost and dying world.
I know that today I really am thankful...thankful for what is good and right in the midst of what isn't.

The heart issue

"They [our forefathers] all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
"Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: 'The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.'" 1 Corinthians 10:3-7

Those who came before us were given to us as an example. The Israelites were given the blessing of God's presence and His protection. They partook of the life given through God; they ate and drank of His goodness. When they got up they chose a different path. It is as though they had compartmentalized their lives. Life with God in this section where the blessings and good come from Him as needed, and everything else over here in this section where they take part in doing what they want to do, living the way they choose to live outside of that time with God, with hearts far from Him.
That is the same thing that happens with us today. We may go to church, read the bible during the day, pray.... Then after that part of our life is taken care of we go on to do whatever it is that we should choose, without much of a thought for God as, perhaps without even consciously thinking about it, that part of our lives is taken care of, the duty accomplished.
The problem isn't the fact that we have freedom and we choose to do live out our lives in this matter. The issue is the heart. If we choose to partake of life in a way that is not of God and does not reflect Him, this comes from the heart. If when we spend time with God it is truly life changing, if our hearts really belong to Him, it is seen throughout the rest of our lives.
Jesus describes this as a tree and its fruit. This is what He says:

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Luke 6:43-45

When our hearts and minds are filled with truth, with God in who He is, even with the questions we have that seem to consume us at times, it comes out in our lives. In Psalm 23 it is described as our cup overflowing. This doesn't mean that our lives will be filled with only happiness and good times if we choose to live our lives following Christ. No. What it does mean is that as we live in this way the result is as Psalm 23:6 describes:

"Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."

What is goodness and love? Is that speaking of the welfare of humanity? Does that mean that only good things will happen to me? Absolutely not. What is Good? What is Love? Is it not the LORD our God? Is it not His character that is unchanging? Does that not mean that whatever happens in our lives we can put our hope in God and know that one day we will be at home with Him forever? That is the key right there. Where our eyes and our hope lay.
My prayer for my own life, as well as those around me is that, as Psalm 119:171a says, "May my lips overflow with praise".