There is a wonderful story, perhaps now called a meme, about footprints in the sand. In this story two pair of footprints represent the path of one's life walking along with God. Then a singular pair of prints have you wondering why God has abandoned this poor soul at a given point and then at others the footprints are all jumbled, seemingly going in circles. What gives?
If you have not heard this, the singular path, during your worst times in life (when God supposedly abandoned you) is when Jesus actually carried us. The period of wandering is actually the footprints of joyous dancing. We don't always see things as they really are. It's all in perspective and journey, things we are not always the best judge of from our vantage point in life.
This scripture passage brought that meme to mind especially our life's journey viewed as footprints in the sand walking along.
When many people say they are 'born again' that is often viewed as thee answer. I am saved. It is as if your footprints now go in a straight line from now on until infinity with our creator. You would be hard pressed to convince me though that life is still a straight line. First of all, if I agreed at all, we'd be moving gayly forward and never in a straight line.
When John says "He must increase, but I must decrease" it is also a sign for our own lives. If we are people of faith or 'born again' if you will, the journey takes on a new meaning. It is not a straight line. We never know where our journey will take us. Rarely is that a linear path. We will be carried, we will need to be carried. We will struggle, falter, dance in circles of joy and perhaps take a few side trips.
As I grew up with that gnawing knowledge that I was different, I never imagined what life would be like 30 or 40 years on. Life on this island has been a springboard for life and growth that have seen me travel, volunteer in foreign countries, raise a family I never thought I would have at all, come to terms with my sexuality, be blessed with a truly magnificent husband and on and on. Perhaps it would be an interesting personal exercise or meditation to draw my very own vision of my footprint journey. It probably would be wild looking! How about yours?
The one thing I do know is journey's a seldom linear but they should always move forward in thoughtfulness and faith.
John 3:22-36
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.
Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.’
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
No comments:
Post a Comment