Ascension : News From The Grotto
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 04.11.2003 (Article Archived on 13.11.2003)

Thought of the Week

Thought For The Week

The readings this week remind us of how wonderful God is, of the marvels he has worked for us.  We hear about how he saved His people from bondage.  How He led them back to streams of water, by a smooth path where they will not stumble.  He leaves no one out, the blind, the lame, mothers with their children.  He comforts them on their journey home. 

And they are grateful.  Their mouths were filled with laughter and on their lips there were songs.  The songs were songs of praise, and thanksgiving.  For His people recognized that He had saved them, and that He was leading them home, delivering them from their bondage, restoring their freedom and their lives.  Indeed, they were glad.

What about us?  Have we strayed from God’s path in our daily lives?  Do we need to be shown the path back home?  All of us at one time or another have probably lost sight of the promised land.  We become absorbed by the world, its fast pace, its temptations, the million and one things that we  need to get done each day.  Are we forgetful in some ways about the teachings of God, about the lessons that Jesus taught?  How can we find the time to remember God’s place in our lives?

Sometimes it takes a conscious and concerted effort to take time for God in our lives.  In the hustle and bustle of daily living, we can brush aside the fact that our spiritual needs are as important as all the rest.  They aren’t always as obvious as getting our work done, or eating or sleeping.  But they are important.  Are we like the blind man who needs to ask God to return our sight?  In this case, our spiritual sight?  Do we need to take more time to consider the marvels that God has given to us?  Do we need to take more time to pay attention to God, and to give Him praise?  I’m sure that for most of us, the answer is yes.  We generally spend more of our time and effort concentrating and worrying about the bad things in our lives.  Maybe if we spent more time thanking God for the good, some of the bad won’t seem as important, or quite so overwhelming.

So, this week, maybe we should try to spend a little more time reflecting on the marvels that God has wrought, both in the world around us and in our own lives.  Let us follow Him along the smooth path so that we won’t stumble.  And let Him lead us to the soothing streams of water.  And indeed, let us be glad.