Karen’s Parables

 

Recently another one of those pesky things we sometimes call ‘challenges’ came knocking at my door.  Challenges seem to have a way of sneaking into my life, tempting me to become troubled and let go of my faith.  Even more compelling is the temptation to take matters into my own hands, relying on my own feeble human efforts to save myself.  After having been tripped up way too many times, I have settled it in my heart that in the midst of trials, I will continue to press in and hold on.  I am determined that I will not fall into the sin of fear or the foolishness of implementing worldly schemes.  My heart’s desire is to stand squarely on the foundational Rock of my faith. 

 

Lying awake later that night, I envisioned myself in the middle of an ocean, and I penned the following parable:

 

Drifting along in the ocean waves, wrapped up in my protective wetsuit, I enjoy the peace of a mostly calm sea – I just love basking in the warm sun, my body buoyant in the salt water.  I watch in wonder as the ocean waves swell and recede all around me, while beautiful sea creatures swim by.   I bob along, thinking that this moment in time is so representative of the daily routine of life itself.   The ever-moving waves are like life’s little ups and downs, carrying me along as I go about my day.  Life is good indeed!  (However, you know how life will change in the blink of an eye, often just about the time you lean back and relax.)

 

Suddenly the soft ocean breezes become stiff winds.  The waves grow stronger, tossing me around a little more than I would prefer.  My peace gives way to uncertainty.  In fact, I am becoming quite unsettled with the rising and swirling of the water.  I am having some trouble keeping my nose high enough to avoid the swells, and I can feel a slight bit of panic creeping into my soul.  Instinctively, I reach out and grab a nose plug and a life jacket, which immediately make me feel more secure.  Ah, now I am mostly comfortable in my situation, even though my surroundings are for the most part uncontrollable.  I smugly declare that once again, life is good indeed!   (However, you know that temporary band-aids are short lived.)

 

All too soon white caps begin forming, waves are crashing all around me, and I am once again frightened in my surroundings.  Although the nose plug and life preserver are greatly appreciated, they simply are not going to provide adequate protection for the situation in which I find myself.  Still desiring to control my own course, I reach out for a small life raft and climb in.  My rowing and navigation skills will allow me to guide the raft through the waves, still holding onto the illusion that I am setting my own course.  I take a deep breath and proclaim that life continues to be good indeed!  (However, you know that a bigger band-aid will still fail under increasing pressure.)

 

As I lean back in my raft, and I roll with the bouncing and swirling of the waves, I begin to feel a chill in the air as the gathering clouds darken.  All too quickly the clouds empty themselves of their payload.  I am drenched and shivering, my muscles and bones ache from the rowing, and water rapidly invades my life raft.  Peace gives way to fear and pain.  Terror threatens to well up in me, and I must admit that I need a much larger boat in order to stay on course.  Survival suddenly becomes an issue as I acknowledge my need for greater security.  In desperation, I row to a larger vessel that can carry me safely through the raging storm and the treacherous waters.  Safely aboard a large and luxurious yacht, I am now truly able to chart my own course, navigating the waters with ease.  Storm clouds gather, but I have invested well and I am the master of my own destiny.  I stretch my arms out in celebration because life is good indeed!  (How often do I buy in to the illusion that I am self-sufficient, simply because my most recent idea appears to be working?)

 

I settle into a cushioned deck chair, more than ready to enjoy the rest, a good book, and a bubbly refreshment.  Moments later, I find myself once again in danger. Who could have anticipated that this storm would develop into a hurricane?  Scanning the horizon, the illusion of safety gives way to the reality of the situation in which I find myself.  Could I really be in danger, even in this ocean-ready vessel?  My answer comes quickly as a huge wave laps over the railing of the deck, claiming everything in its path.  Hopelessness engulfs me as I scurry to a place of safety, no longer interested in holding onto any confidence in my own strength.  Sliding across the deck, I surrender and begin to pray, grabbing hold of the Rock that cannot be shaken.  The moment I cry out for mercy and protection, I find myself immersed in the peace of God that passes all human understanding.  I rest in His arms, and thank Him for His remarkable method of teaching me life-saving lessons.  The roaring of the ocean will forever remind me that God is my refuge in the storm.  Once again, life is good indeed!

 

Later, as I studied the lessons of the parable, the Lord showed me that the wetsuit represented how I came into the world, protected but devoid of props.  So long as the oceans of life were calm, I had the luxury of bobbing in the water without a care in the world, in need of nothing.  But as the waves became stronger, I suddenly needed protection from harm.  The nose plug and life preserver represented self-help aids we often seek for answers to life’s little problems.  The life raft represented the gaining of knowledge and education to plan and set my own course in life.  The yacht represented the search for power and wealth to insulate myself from the larger storms of life.  All of these things temporarily gave me a false sense of safety and security in my own strength.   I was in danger of becoming my own god. 

 

Until I am completely humbled, with all props removed from my grasp, I have no need for a savior.  So long as I can make it on my own, living out my self-made and self-centered plans, I will do just that.  However, it was never God’s plan for me to live my life outside of His care and protection.  The challenges and storms in my life remind me of my desperate need for a Savior.  Over and over, the Lord reminds me that He is my Rock, and my strength is found only in Him.  So, when I learn that valuable lesson, and when I run to Him every time challenges come knocking at my door, life is truly good indeed!

 

Proverbs 3:5-7a

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes;

 

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

 

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

II Corinthians 4:7-8

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.

 

Psalm 89:9

You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.

 

Psalm 107:29

He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.

 

O Lord, here I am again: at Your feet, crying out for my need, desperate for relief from this awful pain.  My countenance is dark and heavy, as if my soul is locked in the coal room at my grandma’s old house.  I find myself face down before You, sprawled out on the floor, arms outstretched, with tears streaming down my face and splashing to the floor.  My soul feels so broken, so empty.  Desperation grips me as my stomach tightens up in knots.  My head throbs from crying and my eyes burn, having finally run out of tears. 

 

What a pathetic sight I must be, but I do not much care at the moment!  I come before You to pour out the desires of my heart, and I am not leaving until my soul is spent!  Although it seems as if my cries go unheard, I know that is not the case.  In this wretched place in my soul, I simply hold onto what my spirit knows is true.  Prostrate on the floor, I will ‘stand’ on Your promises.  You said that You hear my every cry, that You know my thoughts even before I speak them out, and that You long for me to cast all my cares on You.  So, I will do just that; I will boldly state my case, plead for mercy, and trust that my petition moves Your heart.

 

In my spirit, I see rolled-up scrolls lying on the floor, scrolls on which are written my desires and needs.  Now I watch as they roll all around Your feet.  I can barely breathe, waiting for You to pick up the scrolls and read them.  My heart pounds as You reach down and lovingly gather them up; I barely move a muscle as I wait for Your response.  What will I do if my requests are denied?  How much longer can I carry these burdens?  The pressure is building and I fear that if You do not bring a solution to my problems, I will break under the weight of them all.  I recite the promises of Your Word, struggling to reach beyond my immediate pain to grab for hope.  I wait, keenly aware of my burden, for what seems like hours, even though only seconds have passed. 

 

But, wait a minute – did I not record all my problems on those scrolls and lay them at Your feet?  Then why am I still terrified?  Why is my heart beating wildly?  Apparently, I released the scrolls but held onto the fear and worry that accompanied them.  A stirring in my soul encourages me to also lay down those burdens.  Determined to break free, I cast down fear and worry, and imagine them falling to the floor with a heavy thud.  Then I rest, knowing I have done all I can do. 

 

I begin to count the blessings You have already showered upon me.  Oh my goodness, the list is too long to recite!  As I feel the beating of my heart, I am moved by the detail and complexity of its inner workings.  I am in awe of the wondrous construction of my eyes, my brain, every organ and part.  I cannot begin to understand the miraculous operation of this body, or how each cell works in tandem with every other.  How could I ever doubt Your love for me, when I study the care and intricacies of how you formed me?  You hold my every breath in Your hand – yes, I am fully aware of the fact that I cannot even breathe on my own.   Awestruck by the wonderment of Your great love, I begin to worship and praise You for the mighty works You have performed all around me.  I lift my voice and sing, “All I need is You Lord, You Lord, all I need is You.”  Whether Your answer is yes, no, or not now, I already have all I need - perhaps not all I want, but surely all I need.  As my spirit soars, my soul is also lifted up.  I rest in the knowledge that all is well, right here at Your feet, no matter how things seem ‘out there.’ 

 

All too soon the snooze alarm buzzes again, reminding me that I must get up and attend to my everyday responsibilities.  I slowly rise and head to the shower, refreshed and restored once more.  It occurs to me that nothing in the natural world has changed; my problems remain, and I am faced with the same decisions I had the day before.  But something is different; my step is lighter; my soul is refreshed.  I am amazed that just a few minutes at Your feet have completely changed my countenance.  The Holy Spirit reminds me that this life on earth is my training ground, my opportunity to grow, and to learn all I will need so I can step into the position reserved for me in eternity.  When I calculate how short my earthly life is, compared to eternity, I see that most of my burdens are only momentary light afflictions.  Tests, actually.

 

Thank You, Lord.  You have such a sweet way of encouraging me, reminding me that all is well and You have all things worked out for my joy and Your glory.  You said in Your Word that all things work together for good for those who love You and are called according to your purposes.  I smile, knowing fully that Your every word is truth and Your every promise will come to pass in Your perfect timing.  Lord, I ask that You would conform my will to match Yours.

 

Psalm 42:5

Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you so disquieted within me?  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

 

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

 

I Peter 5:7

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

Job 5:8

“But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause – Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

 

Psalm 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

 

Job 23:10

But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

 

On our first foray into the big city of Chicago for a Cubs game, we stayed at a hotel in one of the outlying suburbs.  At breakfast, our server suggested that we take the train to Wrigley Field, rather than drive into the congested area around the ballpark.  She directed us to a nearby parking facility, where we left our car, headed to the train station, and made our way to the boarding platform.  We were most definitely out of our element, coming from a much smaller city, and we looked around in amazement.  Was this a good idea after all?  Were we safe here?  It was mid-morning so the daily commuters into the city were long gone to work.  The remaining folks on the platform reflected a wide variety of culture and dress.  I found myself not so comfortable in these unfamiliar surroundings; my excitement was mixed with a little bit of uncertainty about this added adventure.

 

Looking around, we spotted an elderly gentleman sporting a tweed suit, a cane, and a full reddish beard; we decided he looked safe enough to approach for directions.  After he explained which train went where, I asked him if it was safe to ride the train system.  He scrunched up his face, stroked his beard, looked off in the distance, and said; “Hmmmm, how safe is safe?”  I must admit, I did not have an answer.  A bit uncomfortable over his comment, we thanked him and turned away to take another look at the train schedule.  When we turned back around to address the gentleman, he was nowhere to be seen.

 

Over the years, we have often discussed that encounter, and the wisdom of the man we met (although it did not give us much comfort at the time!).  On many occasions, the man’s message has helped us put the question of safety into proper perspective.  How safe is safe?  What is safe anyway? And what does safe get us?  Is safe only an illusion?  I suspect my idea of safe is somewhat different from yours, maybe significantly different.  If I met that man again, I still would not have an intelligent answer for him.

 

These days, as I find myself glued to television news updates, it would be easy to lose heart and sink into fear and depression.  That is exactly what can happen right now if I were to put my trust in, and measure my well-being by, the value of my net worth.  I simply must refuse to fall into that trap.  This week as I watched the newscasts and prayed about the current state of our country’s economy, the Lord gave me a vision and a Scripture.

 

Here is the vision:  “A bright yellow spotlight pours down from heaven, into a field of cattails and tall reeds.  People are running about in the field, gripped in fear, struck with terror after hearing reports of impending doom.  Every thing they have pinned their hopes on is crumbling.  They grab for the reeds, but the fragile tubes break off in their hands, leaving them holding onto a piece of straw.  Then they reach for the cattails, but the tops crumble and float to the ground where they are blown away.  All that remains before them are sharp worthless sticks.  They see the spotlight, but it certainly does not look like anything they can grab hold of for security.  And so, they continue to react to their situation based on what their natural eyes can see, and what their natural minds can grasp.  Soon, every last reed and cattail is broken off, bent over, trampled on, and pressed to bits.  All that remains in the empty field is that bright light.  Maybe now they will look with their spiritual eyes to see from where their hope comes.  The One Who created the universe and formed us from the dust, also sent His Son to be the Light of the world, to rescue us from impending doom.”

 

As I think back about our encounter at the train station, I am reminded that my natural eyes only see part of the story.  A recent Amtrak collision tells me trains are not safe.  The evening news says I am not safe in automobiles or airplanes, schools or shopping malls.  Television commercials remind me that I am not even safe in the privacy of my own home.  September 11 confirmed that we as a nation are certainly not safe within our own borders, even living in the so-called safest country in the world.  Add to that the increasing turbulence in weather patterns, causing stronger hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.  Neither is my bank account safe, nor my retirement investments.  Recent government bailouts of major lending institutions, plus the fall of a number of giants on Wall Street, remind me that our economy is losing credibility.  Add to that the increasing cost of goods and services coupled with the declining value of the dollar.  Today I have a fair amount of job security, but who knows what tomorrow might bring?  As I look to retirement, will Social Security and Medicare benefits still be available for me?

 

Looking through my natural eyes, things can appear pretty bleak.  But I know that I cannot see the full picture unless I also look with my spiritual eyes.  The Bible story the Lord showed me is found in the Book of II Kings, in chapter six.  The king of Syria was making war against Israel, and every time he planned an ambush, the prophet Elisha would forewarn the king of Israel, allowing Israel to avoid the traps.  (God often shows his prophets what He is doing.)  Consequently, the king of Syria came after Elisha and his servant, surrounding the city with a great army of horses and chariots.  Elisha’s servant was terrified and asked what they should do.  Elisha said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Elisha prayed, asking the Lord to open the spiritual eyes of his servant.  Then the Lord opened the servant’s spiritual eyes, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 

 

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

 

Psalm 119:117a

Hold me up, and I shall be safe

 

II Kings 6:8-9, 14-17

Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying , “My camp will be in such and such a place.”  And the man of God [Elisha] sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”  …  Therefore he [the king of Syria] sent horses and chariots and a great army there and they came by night and surrounded the city.  And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots.  And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master!  What shall we do?”  So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his [spiritual] eyes that he may see.”  Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.  And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 

Matthew 6:25-26

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about  your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?”

 

Luke 12:6-7

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

 

Joel 3:16

The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.