Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Lenten Love #12


“…Yet my people have exchanged their glory for what has no value.” –Jeremiah 2:11b (CEB)

“They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that look like mortal humans: bird, animals, and reptiles.” Romans 1:23

These passages remind me of the story that Rob Bell tells in one of his NOOMA videos.  He and his sons were walking on the beach one day collecting seashells when they spotted this massive starfish floating in the water a little ways offshore.  One of his sons takes off running to go get it, stops part way out and turns back.  They yelled to him, “Turn around! Go, get the starfish!”  And so he does with more enthusiasm.  Again, half way out this time, he stops and turns back around to come in. They yelled again to him, “Turn around! Go and get that starfish!”  With even more excitement and vigor he splashes out, only to stop and run back in.  The young boy finally gets back to the shore with his brother and dad, tears flowing down his face.  Bell says to his son, “What’s wrong?”  And his son replies, “My hands are too full with shells to be able to pick up the starfish.”

The point he tries to make is that we settle so often for the ‘good enough’ in life that we miss out on the ‘really great’ stuff.  While Jeremiah and Paul are little harsher in their tone, to me the point is the same.  I’ve long thought that we just settle for things in our lives.  Remember, we were created in the IMAGE of God.  That’s powerful stuff.  God wants desperately to do great things in this world through us and for us.  Why settle for good, when we can celebrate, enjoy, and be great!

Blessings as you seek to see the Greatness of God!
B
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