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 Natural
disasters have a tendency to make us take stock and think
about what we take for granted. Patty and I have lived through
hurricanes in Florida, ice storms in Arkansas, floods in Pennsylvania,
and tornadoes in Minnesota, but we haven't lived through an
earthquake, thank heavens, like the one in Haiti. Yes, nature's
extremes tend to get our attention.
The story
goes that a tourist had climbed to the top of a church steeple
to enjoy the view. He felt rewarded for his efforts as he
gazed at the surrounding countryside and the busy streets
below. But to his dismay when he started to retrace his steps,
he found the door had slammed shut and he was locked in the
tower. He began calling loudly to the people on the street
but to no avail. He next took several coins from his pocket
and dropped them down. To his amazement the pedestrians picked
them up and pocketed them without an upward glance. In desperation
he looked around and noticed a few bits of plaster on the
platform. He began dropping these to the street. In a matter
of seconds people were looking up, first angrily and then
with comprehension of his plight. He was then rescued.
This story
is a good parable of our relationship with God. When life
runs smoothly and we daily receive God's blessings we seldom
take time to step back and look up and say "Thank
You Lord". However when we are suddenly confronted
with misfortune or tragedy, we then cast our eyes upward and
cry: "Why God?". Let's not wait for tornadoes,
or floods, or earthquakes or the plaster of misfortune falling
on our heads, to finally appreciate the many blessings we
do receive on a regular basis. Then we can say with the Apostle
Paul: "I have learned to be content with whatever
I have".
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