Don't be a caterpillar!

Have you ever found yourself on one of those hamster wheels? Not literally, of course, but just busily doing, without even thinking.  It might be at home with children or at work outside of the home. We are doing, doing, doing. We can even find ourselves on that wheel at church, right?  We can get so busy with church activities that we can neglect the most important life giving activity of all, spending time with God in God’s Word and in prayer. 

It reminds me of something I read years ago about a certain type of caterpillar.  The story goes like this:

A famous French naturalist, Jean-Henri Fabre, conducted an interesting experiment with Pine Processionary caterpillars. He took several caterpillars and placed them in single file around the rim of a flowerpot. Each caterpillar’s head touched the end of the caterpillar in front of it so that the procession formed a full circle. Fabre placed pine needles, which are the favourite food of the caterpillars of this type, in the middle of the circle formed by the procession. What makes a Processionary caterpillar special is the instinct to blindly follow the caterpillar in front of it. All caterpillars went in circles hour after hour, day after day, night after night thinking that the caterpillar in front of them was heading to the food. In 7 days, all the caterpillars died from hunger and exhaustion although food was just 6 inches away from them and the only thing they needed to do to get it was to change the direction of movement.*

Imagine, these poor caterpillars just going around and around and around and around, their sustenance within reach, but they were so busy going in circles that they missed it.

Just like those caterpillars, it is so easy for us to go around and around in circles, starving ourselves of life-giving time with God. 

This week take a moment out of your busy day and stop. Go to your Bible app, (if you don’t have one consider this https://www.bible.com) and read the verse of the day. It only takes a moment. Or pick up your Bible — yes, go old school — and see what God has to say to you. (If you don’t have a Bible, please come see me, I have one waiting for you!). I promise that if you will stop and listen, God will have a life giving message for you that will nourish your soul. 

*Sedniev, Andrii (2014-07-25). The Achievement Factory: How to Fulfill Your Dreams and Make Life an Adventure (p. 62).

Perfect love drives out fear!

Tonight is Halloween, a night full of zombies, goblins, witches and other scary things. Honestly, I have never been a fan of Halloween.  Sure, I like the candy, particularly those mini Caramilk bars.  I used to love making sure my kids’ stash was safe by being the chocolate taster. It’s a real thing! I was a modern day Nehemiah! But other than that, Halloween is a little too dark for my liking. 

The verse that is prominent for me at Halloween is this:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear… (1 John 4:18)

Halloween is rooted in fear.

Did you know that Halloweenbegan as the festival of Samhain, which was part of the ancient Celtic religion in Britain and other parts of Europe. It was believed that on one particular night at the end of summer the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.  

According to Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, some of the Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them. 

In medieval Britain, supplicants moved from door to door asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead, it was said that they would carry “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle connoted a soul trapped in purgatory.” (Halloween — From Pagan Ritual to Party Night) Others say that the lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits. During the 1800’s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful as well as easy to hollow out and carve. 

Halloween is rooted in fear. 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…

In 1 John, we are told that perfect love, God’s love, drives out fear.  When you and I are certain of God's love, we don't have to be afraid anymore, and not just at Halloween! It’s as if God is the parent who comes in at night and tucks us in, turns on the night light, and tells us that there are no monsters. In God's great love, all fear melts away.

As we think about our fears now, I pray that you will know that just as God protected and redeemed those who have come before us, God will protect and redeem us, too – even from death itself!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

Join us this Sunday as we continue our sermon series on Elisha.  I must say I have been encouraged by the number of emails and calls regarding this newest sermon series on the Old Testament prophet Elisha.  It seems clear that God is on the move at Amberlea.  

Thank you for sharing with me how relationships are being restored, new projects are beginning, and the numerous ways that you are faithfully moving towards God, trusting that God will move towards you in faithfulness.  

I have been encouraged, humbled and blessed. Praise God.

Eyes on the sea

During a recent time away, Brian and I found ourselves on a tour bus weaving our way through tiny towns in an exotic place.  As we driving through the small towns the back drop was a magnificent view of the ocean. Small homes and businesses lined the streets with spaces between for access to and from the stunning beach that made up their back yard.

Town after little town, the urban planning was the same.  

Here’s what I found interesting.  As we drove through the towns lined with small houses and businesses people were seen sitting outside these establishments facing the street.  

Here we were a bus full of people from a far away land enamoured by the beauty and majesty of the ocean - literally craning our necks to see the grand movement of the waves as they crashed on the rocks.  And there they were, people who lived in this stunning location not looking at what we travelled so far to see but rather they sat facing the road.  

It seemed weird to me.  If I lived there, why would I look at the street?  I would look at the ocean.  

Or would I?

If I lived with the ocean as my backyard would I find the comings and goings on the street more interesting?  Would I turn my back to the beauty of the ocean as “oh hum”?

And then it got me thinking…. how often do we do that with God?

God is there.  Always.  A steady constant like the waves of the ocean.  Big, vast, beautiful.  Do we turn our backs to that which is to look for something that might be?  

This week we are continuing our sermon series on Elisha.  An ordinary guy who, by keeping his eyes on God was able to do extraordinary things.