Sometimes our work just fades away
Posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
I spent about an hour and a half last night working on a blog with photos, etc. and when I finally came to the end, and I mean the very end, everything crashed. I will try to get around to re-posting sometime today or tomorrow, but it just reminds me not to take my own work too seriously. The truth is that in 20 of 30 years, maybe a little longer, my life will come to an end. All of the things that I stressed out over and sweat-ed over, and made some other people’s lives miserable over are really going to be almost meaningless. It is only the things that I can do for other people and for the Lord that will really make any difference.
How often in our lives do we get ourselves into some sort of “tizzy” (I think that is the scientific name for it) over things that really don’t matter. I am trying to learn from our dogs. They never get upset with one another for more than a few seconds and they are never upset with me. No matter what kind of day I have had, no matter what kind of mistakes I have made, no matter what kind of horrible person I have been during the day, I can come home to three fur covered beings who in many ways act better than almost all people. They are there at the door to meet me every day as if I am the greatest person in the world, as if all that mattered was our friendship. I wish my own love for Christ could be displayed in those kinds of terms.
Our dogs never worry. They don’t know about the grocery store, but they trust that I am going to feed them every day. They don’t have “dog refrigerators” to store food in, just in case I forget. They don’t have a wallet to keep a few extra bucks just in case I don’t get around to feeding them one day. They trust me and don’t worry at all. It just never bothers them that they are not in control of their next meal. That is the kind of faith that we pray for in the Lord’s prayer, but our dogs do a better job of it than many of us.
Today, learn a lesson from your dog. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Trust your “owner” in heaven and he will make sure that you are taken care of, even if your computer crashes after some of your “best work.”
Bark On,
DrSamLam
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Comments
1Jay Fontanini:Wednesday, January 23rd, 2006 at 11:42 am
Sam,
I think this may be the first time I have ever commented on your blog, which I have been reading since you first shared it with me over the summer.
I have spent much time in prayer for Knox, which is far more than an institution to me – certainly, the institution provided the forum, but for me, Knox was the men; the men at whose feet I sat learning; the men who discipled me with the end goal of helping me in my pursuit to become a faithful servant to a Wonderful “Owner.”
I want to confess to you that your post of January 10 was deeply troubling to me. As I looked at the sign, I was disheartened. Far from greatness, I was hearing troubling news concerning the men within the institution. My mind drifted to the things of beauty described in Matthew 23. The sign is indeed great – it is a good thing to see a memorial to a fine institution, but do we really care what those driving by will see? It seems to me that we should be more concerned about the testimony born within the walls – the testimony of the men.
However, I remember with fondness your way with words, and became convinced that the title, “Signs Point to Great Things for Knox,” was more cleverness than a declaration of truth surrounding what must have even at that point been taking place behind the scenes.
Moving on to your post of January 22, it was encouraging to read the words of one dealing with frankness concerning the confirmation of the reality of the changes at hand within the institution. The candor with which you express your sadness is a refreshing response to what occurred.
The open admission of the factions, of the problems, of the issues, of the charges, and of the counter-charges, that gave rise to the need for a new dean at least begin to break down the foundation of façade that once appeared as having been laid.
Even without laying blame at anyone’s feet, it is easy to see when an institution needs to be brought to collective repentance. You have been entrusted with a key leadership position within the institution, and I pray that our Lord will grant you the wisdom to wield that authority well.
And now, let me get to the point of my posting all of this within a comment on this particular entry of your blog. Perhaps much might be learned from observing creation, and even dogs, especially as it relates to not sweating the small stuff.
Your sentiment obviously echoes that of Matthew 6:25-34 – our anxiety betrays our lack of faith concerning the confidence that should be ours according to God’s providence promised in His Word. Your sentiment echoes the confidence that is ours in knowing that each of our hairs is numbered – we need not fear, because we are of more value than sparrows, or dogs, for that matter.
Yet, even within these comforting reminders of God’s providential care, our Lord reminds us of our calling to acknowledge him and seek His kingdom and His righteousness. We live under the blessing of the God-ordained fact that nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. The peace of a trusting animal is temporary, but the assurance of our righteousness in Christ is eternal.
May we be reminded always of our need for the righteousness of Christ. May we learn from what David taught as he reflected on the grace of sins forgiven in Psalm 32. May we not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, resting instead in the LORD’s instruction as he teaches us in the way we should go, being counseled with his eye ever upon us.
I pray that the candor of sins confessed will reign forever within the walls of the building as men submit themselves to the Wonderful “Owner.”
Yours in Christ,
Jay Fontanini
2Ginger Loomis:Wednesday, January 23rd, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Thanks for the reminder! Have a great day! And, congrats......condolences??????
3Frances:Tuesday, January 29th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Now, THAT was exactly what I needed to read. How providential. I thank the Lord for the work He is carrying out in and through you and your various ministries. PS - the exact thing happened to me right before the EE Summit. My computer just threw me under the bus. But… the emphasis of this particular message applies to me today in a much more profound way, for a different reason, and I am so glad I checked your site
Blessings to you in grace and peace!