I have had a week to end all weeks. For three days I was flat on my back, completely miserable. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, and I definitely couldn’t have fun. Something vicious had attacked me, and was causing my lovely reaction of vomiting, fever, and cough. Friday found me in the doctor’s office feeling even more miserable as they poked and chatted and x-rayed. Soon enough, I stood staring at my own lungs, hung out to dry as x-rays on the wall, while the doctor said, “See—there’s a pretty dense pneumonia spot right there.” So that was my diagnosis: pneumonia.
I just had one little bacterium in the wrong place. One evil germ with a plan. That little bacterium, I have discovered, can double its numbers every 10-30 minutes. This means that in seven hours that one wicked germ could have turned out over 2 million offspring! Somehow this doesn’t seem fair to poor little me, who had to put up with the rising dynasty of pneumonia bacteria…
However, I have been working on remorselessly throwing my evil little tenants out, and am feeling much better. So much better, in fact, that I have been thinking about the analogy here. Have you ever thought about the little things that control our lives? My microscopic bacteria friends have controlled my life for almost a
week now, and I can’t even see them! On a different level, though, how many little imposters hold the reins in our spiritual lives?
In my own life, it’s the little sins that trip me, the little distractions that confuse me, and the little idols that steal my heart. I have to ask myself, how many of my activities are miniscule and frivolous in comparison to eternity? How many of my priorities are parasites that eat up too much time? How many little things do I get angry about and hurt a relationship over? I remember when Melanie, my younger sister, would “get into my stuff.” She loved to fondle my six-year-old treasures, and when she, at age three, would break one of them, my anger could not be soothed! At the time, I just could not imagine ever forgetting those broken treasures that now I have long since forgotten. I let my possessions control my emotions.
James 3:4 says, “Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.” Perhaps it’s time for a rudder check. Matthew 6:33 provides a good one: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Seeking God is the BIG thing; compared to that, everything else is just a microscopic germ. We hear all the time that we should cherish the little things, but at the same time, I suggest, don’t sweat the small stuff—it just might lay you flat on your back!
I just had one little bacterium in the wrong place. One evil germ with a plan. That little bacterium, I have discovered, can double its numbers every 10-30 minutes. This means that in seven hours that one wicked germ could have turned out over 2 million offspring! Somehow this doesn’t seem fair to poor little me, who had to put up with the rising dynasty of pneumonia bacteria…
However, I have been working on remorselessly throwing my evil little tenants out, and am feeling much better. So much better, in fact, that I have been thinking about the analogy here. Have you ever thought about the little things that control our lives? My microscopic bacteria friends have controlled my life for almost a
week now, and I can’t even see them! On a different level, though, how many little imposters hold the reins in our spiritual lives?In my own life, it’s the little sins that trip me, the little distractions that confuse me, and the little idols that steal my heart. I have to ask myself, how many of my activities are miniscule and frivolous in comparison to eternity? How many of my priorities are parasites that eat up too much time? How many little things do I get angry about and hurt a relationship over? I remember when Melanie, my younger sister, would “get into my stuff.” She loved to fondle my six-year-old treasures, and when she, at age three, would break one of them, my anger could not be soothed! At the time, I just could not imagine ever forgetting those broken treasures that now I have long since forgotten. I let my possessions control my emotions.
James 3:4 says, “Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.” Perhaps it’s time for a rudder check. Matthew 6:33 provides a good one: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Seeking God is the BIG thing; compared to that, everything else is just a microscopic germ. We hear all the time that we should cherish the little things, but at the same time, I suggest, don’t sweat the small stuff—it just might lay you flat on your back!
Great analogy, Lauren! I 'm sorry to hear you are/were so sick, but I hope you are definitely on your way to recovery. : )
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit of a take-off from your blog, but I just finished reading a chapter entitled "Small Hard Things" in the book "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. It was a good reminder to be faithful in the small, but often hard, things in our lives. And, a good reminder to me that, yes, the small things "like the little foxes in the vines" can trip me up most often.
Thanks for the good exhortation...and get better soon!
P.S. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly recommend the book I mentioned above. It is very good!
Ruthie--I haven't read that book yet, but have heard of it, and it has been rolling around in my mental list of books to read. I hadn't talked to someone who read it, though, so it's good to hear your recommendation! Thanks for your kind words--I'm doing much better! Praise the Lord!
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