The Prayer of Eli

One of the best prayers I have heard in recent memory was breathed at the end of a movie I have watched a number of times now.  It wasn't so much the prayer, but how it summed up the character's life and faith in God.  The movie is titled "The Book of Eli" and the prayer goes:

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me the strength and the conviction to complete the task you entrusted to me.  Thank you for guiding me straight and true through the many obstacles in my path.  And for keeping me resolute when all around seemed lost.  Thank you for your protection and your many signs along the way.  Thank you for any good that I may have done; I'm so sorry about the bad.  Thank you for the friend I made.  Please watch over her as you watched over me.  Thank you for finally allowing me to rest. I'm so very tired, but I go now to my rest at peace.  I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.


At the end of the movie, as Eli prays, my head bows and I find myself in God's presence.  My heart and my conscience pricked by a movie written, produced and financed by secular society.  I am convicted by this.  Will I be able to pray with such conviction and assurance at the conclusion of my task on earth?

It is a sobering thought.  For so many years I've demanded much of life, of God and others.  I have given little in return and I have given even less thought to the task given to me by God - to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him.  I have complained about any obstacle that blocked my path to selfish gain.  I have quit all too soon whenever I attempted to 'put my hand to the plow'.  I have not really sought the best for others, unless it has been mutually beneficial.  Here I stand convicted, first by this prayer from a post-apocalyptic Hollywood movie character and secondly, and more importantly, by what I read in God's Word.  I am just as Paul described when said to the Roman church in Romans 3:10-18 that "no one is righteous".  I have turned away from good and I have not found real, lasting peace by the selfish pursuit of my own pleasures.  You do not have to look long or very deep into my life to see how I have failed miserably in my service to my fellow man and to God.  I am not bragging of this.  Instead, it sickens and disgusts me when I realize that my 'good deeds' are no more than menstrual rags (Isaiah 64:6) and it disheartens me when I see what I did do had produced nothing more than a 'fart' (Isaiah 26:18).

My hard work alone has not secured anything of worth for me...especially since I have been expending my energies pursuing the temporal instead of the eternal. So, what now?  By God's Word, I am proven to have offered nothing, of being unfaithful and inconsequential to who and what really matters.  Is there no hope, or help, for me?  Is this all?  Am I to be trapped and held here in my ineffectiveness, my powerless state of sin and neglect?

No!  The Apostle Paul asks the same question and then provides the answer in Romans 7:24 when he too found himself in the same state: "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord."  I raise my own voice in this declaration along with Paul.  Thank God for Jesus Christ; my LORD and my Savior.  With God's leadership, through the diligent study of His Word, at the end of my days my prayer will be similar to that of Eli and Paul before him: I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.


In Christ's name, may it be so.  Amen.

The Only One in the World

A recent song by Rihanna got me thinking.  In the song she pleads with her lover to "make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world, like I'm the only one you'll ever love".  No doubt the song has much to do with sex and the pursuit of sexual pleasure, however, there is a cry for more - to matter to someone, even for a moment.

In my own wandering I too have cried out in my own despair and longing for someone to make me feel so special.  The world today promises so much but provides so little - mere shadows and dust.

A hymn titled "Satisfied" written by Clara Tear Williams in 1875 speaks of this deep longing.  In the first verse she pens:

All my life I had a longing
For a drink from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

The second and third verses tell of how she attempted to meet this thirsting and longing for something better, something satisfying.  I identify with Clara.  For many years I have sought for that 'one thing' that would meet my deep need, that would satisfy a longing in my soul.

I have enjoyed social, financial and career success in this life, but it has not filled this deep longing for substance.  I have been employed and excelled greatly in my tasks, earning high praises on my performance evaluations.  I've been entrusted with large budgets tasked with meeting the needs of government agencies.  I have headed up departments and successfully managed staff members while earning the unsolicited praises of those whom I supervised.  I have taken little and made it into something more.  This has provided little satisfaction.

I have enjoyed social success.  I have rubbed shoulders with the upper echelon - finding myself in the company of the 'movers and shakers' in our society.  People have sought out my advice and opinions on various matters. I have been elected and appointed.  I have counselled, directed and taught.  People beyond my years have come to me for direction and leadership.  But it has not met my inner need for acceptance.

I know what it is like to make good money and to have money - to not to have to worry about coffee money for Starbucks, or about whether or not I can have the finer foods, whether I can be clothed plainly or fashionably.  Entertainment was available and enjoyed.  I have paid good money for poor thrills.  Again, these things have not brought long term satisfaction.

My various successes have brought a measure of joy and happiness, but it never lasts.  It is but a morning mist quickly burned away by the rising sun.  In my life, it is my longing to know that I matter and that I matter to not just anyone, but Someone.

In the last verse of her hymn, Clara rejoices with the following:

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of Life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.

I desire this.  Is it truly possible to receive such a gift?  Scripture tells me in that I can.  All I need do is ask and receive.  Psalm 34:8 encourages me to "taste and see that the LORD is good".  In Revelation 3:20, Jesus Christ says "Look! I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."  Finally, in Luke 11:9-10 I read "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

Father God, I ask that you will open my eyes and my heart to receive from you.  According to your Word, I matter.  You are able to meet my every need.  Please do so in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Will you ask and receive this too?

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

Dylan Thomas raged against his father's impending death and exhorted his Dad to "rage, rage against the dying of the light".  Is there a lesson to be learned here for the darkening in our own lives?  Or are we yet wise men sending forth words lacking light?

What am I talking about you ask?  Well, at one time or another we all have astutely proclaimed that the world is going to pot, or in other vernacular, going to hell in a hand basket.  So, Wise Man, what say you?  What offering of light do you present to affront the accursed darkness and hold it at bay so that we all may see for just awhile, even for a step forward?

There is an endless stream of theory, rationality, study and speech about what can be done.  But, in my mind, there seems to be an obvious lack of effort.  Even the Teacher tells us: 'Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out'. (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

I think the time for talk is long gone.  What we need now, I believe, is for someone to actually do what they say, and do it well.  Maybe that someone is our own self.

So, where is a good place to start?  How about here: 'Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty'.  (Ecclesiastes 12:13)  What about these 'commands'?  What are they?  Check out the following Scriptures for direction:  Micah 6:8, Luke 10:27, Mark 10:45, James 2:17, Matthew 22:37-40, James 1:22.

I challenge you - and me - as Dylan Thomas challenged his father, "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night".  What say you?  Will you join me?

The Policy

This is an article I wrote that was published in 2001. I've revisited it and think I would like to share it anew.

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"Help me! I’ve been robbed! It’s gone, all of it. What happened? Why did this happen to me?" I screamed at my Insurer. Continuing I bellowed, "You promised that if I leave my treasures in your hands that it would be safe! But just look around me now! It’s all gone! Every bit of it. Why!?! Why didn't you keep your word? I depended on you!"

With a look nearing contempt, I glared at the Man across from me. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" I demanded.

Not a word did He speak. He just sat there! Who does this guy think He is? Sure I read the contract, I understood the claims that He made when I ‘bought’ into the policy. ‘Leave it to Him and He will take care of it. Nothing will be forsaken.’ What a disappointment, what a mistake!

At the edge of despair I broke down and began to cry. All the things I held dear, my hopes, my dreams, the plans I made for life...all gone in an instant. Why did it happen?

As I cried, the Man sat.

After my sobs began to subside, He spoke, "Friend, I did not forsake you. Yes, you have been robbed. I am indeed sorry that it has happened, but happen it did. But you misunderstand me. I never promised that you would not be robbed, but I did promise that you would be taken care of. These hopes and dreams of yours that were so coarsely snatched from your grip I can restore. I know you feel betrayed but I ask that you have faith in Me. I will restore that which was stolen. It may not seem as if I can right now, but have patience. You will see."

Unbelieving I agreed knowing that He would fail. But you see I didn't have any other choice but to depend upon Him. Of all the other insurers He alone was the One I felt could actually make good on His word.

I waited. Days turned into weeks and finally into months. I don’t quite know when it happened, but as I waited I began to dream again. My hopes once more began to burn brightly. The joy that was so callously taken from me, returned in abundance. As I said, I cannot recall exactly when it happened, but I am sure it had to do with putting my faith in this Insurer, the Man who called Himself Jesus, the Christ.

Now as I look back on that time in which I felt I lost it all, I understand the sufficiency of this ‘life policy’ I have taken out in His Name. I am confident that even though I may again experience the same feelings of despair and hopelessness, He will restore to me that which is stolen. It is difficult, yes. However, He has not failed yet. When I look back between that time and now, I can see much more clearly that He has kept His word. My friend, if you do not know this Man, let me introduce you to Him. His name is Jesus and of all the guarantees of this world, His alone is worth accepting. You see, it is already paid for. All you need to do is accept it. It covers everything and there are no surprise clauses that will release Him from His obligations. It is yours for the asking. Ask in faith and confidence and be rewarded. He is waiting and you can’t afford to miss the opportunity. Call on Him today! If you need help getting to Him, call me. I’d be glad to introduce you.

* Originally published by Good Tidings Press, St. John's, NL, January 2001

Wasps in Coffee Houses

Sitting and thinking on the side of the Red River. Or I was. Now, I'm enjoying a coffee press at my favorite Starbucks watching a wasp trying to escape my place of escape.

It seems at times that everyone, and everything, is trying to escape something. It seems discontentment and dissatisfaction is the cry of every living thing. Or does it seem this way because I struggle with my own unhappiness and discontentment?

Paul, writer to the Gentiles (that is everyone who isn't a Jew) implores us to learn the art of being content. He states in his writing to the Christians at Philippi that he has "...learned how to be content with whatever I have." To his protege Timothy, he writes: "after all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content."

But is that an impossible view for today? Is contentment possible?

The wasp here in the shop wants out. Why? Sure it isn't in it's natural environment, but there is safety here (relative to the amount of attention it attracts, I concede), there is sustenance here and there is a tremendous amount of space in which to dwell. Speaking in elementary terms, all of its needs are potentially met...but yet it struggles to fly through the window to the outside.

Why?

In watching my fellow sojourner, the wasp, I can draw some parallels to my own struggles with contentment and situation. My own discontentment is based in part, I believe, in the fact that I am made for something more, just as the wasp is made for something more than a coffee house existence. It is made to live outside, to struggle against nature and predator, to eke out a living in the wild and untamed unknown. In a similar way, I am also made for more than this 'coffee house existence'. I am made for eternity, therefore I am discontent in this temporal world.

No, this is not some delusion of grandeur I possess. It is based firmly in my belief, and my blessed hope, that I have been wonderfully created by a loving, paternal Heavenly Father who has gifted me with eternal life through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I am discontent with anything less than that gift promised me.

So what of it? I am in the here and now. This is my current reality. Am I to be content here? Is temporal contentment a virtue worth cultivating?

I've heard it said of Christians that we are 'too Heavenly minded to be any earthly good'.

So, where is the balance? Is there a realistic balance that can be struck between learning temporal contentment while maintaining a measure of temporal discontentment due to not being where I have been created to exist? Does it even matter?

The dilemma, I perceive, is that I belong to two very different, but equally genuine, realities. Eternity is not my present reality. The temporal is.

I believe that the here and now, with it's shortcomings, challenges and hurt, is still beneficial and worth being content in. The first step, I believe, is a careful evaluation of what this present reality actually is. This is where I need to begin. Stay tuned...for this is all a work in progress.

Something Else

God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole of God's work from beginning to the end.

Could this be why at times our life's journey can seem a veritable wilderness? When I am in the moment, I find it difficult to see beyond it. Sure, I can make plans or reminisce, but I cannot fathom what is actually beyond now, nor can I change what was.

This human limitation builds within me an anticipation. Deep within my spirit a question breaks through in sudden clarity: Surely, now isn't all there is, is it?

God has planted eternity in the human heart.

What is eternity and why do I long for it?

The Beginning

The Teacher said there is no end of opinions to be expressed and the studying of them can go on forever, becoming very exhausting.

Allow me the opportunity to add to the weight of free thought and expression. Maybe it will permit me a lighter step in my own journey through this wonderful wilderness we call Life or something like it.

Join me if you like.