Focus on the Elephant

So often we as people, just like the blind men in the analogy of the blind men and the elephant, get so bogged down with our own perspectives and point of views, that we forget to seek the big picture and the full story. Like the first blind man who feels the elephant's legs and deduces that it is a tree trunk, or the second blind man, who feels the tail and concludes that its a rope, or the third blind man, who feels the trunk and says that it is a snake, we often are far too fast to make supposedly objective conclusions and become ignorant of the wider picture.

Before making decisions or conclusions, please go out and analyse the wider context of the issue at hand. Who knows, you might have missed something, or you might ascertain more information which will change the whole situation altogether. Not doing this can lead to rash decisions, hurt for other people affected, and awkward situations and circumstances that could have been totally avoided. Decisions have consequences. You don't want to unintentionally walk all over other people and cause them headaches and heartaches. Focus on the elephant... Go out of your way to look at it, elephants are big and easy to find.

If you haven't heard of the story of the blind men and the elephant, I would encourage you to google it and have a read.

Sold Out

I belong to Jesus, I'm sold out for God.

I will do my best and run the race.

learning on my way how to show love and grace.

If you're with me or against me, its up to you.

But my purpose, my existance, is to worship God alone.

Wise Wishes for the World

1. Don't be a hypocrite lip-service Christian. If you can talk the talk, then walk the talk.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

2. Don't be a gossip. True friends will communicate with each other about any disagreements or conflicts, however big or small. If you are a friend, you would not just listen to gossip but confirm/investigate/talk to the person about the issue at hand. Practice love and forgiveness to your friends who are your brothers and sisters in Christ.

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man [or woman] who talks too much”

“a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends”

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

3. Love and Respect - They go hand in hand. Love without respect can be like an uncontrolled burning passion which is let free to roam and burn, while respect without love is like building up a foundation with no Sydney Opera House, no exquisite building. Both need to work hand in hand, simultaneously, and people are going to fail because we are human. But we have to keep at it and grow and mature as men and women of God.

"...each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

4. Life - is not always a smooth sail. There are always going to be things that pop up that you have to tackle face on. God is at work in the good and the bad times. When its good its easy to follow God. When its hard, its easy for us to run away or give up. We have to learn to trust God, be patient with Him, and be content wherever He has put us.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty..... I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

5. Disagreements between brothers - confront lovingly, discuss honestly, resolve graciously. When there is tension between people, without closure, issues can bubble on for days, weeks, months, years. We think we have dealt with them by sidestepping and letting it slip, but really its always there on the sidelines waiting to come up again. That is not closure. Anger that is not dealt with properly, whether explosive or implosive, is equally dangerous. How we deal with and react to anger is what causes us to sin or not sin. We need to learn to be open, seek a definitive and objective perspective, and forgive and show grace. Don't let things bubble over.

"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"

My two cents for today...

Life is....

Life is not like a series of compartments. Its not segmented into different parts such as church, study, work, friends, different groups of people, etc. etc.

Rather it is like a single bottle. The big rocks may be the big things in your life. The smaller rocks which fill the gaps are the other things that are in your life. Either way, it is only one life, one compartment. You take a rock out, add a rock in, and things will change. Its impossible to take a rock out without it impacting the others. If I get a new job, get fired, get a parking fine, eat out for dinner, it impacts the rest of my life. I might need to find a new job, be tighter on spending, or get more exercise.

One of the analogies that has been on my mind lately when thinking about priorities and new possibilities.... Hope it may stimulate your thoughts :)