Cooler, today, by far.
Blaze is finally spending more
time outside, and seems to be much more comfortable. Up until this week he would go out and stand,
he was listening and watching, but he wasn’t relaxing, wasn’t lying down. That changed a few days ago, he now is going
out into the area Carla likes to call the cat’s living room – it has several
chairs for us to sit, but more likely you will find a cat making herself at home
on one of them. He is lying down,
resting and less tense. I look at that
as a good sign.
He is still skittish, I don’t
think that will ever change, but he seems to be growing more satisfied with his
life here – it is a day to day thing, sometimes he gets set back quite a ways
and it takes him a while to gain trust once again – but in all he is doing
pretty good.
Carla canned several quarts of
pears the past couple of days, helped her a bit but she did the majority of the
work. Not sure if we will be canning
anything else this year, it has been an off year for me and therefore for
us.
I am doing better and feeling
better, no longer as groggy as I have been and my heart rate is a lot more
stable – hopefully that is a sign of good things to come.
Proverbs 30:25-26 The ants are a
people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the
summer;
26 The conies are but a
feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the
rocks;
Proverbs
6:6 Go to the ant, thou
sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
As Carla was finishing up the
last of the pears to be canned I got to thinking about these verses. So I looked them up today.
Why would the writer of Proverbs
single out the ant to demonstrate planning ahead? Don’t know why that particular insect since
many do the same thing, it doesn’t matter, but let’s consider the ant and her
ways.
No ant lives alone. He is just one of a colony.
Each ant has responsibilities to
the colony, some ‘farm’ some go out and gather meat, while others tend to the
housing, making sure there are enough rooms to accommodate the entire
colony. Some take care of the nursery,
while others take care of the queen.
Each is ready to defend the nest and willing to give his life to protect
his fellows.
We know ants are incredibly
strong for their size, yet they are tiny compared to us. They can build elaborate ‘homes’ as they
tunnel into the ground or wood or whatever they have to use as their building
site.
They are diligent, they work
hard, their existence depends not just on themselves, but what their fellow ants
are doing to prepare for the upcoming time when food will be scarce or
non-existent outside the nest; and adverse weather outside will destroy them if
they venture out.
They are uniquely designed to
perform the tasks of taking care of each other.
They are strong and powerful, yet they are small and weak. Together they accomplish great things while
as individuals they cannot survive.
They are focused on their tasks
and don’t let anything prevent them from doing their job.
Now, we can look at that, as
many do, that these verses, as well as others, encourage us to work and store up
for the future – and of course that is true; although, for the most part, we
seem to apply it to our individual needs and not that of a community.
The ants work in tandem with
other ants, each has his responsibility, but all work for the common good of the
nest.
What is interesting, to me, is
that there doesn’t seem to be an ‘architect’ ant that develops a plan and
commands others to do the work. God has
given them an inner-knowledge of what they need to do and they have others to
follow as an example on how to best do it.
God has created the ant to know what he is to do.
But there is also a correlation
to our spiritual well-being as Christians.
God uses His people to further the gospel of Christ. There are billions of us on the earth right
now, yet, each person is different.
When we look at the billions of
people in this world today, we know that each is an individual. He has unique features that belong to him
alone, while he may have many attributes that are identical or almost identical
with others, he is not the same as them.
Even those who are closely related are different to one degree or
another.
We become stronger when we work
in unison with others. Our skills and
talents, our gifts and experience can be used to strengthen not only the
Christ’s Church, but individuals within the church.
The ant isn’t concerned about
who is in charge; isn’t concerned about another ant being lifted up as an
example of the ‘perfect’ ant. He just
goes about his assigned task and knows that what he is doing is to the benefit
of himself and the nest as a whole.
In the world being a working
‘stiff’ is often looked at as being low, after all they are not the leaders,
they are not the ones that direct others.
They get their hands dirty and come home dirty, hot and tired. Not like the boss who doesn’t get his hands
dirty and goes home to luxury.
Yes, that is a simplification,
however, without the men and women who are willing to get their hands dirty
nothing will be done. We can plan all we
want, but unless someone does the work the planning is useless.
Christ set up His church here on
earth to reflect man’s need for teaching and direction. Like the ants we all have a job to do to;
part of ours is to spread the gospel of Christ. No matter what our position we must work for
God.
Now our position in Christ’s
Church may not be set in stone as it is with the ants, but while we are in that
position it is important to do our jobs for Him, correctly and with a heart that
yields to Him and His Church.
1 Corinthians
12:27-29 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.
28 And God hath set some in
the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are
all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles?
As we grow in Christ He may
decide to give us other responsibilities, or not, as He wishes. Christ calls us into the ministry which best
suits us – He knows our heart and how He can use us to further the Gospel.
While we may feel called into
another position and to attain it we must train and study to meet the needs of
the position we still have the responsibility to serve Him in our current
capacity.
Our heart must be open to the
direction God is taking us. What He may
have directed us to do in the past may be different from where He is leading us
now. What we have to do is make sure we
are following HIM, not our own selfish desires.
The ant is focused on doing the
best job he can do for the benefit of the colony. He is depending on other ants to do their
part so that, together, they serve the colony by serving each other.
We need that same mindset. We need to be doing our job so others can
depend on us and together we serve the Kingdom of Heaven.
Later, Art :-)
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