Prayer and Finding Meaning
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent and the theme upon which I will preach is Prayer. If there is anything I have learned about having meaning in life, it is that prayer and a walk with Christ is essential.
One day, William Hunt, the famous artist, was giving instructions to a group of young artists. They were painting a landscape scene by a beautiful lake as the sun was setting. Hunt noticed that one of the students was spending an inordinate amount of time painting an old barn and giving no attention to the beautiful sunset. The wise old teacher, looking over the student’s shoulder, said “Son it won’t be light much longer. You’ve got to choose between painting the shingles on the red barn and painting the sunset in God’s sky. There is only time for one or the other, and you have a choice to make.”
There are critical choices that life unerringly offers us. A choice between “good” and “bad” is easy to make. It’s the choice between “good” and “best” that makes the final difference in life on that “last day” when the summary statement is made. One of the greatest dangers we face is that in a world where there is so much “small stuff” we will never get beyond the “small stuff.” It’s so easy to settle for painting the shingles on a red barn while the rich beauty of an unspeakable sunset disappears unnoticed. We stand in danger of becoming so preoccupied with the insignificant details of living that we ignore the significant, broad outlines of life.
We need to pull back from life, in prayer and reflection, every once in a while, and ask ourselves where we are really going. We can become so lost in trivial detail that we miss the goal and purpose of it all, and the purpose of the One in whose image we are created. How many times have you lain awake at night sifting through a thousand details of the day, trying to find just one indication of meaning and purpose. We begin to wonder if we’re so busy because life is full, or because it’s empty.
In this season of Lent, let me ask you to stop…. for just a little while. Have the courage to look at how the priorities of your life are arranged. If, on the last day of your life you were privileged to make a brief statement, what would you like to be able to say? This is a speech that is being written every day.
Blessings to you – Pastor Bobby
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