Beside
the Well
I
like to read older writers. Sometimes
the language bogs me down, but I persevere because I love the way they think
deeply and widely about their subject. I
find a strong sense of dedication and commitment that seems missing in today’s
fluffs and fancies.
Anyway,
I was reading Practicing the Presence of
God, by Brother Lawrence and my eye picked up on the word possible. He said, “All things are possible to him who
believes; less difficult to him who hopes; more easy to him who loves, and
still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three
virtues.” (p. 27)
Since
God had already been directing my attention to the word possible, I was well aware the Bible says all things are possible
to him who believes. But Brother
Lawrence didn’t stop there. He threw in
hope and love. That got me
thinking.
As
an eternal optimist and idealist, I tend to see things as possible. I’m not oblivious to difficulties, but I see
them as hurdles to get over or problems to be solved.
I
know of other people who throw their hands up and cry aloud when faced with a
hurdle. It is as if they immediately
lose hope they could ever find the solution.
It all seems too hard to them. Impossible
seems to the main word in their vocabulary.
How
wonderful that God uses both words. With
God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
And, “With God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). God knows our individual dispositions and has
every base covered.
I
have found that facing the possible and the impossible with a hopeful attitude
and a heart of love creates energy. Doing
things without love produces frustration and hardness, which kills motivation. Hope
becomes hard to find and even simple things become a burden.
I
remember the hard work it took to keep up with the house, be a good wife and
mother and be active in the ministry. I
never fell in love with housework, but because I loved my family, what often
seemed impossible became possible. We
survived the lean years and the teen years, and now have an ever-growing
family.
Even
though the kids are out of the nest, life still challenges me with situations
where faith, hope and love are necessary.
They help me to see opportunities and make wise decisions. I need them to guide ministry. I need them to face retirement and
health. I need them when I flinch at the
future because they remind me God is already there.
Looking
at life’s hurdles through the lens of these three virtues creates the energy to
solve problems and keep moving forward. I
don’t know about you, but I need all the energy and positive motivation I can
get. Life doesn’t seem to get any
easier with age, but when I approach it with faith, hope and love truly all
things are possible.
Lawrence, Brother, compiled by Beaufort,
Joseph, The Practice of the Presence of
God, Dover Publications, 2005
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