‘Something Important’s Missing…’
A friend e-mailed me the following delightful story…
“One day, a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided that the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; he concluded that it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening, and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down.
As the farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped over the edge of the well, and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up –simply shake it off, and take a step up!
REMEMBER THESE FOUR SIMPLE RULES TO BE HAPPY:
1.Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
2 Free your mind from worries – Most never happen anyway.
3. Live simply, and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more, and expect less.”
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I must admit that I do like that story! Not only is it a message of great encouragement about not giving up in the face of adversity, it could be said that
it is indeed quite ‘biblical’ in its outlook – especially the ‘four simple rules’.
Nevertheless, it seems to me that there is something important missing from this story, something which the Christian Church has just been celebrating in recent weeks – namely, the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit!
The ‘donkey story’ in its present form could too easily convey the idea that when all the troubles of life get on top of you, you have to climb ‘out of the pit’ by your own strength and power alone. If that had to be the case, it would bad news for all of us! But, the truly Good News is that we don’t have to cope with all the hassles and challenges of everyday life using only our own resources, for God has sent his own Spirit into the world (often pictured as a dove) which desires to live in us, and give us strength and power to draw upon for dealing with all of life’s daily struggles!
PERHAPS THE MAIN QUESTION IS…
HOW HAVE I ALLOWED GOD’S SPIRIT TO LIVE IN ME,
AND LOOK TO HIM AS MY STRENGTH AND POWER?
IF YOU HAVEN’T, IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO START –
YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU DID!!
Your Vicar and friend,
John