My brother makes footwear - shoes, sandals and so on.
One day, one of his clients, a mutual friend of ours, stopped by the house on a visit. She was wearing one of his creations - a multi-strap leather sandal. While we talked, his eyes fell on the sandals and he observed that the sole of one of the legs had opened up at a point. He remarked about it and picked up the faulty sandal to inspect closely. Without much ado, he said he was going to fix it. The words had barely left his mouth, than he was already brutally (it seemed to me) stripping the sole off the sandal, and ripping it apart without a care (to my eyes) for its delicate construction.
I was briefly struck with trepidation at the damage he was inflicting but he was unperturbed. Our friend who was also observing, probably had the same thoughts on her mind, from the expression on her face. But as we exchanged glances, she recovered quicker and remarked, 'well, he's the maker...'
That struck a reassuring chord in my mind. For it was the truth!
Here was the one who had made this product, apparently destroying it again, in a bid to make it better. He had no doubt or question in his mind that he could restore it to an even better state than it had been originally.
I didn't have that confidence because I didn't have his skill or experience, but he was most definite about what he was doing. As he seemingly tore up what had been a work of art even if temporarily damaged, he remarked about his level of workmanship at the time he had initially put the sandal together. It was obvious that he was more enlightened now and had spotted areas upon which he could improve. Since he first made that sandal, he had learnt a few new tricks of the trade which he was going to apply in repairing this faulty one.
I was still concerned about whether he would be able to fix it in time for our friend to wear it home. But he was undaunted. In fact, having torn up the work, he put it aside and gave his attention to another task. I was bewildered, but he was not in the least fazed. Such was his confidence that it was absolutely nothing to put it back together, better than new....
And he did, not long after.
As I noted all this, I also quietly remarked to myself about the similarity of this analogy, to my relationship with the Almighty, Infinite, Omnipotent Creator. How often in my life and those of others around me, had I doubted His discretion when things were not moving smoothly or according to my plans; how even when I could encourage myself with the conviction that I was just passing through a phase (moulding/repairing/remaking process), it would still be a struggle to remain calm as I observed the unfamiliar, monumental and often irreparable changes my life was being subjected to.
How often had I despaired that I was loosing time in the race of life in comparison with my contemporaries for whom 'things' were happening, because I chose instead to trust God's will;
How many times had I despaired that I seemed to be alone on an unpopular route through life on which no one else appeared to be traveling, with no defined destination and no end in view....
But how much ease it would impart to a man's heart to just put simple faith in God and trust His discretion about the decisons He makes with one's life...Afterall, He created us!
(c)UprightMedia2014
One day, one of his clients, a mutual friend of ours, stopped by the house on a visit. She was wearing one of his creations - a multi-strap leather sandal. While we talked, his eyes fell on the sandals and he observed that the sole of one of the legs had opened up at a point. He remarked about it and picked up the faulty sandal to inspect closely. Without much ado, he said he was going to fix it. The words had barely left his mouth, than he was already brutally (it seemed to me) stripping the sole off the sandal, and ripping it apart without a care (to my eyes) for its delicate construction.
I was briefly struck with trepidation at the damage he was inflicting but he was unperturbed. Our friend who was also observing, probably had the same thoughts on her mind, from the expression on her face. But as we exchanged glances, she recovered quicker and remarked, 'well, he's the maker...'
That struck a reassuring chord in my mind. For it was the truth!
Here was the one who had made this product, apparently destroying it again, in a bid to make it better. He had no doubt or question in his mind that he could restore it to an even better state than it had been originally.
I didn't have that confidence because I didn't have his skill or experience, but he was most definite about what he was doing. As he seemingly tore up what had been a work of art even if temporarily damaged, he remarked about his level of workmanship at the time he had initially put the sandal together. It was obvious that he was more enlightened now and had spotted areas upon which he could improve. Since he first made that sandal, he had learnt a few new tricks of the trade which he was going to apply in repairing this faulty one.
I was still concerned about whether he would be able to fix it in time for our friend to wear it home. But he was undaunted. In fact, having torn up the work, he put it aside and gave his attention to another task. I was bewildered, but he was not in the least fazed. Such was his confidence that it was absolutely nothing to put it back together, better than new....
And he did, not long after.
As I noted all this, I also quietly remarked to myself about the similarity of this analogy, to my relationship with the Almighty, Infinite, Omnipotent Creator. How often in my life and those of others around me, had I doubted His discretion when things were not moving smoothly or according to my plans; how even when I could encourage myself with the conviction that I was just passing through a phase (moulding/repairing/remaking process), it would still be a struggle to remain calm as I observed the unfamiliar, monumental and often irreparable changes my life was being subjected to.
How often had I despaired that I was loosing time in the race of life in comparison with my contemporaries for whom 'things' were happening, because I chose instead to trust God's will;
How many times had I despaired that I seemed to be alone on an unpopular route through life on which no one else appeared to be traveling, with no defined destination and no end in view....
But how much ease it would impart to a man's heart to just put simple faith in God and trust His discretion about the decisons He makes with one's life...Afterall, He created us!
(c)UprightMedia2014
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