Driving along St. Rt. 335 in the Minford area I noticed something very interesting recently. A portion of a hillside lay beautifully dotted with surprise lilies and right in the middle of a sea of pink there arose a sign that read “No Spraying”. Magic Lilies (Lycoris squamigera) first appeared in the American garden trade in about 1880, but they have been cultivated for centuries in Japan. The flowers spring dramatically from the ground in mid to late summer; it usually takes only four to five days from first emergence to full bloom. This suddenness is reflected in its common names: surprise lily, magic lily, and resurrection lily. Earlier in the summer the unadorned parcel of land probably looked like it needed a little care and spraying would surely make things look better….right? Well not in this case. You see, the owner knew much more than the casual observer. If the wrong action was taken based on a limited number of facts then the beauty of the garden would be lost. This is one of the great problems in life isn’t it? Not heeding good advice and making bad decisions because we do not know all the facts. This dilemma can be dangerous and even deadly. But at the same time, how liberating and how life giving is a situation when we have information, when we know the truth.
I remember the story I heard once that helps us understand how knowing all the facts makes a great difference in our perspective. A man was sitting in a train when a father with two children arrived in the cabin. The father sat down next to the man. His children proceeded to play up big time! They ran around the cabin, totally out of control, making noise, disturbing people, even grabbing a newspaper from one of the travelers. Everyone in the train cabin seemed clearly annoyed with the 2 naughty children and seemingly even more annoyed with the fathers complete ignorance to the 2 very loud and obnoxious children. He seemed to not even notice his children, almost in a trance. How dare they be so intruding in everyone’s presence? After a little while the man sitting next to the father, patiently said: “Excuse me. Would you please be so kind as to control your children? They are clearly annoying everyone in the train and are making a total nuisance out of themselves.” The father blinked his eyes as if he woke up from another reality and said: “Oh, I’m so sorry. I suppose I should do something. We have just left the hospital where my wife, their mother, has just died this morning. I suppose I don’t really know how to cope with this, and nor do they.” Imagine how the man felt after receiving this answer. Suddenly, selfishness has turned to selflessness and he was filled with compassion for the poor father and his 2 motherless children.
What an example of how knowing the facts makes all the difference in our perspective. This also reminds us of our utter dependence on the one who knows all things. We may say, oh I can handle life; I’m a pretty smart person, yet in our folly we forget the one who knows everything, understands everything and made everything.
I believe this conversation clearly fits the needs of nations as well as individuals. In 1775, the Continental Congress asked the colonies to join in prayer, seeking wisdom as they faced the responsibility and opportunity of building a new nation. As leaders of that young nation assembled in 1787 to craft a Constitution, Benjamin Franklin implored the framers to pray for guidance, famously declaring, “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men.” Decades later, during a time of national turmoil, President John Adams declared “a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer,” asking citizens of all faiths to pray for America’s protection from danger. Later, as civil war tore our young country apart, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of national fasting and prayer, say-ing “It behooves us ... to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray to the God that made us.” During World War II, with our troops locked in battle on the beaches of France, President Franklin D. Roosevelt led the nation in prayer, “As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.” You see, knowing the one who knows everything helps us to avoid loosing the beauty God has intended for us to experience in this life he has given to us.
The words of this one who knows all echoes to us from atop the mount of transfiguration that we may make the best of decisions in our lives. That we may have the best of perspectives in our own futures. “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Preachers say it, teachers teach it, and believers share it. It is the best advice on the planet. Listen to Jesus! Just as the owner of the hillside where the Surprise Lilly’s lay dormant knew what was coming, so Jesus knows all the facts, knows all the dangers and knows all the possibilities. So listen to Him.
Listen to the one that wants the best for you. Listen to the one who knows what is ahead. Listen to the one who loves you so much he desires to spend eternity with you. You see there is a reason why.
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