A group of young mothers are are at an afternoon tea, when suddenly they hear a blood curdling cry. Each mother looks up, and one states, "that's my daughter, I know that cry!" Another corrects her, "no that's my little girl, I can tell it anywhere." And a third says "you're both wrong...." So running to the bedroom where the two year olds are playing, they rush in. Only to find the kids giggling-because one little boy has a cat by the tail, and it is screaming!
M-E-O-W-W! Only the cat's mother fails to respond. Of course.
Why is it that sounds appear normal when you are close to home, but the farther away from home, a dealer, the darker it gets, and the more secluded it gets do the noises exaggerate themselves? Or is it our hearing gets more perceptive? Or is it we are just finally paying attention? Even our dog can identify who is riding up the street to our house, and knows which door to greet them at, or even to meet them at the street. So why is it that we have trouble listening, identifying, and reacting to sounds?
For one this is a noisy world, you don't realize how noisy until you get away from a city, and notice the absence of noise-what a sweet sound silence can be. Or we get so familiar with a noise, that when it gets louder progressively, we don't pay attention. "I've had that engine noise for years, it's OK" Then the engine seizes. Years of warning shot to .....
On our last trip, I needed a chain, and sprockets. With no one along the way having sprockets in stock, I replaced the chain and all was OK until we hit Oklahoma on our return, and it got loud, louder, and then scary-BANG! Stopping at a dealer in Amarillo, he adjusted it, and advised me "this chain isn't much longer for this world." If I could only make it to Albuquerque, the Triumph dealer could replace it. Which I did, make it that is.
But the sprockets were shot-and the bike should have been parked. Sprocket teeth should be round, so the chain roller fits in it exactly. Mine were oval, and chain was slipping and jumping with the threat it may come off. So emergency surgery was in order-like the kind I used to see in the pits at Baja. Just get it home! Which Aaron the service manager did. We put an old roller chain on it, I kept the speed steady, and we did OK. In fact he insisted I call him when I got home, he was that concerned. But you see, I had prayed, and God had given me a simple assurance I would be OK. His words, the same as a song we all sing. "Twas grace that brought you here thus far, and grace will get you home." And it did, without worry, incident, or failure. Can't say the noises weren't there, but God is bigger than any problem! And when I called Aaron, he was amazed. He told me he thought I would never make it, and without grace I would not have.
In times of need, we need to remember God's promise to the Israelites. When Moses, wonderfully played by Charlton Heston, got them to the Red Sea, God was with them. He had promised to meet them on the other side, He just didn't tell them how they would get there. But the whole time He knew, and had the entire situation under control. And to the last man, they got across safe as He parted the sea. Something not even the best FX crew could duplicate. While the Egyptians looked at the problem, Moses looked to God. His grace that had brought them thus far, got them to their destination. He never promised a smooth route, if you have a lack of faith, believe Jesus' words, "in this life you will have tribulation." Now that's a faith builder, and if that is true, so are His other promises.
Can't see tomorrow for a lack of today? It's there, and so is God. He never left, you did. But a simple change of direction, can put you back on course. And His grace is always sufficient.
Trust Him today, and find that He will get you home. That's a promise. No matter how you've screwed up. His love covers a multitude of sins, and He wants to get you home.
Mercy and grace, two wonderful sides of God. Grace to give us what we don't deserve, and mercy to not give us what we deserve. Isn't it ironic that you can only get mercy when you screwed up? Now that's grace.
We are only as strong as our weakest link. Mustard seed chains. And that small faith that believes the promises of God, will get you home. See you on the other side.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogpsot.com