Many songs have been sung about circles, “Will I Go Around in Circles?”
“Will the Circle be Unbroken?” or just “Circles,” by various artists from The
Who to Mariah Carey. A dog will chase its tail , running in circles, NASCAR
races in circles, and I get sick riding on Merry Go Rounds in circles. The
tires on my bike are circular, so are the donuts I should avoid. Ever wonder
that manhole covers are round? So they won’t fall in the hole, which also is a
circle, no matter how they are dropped. Try that with anything square if you
don’t believe me. So circles appear to be the shape of choice for many things
in our daily lives that we cannot do without, or do with without knowing. The
moon travels around the earth that travels around the sun in circles. Yes sang
a song about circles, “Roundabout.” When you spill something it will end up
circular-don’t ask me why on that one. Pistons and cylinders are round, ask
Honda why they are after their oval cylinder failed. Handlebars are round, flat
tires aren’t and some people are fun to be around, while some are not. We read
the cartoon, The Family Circle. Crop circles anyone? So the circle, may be
understated, underappreciated, and taken for granted.
Life shows us we will come full circle, as the cartoon shows us in diapers
when young, and again in old age. Records are circular, as are CD’s, but not
cassettes, although the tape is wrapped around one-really two. We put things
off, sayings we “will get around to them later,” and The Beach Boys first number
one hit was “I Get Around.” Numbers get rounded off to the closest digit,
baseballs and basketballs are round and will roll, but a football won’t. We
sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in a round, and some think they were a big wheel
until they found out that squares don’t roll. Some are in a squirrel cage, on a
treadmill, a circle. Need more ammunition, bullets are called rounds. So here
is to the ubiquitous circle which has been around forever, and has no plans for
not being around. Just remaining round.
Ask any kid how many sides does a triangle have and they’ll know three. A
square has four, a pentagon five, a hexagon six, and an octagon eight. After
that we have to take our shoes off to count. But how many sides does a circle
have? Hmmm, got me there, for it has no edges of demarcation. It is
round....one maybe? But where does it start and where does it end? Is the
circle the one thing in the universe that has an endless side, or is it all an
illusion? A trick question for extra credit in Mrs. Parks class? Go look at
one, and you tell me, how many sides does a circle have? The answer is right
there, and so evident that you may be seeing it but don’t see it at all. The
answer is two-and inside and an outside. Two sides...like I said, it is right
there for all to see.
A great Christian poet, named Markham once while doodling, again circles,
was inspired by the circles he was drawing and wrote,
“I drew a circle and shut him out, heretic, rebel, a thing to flout? But
love and I had the wit to win, we drew a circle that drew him in.” An
interesting look at how we go through life, with or without Jesus. We are born
in sin, and shut God out of lives, until the spirit moves on us and we make a
decision, Christ or not. If no, we keep him on the outside of the circle of our
lives. But many saved saints do also, they never get personal with him, never
letting him into the inner circle of their hearts, and miss out on the blessings
of knowing him. It’s called religion. The poet saw the circle as a reminder of
God’s perfect love for us, of how he takes us in, despite us wanting to shut him
out. Is it a coincidence that a shutout in baseball is all zeroes? Circles?
Which side of the circle is God in your life? On the outside looking in, or
even on the inside wanting to get out? Is he infinite in your life as his love
for you is, or just a doodling on a page, while you make a decision about who he
is? A circle is perfect, and when out of round no longer a circle, but still
circular, and can appear round when viewed. Is your life out of round, does it
give the appearance of being perfect, when really it not round, but oval,
because God is not around in it? Or is it like a manhole cover, wobbling around
looking for a way in, but never finding it because it can’t? You cannot force
it, try it with a lid and jar. And now see why God doesn’t force himself on
us. For he is perfect, and the circle is the only perfect shape, for when it
loses it shape is no longer a circle. Has God lost his place in your perfect
life?
Today is the day of salvation, for those who told God “when I get around to
it.” Don’t put off Christ when you can be around him right now, and find hope
and forgiveness. For God’s love is infinite, just like the symbol for infinity
is two circles, interwoven. Which never end, forever. Just like his love.
Like he wants us to be with him, a perfect circle of love. Innie or outie, the
choice is yours. Infinity is a long, long time, hope to see you around. Choose
Jesus before your life spirals out of control.
Is that why they call them prayer circles instead of prayer squares? So
don’t dishonor the circle, don’t you see its pointless?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.