Page 32 - Dainfern Precinct Living 6 2021

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

NO NEED FOR

EMBARRASSMENT

BY PETER STOFFBERG

’ve been wondering if I am the only one who
suffers an awkward embarrassment at the
Ioptometrist. I’m far more comfortable with
optometrists than with dentists, for example, but Psalm 119.105
having needed optical enhancement from an
early age, I’ve had many consultations and can Your word is a lamp for my feet,
recall the insecurities that they have provoked.
I had neglected the optometrist for a while and a light on my path.
would have hoped that I’d grown up a bit, but just
this week, sitting in that chair like a submarine
periscope operator, I wondered again: Why do I find
it embarrassing that I can’t identify the blurry shapes
masquerading as letters on the opposite wall?

We go to the optometrist because we know
there’s something wrong with our vision, so why
do we feel inadequate and obliged to guess
the letters that we can’t see? Maybe it is just
me. Add to this the realisation that in my more
advanced state of general experience (I’m not
old), I’m suddenly unable to rely on the same
lenses to focus on near and far objects. Actually ONLINE LIVE SERMONS
I say suddenly, but the tired watery eyes and STREAM FROM 9h30 EVERY SUNDAY
headaches testify to the fact that I’ve been
stubbornly ignoring the deterioration of my vision. AUDIO or VIDEO
It’s just not comfortable to admit it, so I’ve been
straining to force my eyes to form an image that
they no longer can.
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Hopefully you’re not plagued by these things, www.familychurch.online
but perhaps you can still identify with a similar
discomfort. Most of us like to look ahead and plan
accordingly, but
no matter how This realisation isn’t actually bad, as
much we strain uncomfortable as it is. Psalm 119:105 says that
ourselves, we God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to
just can’t do that our path. A lamp doesn’t shine all that far into the
right now. It’s not distance, but it will keep us from twisting an ankle.
possible to see What if we just do what is right, and what is in
where things will front of us?
be this time next
year let alone in Every journey must be completed one step at
five years’ time. A a time. The Bible shows us how to do this, and
wake of frustrated helps us to trust God to do the rest. There’s
or abandoned no shame in not being in control of the future.
plans line our There’s only ever been One Person who really
recent past and is, and we know we can trust Him because He
leave us fearful became one of us, died like one of us, and rose
of the future. The from the dead to prove His power over the future
global pandemic and everything in it. His vision is perfect and
has demonstrated proven, and He’ll guide us through this, one step
to us that we are at a time.
not in control and
has, perhaps,
shattered the
illusion that we
ever were.

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