Page 28 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 8_2023

Food for Thought

NO NEED TO BE

EMBARRASSED

B Y PETER S T OFFBERG

’ve been wondering if I am the only one who
suffers an awkward embarrassment at the
optometrist. I’m far more comfortable with
Ioptometrists than with dentists, for example, but
having needed optical enhancement from an
early age, I’ve had many consultations and can
recall the insecurities that they have provoked.
I had neglected the optometrist for a while and
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
I say suddenly, but the tired watery eyes and
headaches testify to the fact that I’ve been
stubbornly ignoring the deterioration of my vision.
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. ON SITE SUNDAY SERVICES @ 9h30
www.familychurch.online
Hopefully you’re not plagued by these things,
but perhaps you can still identify with a similar DAINFERN COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
discomfort. Most of us like to look ahead and plan
accordingly, but no matter how much we strain
ourselves, we just can’t do that right now. It’s not This realisation isn’t actually bad, as uncomfortable
possible to see where things will be this time next as it is. Psalm 119:105 says that God’s Word is a lamp
year let alone in five years’ time. A wake of frustrated to our feet and a light to our path. A lamp doesn’t
or abandoned plans line our recent past and leave shine all that far into the distance, but it will keep us
us fearful global pandemic to us that we are not in from twisting an ankle.
control and has, perhaps, shattered the
illusion that we ever were. What if we just do what is right, and what is in
front of us?

Every journey must be completed one step at
a time. The Bible shows us how to do this, and
helps us to trust God to do the rest. There’s
no shame in not being in control of the future.
There’s only ever been One Person who really
is, and we know we can trust Him because He
became one of us, died like one of us, and rose
from the dead to prove His power over the future
and everything in it. His vision is perfect and
proven, and He’ll guide us through this, one step
at a time.

6 DPL
issue 10 2022
issue 11 2022
8 DPL
6 DPL
8 DPL issue 2 2023
issue 5 2022
8 DPL issue 11 2022
6 DPL issue 10 2022
8 DPL issue 5 2022
26 DPL issue 8 2023