Page 28 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 1_2024

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

NAVIGATING 2024 WITH A

CLEAR HEAD

B Y PETER S T OFFBERG

ome 700m underwater, in oceans all
over the globe, there are strange fishes
hovering almost motionless, searching the
Swaters for unsuspecting victims. They’ve
been doing this since forever without most of us
having the slightest clue of their existence. Then
in 2004, someone managed to photograph the
‘Barreleye’, and it’s been freaking us out ever since.
It’s weird that the Barreleye has upward facing
cylindrical eyes. It’s also weird that it makes a living
by stealing prey from siphonophores (jellyfish-like
creatures). But the really weird thing is that while
its body is like any other fish, its head is completely
transparent. Its binocular eyes look out from behind
the protection of a clear dome allowing it to sneak
up underneath siphonophores and steal prey from
between their stinging tentacles.

They are perfectly designed for their high-risk
feeding habits. (If you've ever been stung by a blue-
bottle, imagine taking that hit in your eye). The see-
through dome protects their eyes and makes the
best use of the limited light of the deep waters. The
design makes perfect sense when you think about it, ON SITE SUNDAY SERVICES @ 9h30
but who could have thought it up? www.familychurch.online
DAINFERN COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
This is a great reminder that even the most
educated experts have limited knowledge and
understanding. It’s a humbling thought, but it can
also be comforting. Current reports and opinions leaves us feeling overwhelmed and demotivated,
on world events are overwhelmingly negative. Bad unable to navigate our lives with any sense of
news sells, but the good news is that it’s always purpose.
going to be unreliable because of the limitations
of human knowledge and understanding. While We are not in control, but we don’t need to be. The
it’s important to assess information and use it to God who designed us certainly is. Maybe we could
make informed decisions, it’s pointless living under take inspiration from that fish and clear our minds of
the oppressive control of the opinions of ‘experts’, the unreliable clutter of human opinion. What if we
whose knowledge, like everyone else’s, is limited. chose rather to focus on God and His purpose for us
Putting our trust in their noise clutters our heads and (Proverbs 3: 5-8)? He is the same God that raised
Jesus from the dead. His knowledge is unlimited
and so is His power to bring about everything that
He desires.

If we trust in Him, we can spend our precious and
limited time on the things that we can change, and
rely on Him to deal with those that we can’t. Humble
trust and obedience to His word, the Bible, will give
us the peace and purpose we need to do our best
throughout the unknown of 2024.

If you’ve never looked into His story, now’s the
time, it’s too good not to be true.

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28 DPL issue 1 2024