After 700 years of doing what he was built for, he’ll discover what he was meant for.
Wall•e, Pixar
I wonder if I get it the other way around, or perhaps not at all. I tend to think I know what I was meant for [...to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, Westminster Catechism] but am I actually doing what I was built for? That is, are my aspirations the same as God’s goals for me?
I went to see Wall•e yesterday. Pixar rarely disappoints. I think because they are so adept at personifying their characters. Toys, animals, monsters, cars or robots … they all emote. So, of course, Wall•e and Eve are adorable. Spoiler? (hover) Of course, I appreciated the literary genius of naming the starship Axiom and the world corporation Buy n Large. (Yes, Pixar created a website for them.)
But what the movie truly reminded me of was “The Story of Stuff.” Have a peek if you haven’t seen it before.
One piece of the puzzle just isn’t enough: either vision or preparation alone, without the other, won’t get you anywhere. You might be fortunate to bumble along in chaos and frustration.
A few months ago, I made a side note about preparation. The story is about King Xerxes’ search for a new queen, seeing as how Vashti had more than ticked him off. So now we have an episode of The Bachelor, except that the king isn’t really a bachelor and none of this will be televised; although, you could likely guarantee that the gossip would have spread. The women gather at the palace and spend a whole year getting ready (beautifying) before they went to “see” Xerxes. Sure they had vision (let’s get in with the King) but they also put some time into the preparation.
Greg’s tagline reads: an up-and-coming, soon-to-be world famous photographer, world traveler and oddball. Today, I was reading his latest post on his journey to fulfill the “world famous photographer” bit. In the post, Greg refers to a few posts from David about the necessity of vision to balance nifty equipment.
I had to really look down deep inside and make sure it wasn’t just a desire for a newer, “better” lens. But, after some careful reflection, it was a decision based on the need to have equipment that would allow me to achieve my vision — GregVision matters because it’s the destination that determines the choice of road map. — Dave
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
2 Kings 6:15
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ
Colossians 4:2-3a (ESV)
I’m not sure exactly how the passages fit together just yet. I assume it has something to do with waiting and Africa.
The first passage was highlighted recently by a friend. Elisha’s job was to focus the king’s attention on God. His servant should have fully understood this. Yet when they were surrounded by the army, the servant took his eyes off of God and started to freak out. Only after Elisha requested that his eyes be opened did the servant see the full context.
The second reminds me that any opportunity to be a part of God’s work comes with our prior request in prayer. None of this is about me at all.
I took a gorgeous drive through the countryside this afternoon. People often judge the prairies, especially Saskatchewan, for being too monotonous. I fear it is due to their solitary experience of driving the TransCanada through Regina. Other than a little excitement around the Cypress Hills (and truly, one doesn’t ever see the full extent of that area from the highway), the drive along this stretch of twinned asphalt can be admittedly quite dull.
Visitors never see the forests just north of Saskatoon. The enormous pristine lakes of the upper reached. The lush and winding Qu’Appelle Valley. And that’s where I went today.
Highway 6 between Regina and Southey was a breath-taking series of moments. The valley was full of lush green following recent rains. Golden sunlight hit bluffs and sloughs, illuminating them against a curtain of deep grey clouds — threatening to release their precious hold at any moment.
These very clouds, hanging so low, dared to stray mere inches above the ground. Almost as if I could reach out and take hold of these rich bundles of fleece. And once again this week, the boundary between earth and sky was nearly indistinguishable.
And home I returned; soul filled with recollections of the sheer extravagance of God’s creation.
