A farmer knows that he cannot work the same land each season without the quality of the crop being effected. The land needs a rest, a time to recouperate. Just as he knows that he cannot keep his goat tied up in the same spot everyday as eventually the goat would have consumed all the nourishment and slowly starve. This is bad for the farmer, the goat and the area where the goat was tied up.

——————

The problem with common sense is that it is not very common. Our decision are influenced more by external factors than by what we believe to be true. Our fear of making the wrong choice generally leads us to choose the path that others suggest. This gives us a false sense of security as when we discover that we chose the wrong path we can blame others, however deep down in a place most people are scared to tread, we always know the truth and we will always know we did not follow our path out of fear of the unknown.

——————–

Dear Lord, grant me the strength to make the right decison, grant me the peace of mind to forgive myself for making mistakes, grant me the courage to listen to my heart inspite of what my mind says. Grant me the wisdom to see that your future for me is not cast in stone, the ability to see that whatever choices I make I can still choose the context in which to continue living my life. I pray that you will make me humble and that all my wealth will be a constant reminder of the love you have for me. I pray you will keep me from being boastful and claiming your works as my own, let me operate in your power as a tool, as part of your devine plan. I pray too for the people around me, they may never understand me, let them know that I am living, I am alive and right now that is all that counts as tomorrow we may not be here.

————————

The sailor takes great risks. He knows that everytime he sets sail for a distant land he needs to rely on Gods mercy to complete the passage safely. He also knows that he has the responsibility to use all his skills and knowledge to survive the crossing as God may test his spirit on the way. In the middle of the storm he may cry out to God for help but he still sails his ship. He climbs the mast in rough seas and howling winds to free a jammed sail, he steers through the waves inspite of the danger of being washed overboard. He prays and screams out to God to see him through, he questions whether God exists and if so why did God bring this storm upon him. He knows that hiding below deck and praying for safety is not a sign of faith, it is not the way of a sailor. So he fights through the storm, he battles his mind as he battles to keep his boat upright. In the morning the storm passes, as the sun rises over the horizon the looks to the East and he sees Gods smile in the light, he knows God exists and God is a great God. His faith in God and himself has grown, his love of the ocean has grown and today this very morning watching the sun rise he knows he is alive and it is good.

—————————