A Better Place

Rejected

As I sit in my office, I enjoy the view I have through the window by my desk. The combination of blue sky, striking junipers and a magnificent hackberry tree that is especially gratifying when a breeze is giving it motion and fluffy clouds are passing by. My serenity is soon broken by a bang on the window. A robin thought it could fly into my office and was rejected by the glass. It recovers and soon tries again.

This continues over and over, hour after hour; day after day. My widow is now quite smeared, and I start to wonder if that robin might possibly taste like chicken. In my confusion as to why this is happening, I decided to go out and look at the window from the outside, what that robin might be seeing. To my surprise, I could not see what was inside my office, what I saw was a reflection of that blue sky and trees that I enjoy looking at. That Robin did not want inside my office, it wanted to go to that beautiful place; a better place.

Looking For A Better Place

Do we fall into the temptation of trying to go someplace our mind tells us is better? Maybe something better than what we have? It is easy to fall into this trap; happier relationships, more money, a nicer home, less health problems. Sometimes we believe that something better will come along in our life, and that can infect our way of thinking. We are rarely satisfied, in a society that tells us we don’t “have” enough things. We somehow think greater happiness is just around the corner… somewhere else. So, we keep banging into the window of reality. Our mind tells us it is within reach, but we cannot physically get there.

Thankful For What I Have

Like that Robin, we need to learn to be content with what we have. God has been showing me that when I constantly want more than He has given me, it reflects a heart that is discontent. It’s like I’m telling God, “I’m not satisfied with what You have provided for me. I want more.” The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:11b “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” He sat in prison, persecuted by those that hated him, he had nothing, yet he teaches us in the following verses that contentment lies in being thankful for what God has provided whether we like it or not. That’s because peace is found in the presence of God and our attitude toward His provision in the midst of our stress.

By expressing gratitude, Paul experienced richness of being, not having. However, being thankful doesn’t mean that God will eventually remove us from our situation. He may; He may not. Rather, being appreciative sets us free from the desire to have… and lets us rest in the riches of contentment. And when we reach a place of contentment, we don’t need a better place like that Robin might have seen in the window. God becomes our greatest treasure. In Him, we have everything we need.

Dear Lord, I’m grateful for what You have provided for me. Fill me with Your peace so that I may be truly content in Your blessings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Peace, Love, and Unity

Phil Bamesberger Home

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