Lucifer Falls at Robert H. Treman State Park
It is so fascinating to watch people. Have you ever noticed, for example, how
many people walk around with frowns on their faces? What about the ones with
perpetual grins? And isn't it interesting how people often look a bit like their
dogs? No matter what the size, the hair colour or the style of their shoes,
everyone is fascinating and distinctive. But even though we are all different,
we are also very predictable. Despite the fact that we all come in different
packages, we are all very human!
While camping at Robert H. Treman State Park last October, I noticed that one of
our fellow campers was continually going way out of his way to make others feel
welcome. Not only did he want to be helpful to new campers, but he was also
quite proficient in doing so! His reception made anyone feel extra special.
There was one interesting fact about this thoughtful camper, however: unless he
was away from the camp, his music was always on. It didn't matter what time of
day or night, there was a constant drone coming from his trailer.
I didn't think much about it until a family with younger kids approached him
after ten at night and asked him to turn down the volume of his music. And being
the thoughtful person he was, he complied. For about five minutes! Then he
turned it back up, even louder than before!
"Strange," I thought, "this doesn't seem to fit with the profile of this
friendly camper!"
The next morning that poor family needed toothpicks to hold their eyes open, and
we weren't overly surprised when a state park trooper stopped by this particular
camper's site the next evening and requested that he turn his music off
completely!
We made an interesting observation the following morning. It was our outgoing
neighbour who woke up as if he had a hangover. But he wasn't up more than a
minute before his music was blaring once again, and soon he was back to being
himself.
Thinking back on this event, it makes me realize that we all tend to be addicted
to silly things. For that guy, it was his music. Though it was clear that he
wanted to please everyone, and though he went out of his way to be a helping
hand in the campground, his music caused him to be received coldly.
It isn't always music, however. For some it's chocolate. One of my former
colleagues used to refer to this sweet treat as her "secret pet sin"!
Interesting way to referring to such a delicacy! And there are also many other
possibilities. How many of us can't live without TV, for example? We stumble
over each other trying to purchase the latest, biggest, widest screens, and the
box is always on. For others, it is video games, coffee, eating, getting a tan .
. . Even church activities can become an obsession!
Now I agree that these look pretty minor compared to the big leaguers like
drugs, sex and crime. But no matter what the object of our obsession, isn't an
addiction an addiction? I mean, it doesn't matter what kind of a package it
comes in; if it isn't necessary to sustain life but you can't live without it,
it's an addiction! And all addictions wrench the control of your life out of the
hands of God!
May our eyes be opened and may we: "escape from the trap of the devil, who has
taken them captive to do his will." (2 Tim 2:26 NIV)
Only if Jesus becomes our sole obsession will we enjoy real living, one where
secondary obsessions seem frivolous and unnecessary!
"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us
out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the
opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God,
ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and
what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored. But if God himself has
taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself
than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly
present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for
you who welcome him, in whom he dwells - even though you still experience all
the limitations of sin - you yourself experience life on God's terms." (Rom
8:6-11 The message)
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
"Can you turn your music down please?"
"No, but would you like some chocolate? I have tons in my trunk!"
"I better not; it would interfere with the case of beer I'm planning on
drinking!"
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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