One of my daughter's favourite cartoon movies is Ice Age. She has watched it so many times she almost knows the dialogue by heart. I must admit, it is a funny movie. Like all good cartoons, the characters bear a striking resemblance to some people I know. People like you and me. My favourite part is the sequence where the three main characters, who are on a quest to deliver a baby back to his parents, come across a group of Dodo Birds. Because of the advent of the Ice Age, everyone is hungry. The Dodo Birds are hoarding a small pile of melons. Our heroes try to acquire one for themselves, with hilarious, but tragic results. The Dodo birds immediately go into panic mode, running in all directions trying desperately to hold onto the fruit. Their efforts result not only in the fruit being lost, but the birds themselves self-destruct in the process.
There's a lesson here for you and me. I know you won't like the analogy, but we are a lot like those Dodo birds. We run around, often in panic mode, trying desperately to hold onto things that can't help us. Our pile of melons takes the form of all kinds of things ? jobs, money, big houses and fast cars, perfect appearances, top . . .
One of my daughter's favourite cartoon movies is Ice Age. She has watched it so many times she almost knows the dialogue by heart. I must admit, it is a funny movie. Like all good cartoons, the characters bear a striking resemblance to some people I know. People like you and me. My favourite part is the sequence where the three main characters, who are on a quest to deliver a baby back to his parents, come across a group of Dodo Birds. Because of the advent of the Ice Age, everyone is hungry. The Dodo Birds are hoarding a small pile of melons. Our heroes try to acquire one for themselves, with hilarious, but tragic results. The Dodo birds immediately go into panic mode, running in all directions trying desperately to hold onto the fruit. Their efforts result not only in the fruit being lost, but the birds themselves self-destruct in the process.
There's a lesson here for you and me. I know you won't like the analogy, but we are a lot like those Dodo birds. We run around, often in panic mode, trying desperately to hold onto things that can't help us. Our pile of melons takes the form of all kinds of things ? jobs, money, big houses and fast cars, perfect appearances, top marks in school, brand name clothing, etc. etc. Like those Dodo birds, we focus on acquiring and keeping things that are powerless to give us what we need. That small pile of melons could not keep the Dodo birds from starvation. All the things we run after will not give us the fulfillment and satisfaction we long for. In fact, much of it will only lead to emptiness and our own self-destruction.
There is only one thing that will give us what we need, or rather, one person. Jesus is able and willing. He gives us His Spirit, to indwell us, to teach, guide and comfort. When the Spirit of God is in us, we no longer have to panic about how we are going to survive. Our survival is guaranteed. The Apostle John recorded the very words of Jesus when He told us this ? ?I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.? (John 6:47) Jesus gives us that which nourishes and satisfies. Listen to His words again ? ?Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me ... he who feeds on this bread will live forever.? (John 6:57-58)
When we feed on Jesus, trusting Him, drawing on His strength, through prayer and His Word, we begin to see the things we strive after for what they really are ? just a pile of melons.
Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada. Her devotional book, The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others. To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Copyright Marcia Lee Laycock, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005