If you've ever felt like you're just running around in circles, it may be because you are.
An experiment was once carried out by the great French naturalist, John Henry Fabray. He took a number of processionary caterpillars so called because they always march in unison, and lined them around the inner edge of a flowerpot, forming a complete circle. For 3 days, he monitored them as they marched around the edge of the pot. At the end of the 3rd day, he placed some pine needles in the centre of the pot. Now pine needles are what the caterpillars eat. But for 4 more days, they continued walking, never once breaking the circle to look for food. Finally, one at a time, they fell and died from starvation.
Source: Focus on the family TODAY 15022007
As I read through this article in the morning on the train, I was reminded of how my life used to be before I knew Christ. I was just like the caterpillar, following blindly behind others, always looking for affirmation from others, never breaking free from these chains. I was blindly seeking results, friends, escape from my life, when what I needed to sustain my life was the pine needles in the centre of the pot, Christ.
Do we need to endlessly chase things that will not last in our lives like success, money, love, recognition like the caterpillars without ever finding its purpose in life or do we want to take the step of faith and step out of the circle to feed on the pine needles?
Do we need to endlessly chase things that will not last in our lives like success, money, love, recognition like the caterpillars without ever finding its purpose in life or do we want to take the step of faith and step out of the circle to feed on the pine needles?
| 1Jo 2:15-17 | Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world is not from the father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. |
When I was in my teens, like many I sought after the purpose in my life. What is the purpose of my life? Is it just to study and pursue a degree? Is it just to seek worldly desires like money, houses, women that will eventually come to pass?
I did not have an answer then, I still do not have one now. But I believe that at least I'm starting to look out of that circle, starting to look at the Lord for the answer. And I believe that my greater purpose in life can only be found through him.
Only when we start breaking free from the circle and start feeding on the Word Of God, the pine needles, will we caterpillars find the true, greater purpose for us in our lives and grow into the beautiful butterflies that God has meant for us to be in our lives.
Go Deep, Look Far, Dream Big.
1 comment:
hey son,
Really love your posts. =) I remember one person sharing that if I chase after the material things of the world, I will end up nowhere; if I chase after God, the things of the world will then chase after me and provided for.
Hebrews 12 - go set your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, well knowing that because He has done it, we can do it. We can be a dreamer, a mover and a shaker for God!
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