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Thoughts for a Woman's Heart |
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encouragement in things that matter |
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Jackhammers and Nature
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I love the tall majestic pine trees that line the street we live on. Especially for someone who is a transplant from the Southeast, the pines are a scent and a sight from what was once "home." True, the Santa Ana winds can displace pine needles to literally carpet our front lawn, but that is an inconvenience we are willing to live with. The roots of the pine trees, however, are not bound by the implied laws of residential living, and the beauty that extends upward is founded and nourished by a root system that sprawls itself under asphalt and concrete. Visually, the tall pines are a picture of unimpeded strength, and the roots are no exception. Asphalt and concrete accommodate the roots by bulging and distorting, and not only are sidewalks and streets cracked and looking more and more like jigsaw puzzles, but a "water flow" problem is created, which the environmentalists are sure will attract mosquitos and viruses. Hence, here come the jackhammers with jarring decibels of noise to replace the quiet, and to hopefully correct the "water flow" without removing the beloved pine trees.
It’s a contrast in natures – the created nature crafted by the hand of God and sustained by the same infinite wisdom that designed it, and the nature of a culture that wants the ease and convenience of modern living. Sometimes it becomes difficult for the two to live in harmony with each other. But the contrast reminds me of two other "natures." One was handed down from generation to generation from the most ancient of our ancestors, and it is a corrupted, sin-distorted nature that focuses on self and self-satisfaction and self-promulgation. It demands its own rights, clings to its own comfort, and refuses the perspective of another. Scripture calls it our "old nature." Scripture also speaks of a "new nature." The new nature is a gift from God for believers. Its essence is one of righteousness, and its design creates the potential for spiritual growth, for godly character, for behaviors and attitudes rooted in love, and for a life that radiates the glory of the One who has given it. The jackhammer forcefully brings about a temporary harmony of created nature and the nature of a culture. God, however, in recognizing that the old and the new natures cannot live together harmoniously, does not use a jackhammer. He allows us to choose, and we must choose. We cannot simultaneously serve or respond to both natures. The choice is not always easy, but God promises His help and His encouragement. If you are His daughter, choose wisely.
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— Bev |
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