Eyjafjallajokull, pronounced ay-yah-FYAH'-plah-yer-kuh-duhl. (Ooops, another website says to pronounce it AY-uh-full-ay-ho-kul.) Take your choice. I dare you to say that real fast ten times.
That's the name of the glacier in Iceland beneath which a volcanic eruption is currently spewing a plume of ash up to 7 miles into the atmosphere. You can read more here.
A huge cloud of ash has spread over northern Europe, halting all air traffic, leaving thousands stranded. Aircraft do not do well flying through clouds of volcanic debris. It's just not safe. And so people are stranded.
Funny how this ol' "earth" keeps us on our toes. We go along, thinking life is routine, that we are in charge of our daily affairs. And then some volcano erupts, spewing darkness, destruction and disruption into our lives. And all the while we thought we were in control of life's events.
It is true that there are some things in life that we control. For the most part our decision to get a job, pay the bills, create a home can be carried out by due diligence and perseverance. In my early working life I worked in a plant that manufactured electrical components for the space industry. Then a move back to Iowa took me to a job as a check-out clerk at the local grocery store. Then a friend encouraged (badgered) me into applying for a job that I worked for the next 33 years...a job that provided good benefits and good retirement. But at the time I didn't think of the retirement...I just wanted a good pay check. But not everyone is fortunate enough to find a good job, no matter how diligent. Look at those areas of the world where poverty abounds. Life is uncertain.
As for the volcano? This earth is groaning. Volcanoes. Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Hail. Floods.
The earth we live on is not a constant planet. Things happen. Volcanoes erupt. Life is not easy. Even to those who seem to have it all. The young, the beautiful, the blooming. No, life is not easy. And it is good to recognize early in life that without the provisions that God provides (divine providence), we would have nothing. Not an ounce of clear air to breathe. Not a single stalk of wheat to eat. Not an acre of ground over which to sweat as we beat back the weeds of life.
The words that God spoke to Adam, spoken as due penalty to his sin of disobedience, were to him and to all his descendants. That's us. We're in this with Adam.
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:17-19
And in context of the world we live upon we see our dilemna more fully spoken by Paul to the Romans.
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:22. All of creation deals with chaos and catastrophy. And we live in the midst of it.
Thankfully, someday...Some Day...the destruction will be done. And all things will be made new.
Rev. 21:4-5 ..He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.".And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new " And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."
In the meantime we live here and now. Take care of the matters of today. Take care of your loved ones. Be kind to one another. Recognize that God is the one in control; and not you.
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4 comments:
This earth is definitely groaning.
Blessings, andrea
Excellent post.
Good blog!
The scriptures also inform us that the creation itself was subjected or forced into futility (uselessness) by it's Creator so that in due time creation itself will be set free from the corruption that we see all around us.
Romans 8:20-21 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
I can't say it once.
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