"The atheist can't find God for the same reason that a thief can't find a policeman." Unknown
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
There is an old story about unrealistic expectations that goes something like this. During a particularly rainy season, the police came through town announcing that the river would overflow it's banks and flood the down and people were advised to evacuate. One local resident refused to leave his home claiming "God loves me and God will provide for me." The water rose and force the man to the second floor of his house where a boat came to rescue him. He reiterated his belief, "God loves me and God will provide for me." Of course the waters continued to rise and force him on the roof where a helicopter came to rescue him. He stuck to his belief, "God loves me and God will provide for me."
Well the waters rose even higher and the man drowned. Standing before God he accused God of abandoning him in his hour of need. "I told everyone that you loved me and would provide for me, but you didn't! Why?"
God said, "I sent a policeman to you, a boat and a helicopter. What were you looking for?"
What indeed! Sometimes in our most difficult moments God is speaking the loudest but we're deaf to all but our own expectation of what we want. Life should be like what we imagine and people should respond the way we think they should. Anything else we disregard.
(1) Self Diagnosis - Whatever causes you to be anxious, nervous or angry is also something that has struck an exposed nerve. Growing in our relationship with God and others can be quite unnerving. New experiences, new challenges and new beliefs are always unsettling. Consider anxiety a growth spurt. Where are you growing the most today?
(2) Stay Centered - do you have a central purpose to life. Without some idea of where your life is going, your goals and purpose, you're like a boat on a river, going wherever the currents and eddies take you. No wonder life seems chaotic at times. It is!
(3) Recharge Regularly - what is your comfort zone like? How do you recharge your batteries after a challenging day? Do you have a variety of interests to expand your point of view? What books are expanding your mind, are you getting physical activity, are spending time with friends. All these are important to be clear headed.
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…you know what frightens me?
…consider the video — 1920 experiment…numerous circumstances…people are blindfolded…each has a different focal point…none can find it, for none, while blindfolded, can walk in a straight line.
…but think about that — each has an EXCUSE…each was blindfolded…the problem for the directionlessness of each person appears not to be his fault, not his ineptitude to walk in a striaght line but the fault of the blindfold…the blindfold is the CAUSE, the blindfold is the EXCUSE.
”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” [Matthew 7:7]
It’s one thing to “ask, seek, and knock” when we are blindfolded.
Not only do we not stand a chance of “finding” because we are blindfolded, but the blindfold becomes our EXCUSE…we ourselves are not the reason for not “finding”…we ourselves are not culpable…we can and do “pass the buck”…the blindfold is the CAUSE…the blindfold “made me do it.”
…but…
What happens when the blindfold is removed?
What happens when there is no blindfold?
What EXCUSE do we have then?
Who or what is to blame then if we are directionless, if we are purposeless?
Why do we not “find” when we “ask, seek, and knock” then?
…or…
Since or when the blindfold is gone and we are totally vulnerable and totally accountable to and for ourselves, do we even bother to “ask, seek, and knock”?