Running after this and that
Recently something happened twice in the same week that got my attention! The first time I was amused, then it happened again just two days later and I couldn’t believe it.
So what was it? One morning, I ran past a mother and her young son, as they walked to school. As I passed by, I heard the child say to his mother, ‘can I run?’ and she said yes, so he started to run after me. I kept going and he soon slowed and stopped.
Two days later I was out running again, and I passed another parent and child walking to school and the exact same thing happened!
I thought it was rather sweet, that these young children saw me running and they simply wanted to copy.
But it also got me thinking about how, even as adults, things can come across our path, and we can easily ‘run’ after them.
In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul used the image of maturity in regards to being aware of different teachings. His desire for them was to become mature in their faith…
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching…”
Today, I think we can be overwhelmed with news, opinions, blogs and sound bites. Some stories go viral very quickly, gaining lots of attention, ‘likes’ or ‘followers’.
However they only seem to last until the next ‘big thing’ happens. It’s like the children who saw me run past them, and for a moment, they wanted to join in.
Being a Pastor for over 20 years I have seen trends and movements come and go. What has kept me grounded has been my faith in God.
The Bible describes God as a rock – something solid that does not change, even when things around too, I have found that to be of great comfort and security, and I am grateful to God for that.
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader