Ants and Us
I remember a friend that I had during elementary school that had owned a beautiful ant farm. Whenever I went to her house, I would watch the ants as they worked to make their houses, collect their food, and interact with their companions. I remember watching them get hurt when a tunnel would collapse above them, or when they coudn't find any food within their small cage. I would see them die.
I also remember times when I wanted to help them. I wanted to stick my hand in there and aid them up a hill, or help make their tunnels and collect their food for them. I wanted them to have a nice and easy life; but when I realized that my fingers were too big to make their homes and dig their tunnels, I settled for helping them with "smaller" things. When I'd see them struggling with a large piece of food, I would give them a ride on my finger.
I tried to make them happy, but sometimes I just couldn't.
Later on, I learned that some insects can't really "see" but rather feel their way around things, some can only "see" body heat.
I remember thinking that a lot of insects don't even know what are the things that step on them and their homes. They probably think it's some strange force that's "out to get them", so with the help of their feelers they scurry to a temporary hide-out.
And so, this morning on my drive to school, I started to wonder: is that how God works?
When we're struggling with something and severely need some help, does He see us and want to help us? Does He want to make our life simple and wonderful, but just can't?
Are we like the ants who can't see Him? Are we constantly unaware that He is always with us, watching us suffer and triumph?
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I also remember times when I wanted to help them. I wanted to stick my hand in there and aid them up a hill, or help make their tunnels and collect their food for them. I wanted them to have a nice and easy life; but when I realized that my fingers were too big to make their homes and dig their tunnels, I settled for helping them with "smaller" things. When I'd see them struggling with a large piece of food, I would give them a ride on my finger.
I tried to make them happy, but sometimes I just couldn't.
Later on, I learned that some insects can't really "see" but rather feel their way around things, some can only "see" body heat.
I remember thinking that a lot of insects don't even know what are the things that step on them and their homes. They probably think it's some strange force that's "out to get them", so with the help of their feelers they scurry to a temporary hide-out.
And so, this morning on my drive to school, I started to wonder: is that how God works?
When we're struggling with something and severely need some help, does He see us and want to help us? Does He want to make our life simple and wonderful, but just can't?
Are we like the ants who can't see Him? Are we constantly unaware that He is always with us, watching us suffer and triumph?
[/sharing]