I cried out to the Father with whom
Once I walked the peace of Eden –
Peace I sold for nothing.
I cried out to the Father with whom
Once I worked the leisure of Eden –
Leisure I surrendered for slavery.
I cried out to the Father with whom
Once I drank the joy of Eden –
Joy now displaced by agony.
I cried out to the Father with whom
Once I shared the glory of Eden
Glory lost to my foolishness.
From the depth of this fragile frustration
Called life, I once thought divine,
With none else in sight, none to turn to
I cried out to the Father with whom
Once I knew life in truth and indeed:
“My unbearable cross is killing me!”

Food For Thought: A friend shared the story of her colleague who lost her job. This colleague was so discouraged by the conditions at work that she became careless. She wanted another job so bad that she paid little attention to the one at hand. By the time she was handed her goodbye letter, she suddenly realized how tougher life would be without the benefits associated with the lost opportunity. Humanity tends to take what it has for granted. We lightly esteem that which is available or in abundance. We assume that it will always be there. We conclude we will never be in want of what we have. Cocooned in these assumptions and conclusions that do not factor in constantly changing conditions, we value those we don’t have yet and pay them more attention than the ones at hand. We ignore the available, the free and the secure as we chase the unavailable, the unique, and the scarce. Then history revisits (for nothing is new under the sun) and we wake too late to the pains of our humongous loss. I should have …, I could have…, I wish…, all of which come too late and do no good. It happens in our relationships with people, with privileges and possessions. We have it and know not the value until we lose it, then we begin to chase the very things we once took for granted. Suddenly, we want so bad for what we had and hardly regarded. Its sudden absence accords it inestimable worth that either drives us to reckless pursuit or desperate regret. Every day, may you cherish the relationships and privileges you have now. May you not lose what you have for what you seek only to realize too late – what a loss, what a gap, and what regrets!

Scripture: For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30: 5.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I have made mistakes whose consequences are grinding me daily: have mercy O God: please deliver me from the errors of my ways, amen.