Psalms 131:1- My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters,
or things too wonderful for me.
The Bible fascinates me. Though I don’t read it often enough and haven’t studied it nearly enough, I have read all of it several times, and I have studied some books and passages of it in great depth. I used to teach adult Sunday School and enjoyed it very much, but found it a tremendous responsibility and challenge.
I offer that information simply as a preface for why this little passage is one of my favorites. I don’t pretend to understand its full meaning or its place in the overall scheme of Psalms. I only know that it speaks to me. I’m not sure you or I need to know why.
The first part is a little tough sometimes. Pride not only comes before a fall, but often motivates us to do some pretty foolish things. My past is filled with mistakes prompted by pride. Thankfully, fewer and fewer as I’ve gotten older and wiser.
The second part has a two-fold meaning for me. First of all, I decided quite a few years ago that there are some things that go on in the world that I simply can’t lose sleep or gain an ulcer over. I can’t control events, change them, or even influence them in the slightest way. So beyond staying minimally informed I just don’t worry about it. I believe very strongly in the “ripple effect”. I believe that if I’m strongly involved in my little corner of the world and I make a difference here, that it will have a ripple effect that will eventually reach and perhaps affect a larger problem elsewhere.
Second, that last line tells me there are many, many things I can appreciate without ever fully understanding them. There are things in the world that are literally “too wonderful for me” and my little pea brain to fathom! I try to just accept and enjoy! Nature astounds me. Science amazes me. Technology baffles me. I just praise God I get to benefit from bigger brains!
Look around today for all the things that are too wonderful!
The "ripple effect" is a fantastic way of looking at the world Thanks for rippling in my world.
Posted by: Megan | April 10, 2011 at 03:57 PM