Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Day 11. Land

Proverbs 12:11
He who works his land will have abundant food,
but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

I love this one. We all have land. Opportunities that we are given and asked to work. And when we do, they yield abundant food. But how often do we ignore the land we have? The jobs we have? The friends we have? The situations we have and chase fantasies in far off lands with far off people instead? I struggle with this every time I visit a really interactive blog. I immediately think, “I need to be doing more with video and live chat and graphics and and and.” Suddenly, the land I have, writing, becomes really small and unimportant as I chase fantasies.

What land do you have that you are taking for granted right now?

What fantasies are you chasing?

11 comments:

vikki (Philippines) said...

Philippines.
I love my country and our culture (for the most part) but one of the things that I fantasized chasing included watching a live Braves game. Last year, I was able to go to CDC in Atlanta for Management in International Public Health Training. The first weekend, I watched the Braves win the game vs The Mets in Turner Field. At the risk of sounding too Jennifer Hudson…”Look at what God can do!” (both for watching a live game and for the Braves winning).
I think what I’m saying is, there can be miracle (when you believe) but first be faithful where you are planted…

Sara said...

Ouch. No blog consistently kicks me in the butt like this one. Thanks!

heartafire said...

I have precious land in mothering my children. Not only that, but one day, this land will not be used for growing children in Christ, but for something else. I need to make sure I am gardening while I have time----constantly tending, watering, improving the soil, geeding, etc. my little shoots. So that one day, they will yield abundant food for their own little people.
I definitely take for granted all the time I have to tend this land. The fact that I am EVER on the computer while they are in the same room is something that's been tugging at my heart a lot lately. I vow to not be on the computer at all when my kids are at home, unless they are asleep.

Jon, I just love your take on these proverbs. I love your humility in hearing God remind you personally of what your land is about. It is easy for all of your blog friends to see that your land is writing.

I also like the small size of the individual Proverbs-- they're like a depth charge, revealing more as the day wears on.
It's such an easy little bite to take with me during the day. I have never been very good at scripture memory, but these are easy to remember.

Cyndi said...

I have been following your blog for several weeks and always enjoy your fresh insights, but today it almost seemed like you were "reading my mail". I have been attending church in another city (1 hour drive) and had been struggling with changing to a small church in my own community. I have struggled, I suppose, partly from fear, partly from pride. As I drove home this morning I kept thinking ...this is MY community, this is MY neighborhood. When I got home and read your post, it seemed like God was echoing my own thoughts.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with Sara's remarks. This blog really makes me think about my relationship with God.

jenn said...

Yeah, I'll echo what Sara said too.

Anonymous said...

I always fail to give my job the attention that God demands, because my heart is not here. Seems like I need to try to get my heart here, because obviously this is where God has me.

BTW, the simplicity of SCL is what I love.

Sylvia Goode Basham said...

Thanks again! I feel like commenter Cyndi....I would think you had read my blog post about brownie knives, but since I've only written it and not posted yet, I suspect you're simply listening to the same God :-)

Donna said...

land -- fantasies....both take time....which is more productive to "work"?

man...i just "ouched" myself.....

Debra said...

Wow Jon ... I really enjoying this series. Many of these have spoken to me. A couple I even copied and put in my journal to think on some more. This is my favorite of your blogs. Thanks for doing it again! :)

Holly said...

Making purple.