Where we live at midnight we watch the fireworks from our bedroom window. We have a view up the river and, on a clear night, can experience displays on the waterfront and beyond in one direction and possibly through Sproughton and along the estuary in the other.
The family from next door who moved in during the summer, were also out admiring the view. The next day they asked us in for a cappuccino. You may remember the little boy from an earlier ‘thought,’ he will be four in April.
One of his presents was a marble run. He calls it a ‘bubble run’. It comprises of wooden bricks and tracks that can be constructed in various ways so that marbles can descend to be caught in a bowl at the end. Although there are different ways to successfully do it, blocks have to be balanced precisely at specific distances from each other in order to make it work.
At first he was adamant that he would do it himself. He saw the illustration on the box and started to construct it from the top, but without the proper foundation it collapsed and he got a bit disheartened.
“Daddy, help me!” he cried. Daddy took one glance at the picture and got the sense of the solution straight away. He started from the bottom, working from the collecting bowl upwards. This had the added advantage of being able to test each phase of the construction.
Of course, his son was then fired up with excitement as he put a bubble (marble) on the track and watched it run down the track, drop onto another and land in the bowl at the bottom. He pushed his Dad away, he wanted to do the rest of the construction himself. But he ended up frustrated as he set some of the bricks too far away from each other or put the track the wrong way round so the holes were misplaced. Although he again asked for help, he tried to hold back his parents’ hands and do it himself.
Aren’t we sometimes like that? Especially at this time of year as we dedicate a new Year to God and renew our promises of commitment in Covenant services – we know we need God to guide and enable – but often we want to take control back and try to do things our way. We need to get the foundations right – foundations of Bible study and prayer – then we can build securely. Often, we need to let go, and let God – He knows what to do – our future is safe in His hands.