What Are You Searching For?
The Christian Blog that gets you thinking ...
By Debra Torres
Late last fall, I planted a big bag of bulbs in various places in my yard.
To me, the bright colors of crocuses, daffodils and tulips are a deserved reward after a long, hard winter.
I’ve seen people plant bulbs in uncommon places in grassy areas, and I thought it would be fun to plant most of this bag around one of our birches out back.
A circle of bright yellows and purples around a white birch was certain to chase away the winter blahs, right?
As the dawn of spring came and went, I checked the perimeter around my tree almost daily for a sign of the flowers but none came. In other places, my bulbs seemed to be popping up, but I saw no sign of those I put around the tree.
What had happened? Did something eat the bulbs? Was it a bad place to plant them? Maybe they didn’t like the soil around a tree? I considered digging them up and planting them somewhere else, but the idea of rooting through the dirt for some no-show bulbs made me tired just thinking about it.
I was about fed up with them when a sunny day drew the girls and me into the yard for some garden fun. As I walked past our other birch tree I noticed some daffodils circling it that were just getting ready to bloom.
My bulbs! I was looking around the wrong tree! Never did I consider looking at my other birch tree! I had been so sure!
The thing that I had been searching for had been there all along – it just wasn’t where I had been looking.
Late last fall, I planted a big bag of bulbs in various places in my yard.
To me, the bright colors of crocuses, daffodils and tulips are a deserved reward after a long, hard winter.
I’ve seen people plant bulbs in uncommon places in grassy areas, and I thought it would be fun to plant most of this bag around one of our birches out back.
A circle of bright yellows and purples around a white birch was certain to chase away the winter blahs, right?
As the dawn of spring came and went, I checked the perimeter around my tree almost daily for a sign of the flowers but none came. In other places, my bulbs seemed to be popping up, but I saw no sign of those I put around the tree.
What had happened? Did something eat the bulbs? Was it a bad place to plant them? Maybe they didn’t like the soil around a tree? I considered digging them up and planting them somewhere else, but the idea of rooting through the dirt for some no-show bulbs made me tired just thinking about it.
I was about fed up with them when a sunny day drew the girls and me into the yard for some garden fun. As I walked past our other birch tree I noticed some daffodils circling it that were just getting ready to bloom.
My bulbs! I was looking around the wrong tree! Never did I consider looking at my other birch tree! I had been so sure!
The thing that I had been searching for had been there all along – it just wasn’t where I had been looking.
Last weekend, I was in hot pursuit of a good walking path. Living in the country has its benefits, but one of the hard parts, I’ve discovered, is finding a safe walking trail that can accommodate a bulky stroller.
I thought I might walk around one of our area’s high school tracks and was disappointed to find the whole thing completely surrounded by locked fences.
I thought I might walk around one of our area’s high school tracks and was disappointed to find the whole thing completely surrounded by locked fences.
_ Ahh…the track had a smooth walking path around it that beckoned me, but I was forced to forge my way through the muddy trail outside the fence.
As I passed each potential entry way, I noted that each one was securely locked.
Disappointed, I was ready to give up and settle for the mud, when I discovered an open gate just large enough for a stroller to fit through!
I entered through that gate feeling like I had just been given a free pass to a special event. It was truly a blessing to find the right door.
A few days ago, I read a blog post from a man who follows the philosophies of Zen, an approach to religious enlightenment that comes from Buddhism.
As I passed each potential entry way, I noted that each one was securely locked.
Disappointed, I was ready to give up and settle for the mud, when I discovered an open gate just large enough for a stroller to fit through!
I entered through that gate feeling like I had just been given a free pass to a special event. It was truly a blessing to find the right door.
A few days ago, I read a blog post from a man who follows the philosophies of Zen, an approach to religious enlightenment that comes from Buddhism.
The writer of the blog had just turned 38 and was reflecting on his life as he neared middle age.
I scanned through the post, skeptical and a bit saddened by his philosophies.
His points seemed all right and good: he touched on the importance of spending more time with our kids, simplifying our lives, getting out of debt, etc.
I scanned through the post, skeptical and a bit saddened by his philosophies.
His points seemed all right and good: he touched on the importance of spending more time with our kids, simplifying our lives, getting out of debt, etc.
But you know, to me, well, the man was looking for flowers around the wrong tree.
He had chosen to search for things that would give his life meaning, but his source did not point him to God.
Many of us are in pursuit of truth, meaning, and purpose just like the blogger. But according to the Bible, there really is only one way, one path, one door.
Just like my gated high school track, there’s only one way in.
Jesus said this clearly in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” That’s that. There’s no argument. He’s the only way.
What are you searching for? Heaven’s gates are open wide for those who find their way in through Jesus.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
Deuteronomy 4:29 (Amplified Bible)
But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you [truly] seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life.
Isaiah 55:6 (New American Standard Bible)
Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 45:22 (New International Version, ©2011)
“Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
He had chosen to search for things that would give his life meaning, but his source did not point him to God.
Many of us are in pursuit of truth, meaning, and purpose just like the blogger. But according to the Bible, there really is only one way, one path, one door.
Just like my gated high school track, there’s only one way in.
Jesus said this clearly in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” That’s that. There’s no argument. He’s the only way.
What are you searching for? Heaven’s gates are open wide for those who find their way in through Jesus.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
Deuteronomy 4:29 (Amplified Bible)
But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you [truly] seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life.
Isaiah 55:6 (New American Standard Bible)
Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 45:22 (New International Version, ©2011)
“Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.