Written by Netisha Alie
In the light of all these hurricanes hitting the caribbean this season, the affected countries' people sang the same song; "We lost everything but we have life..." What can we learn from this disaster?
Remnants of Dominica after Hurricane Maria 2017, a constant reminder
Jesus said to His apostles; "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" .... Mark 8:36 when he explained to them what it took to truly be His follower. Does this statement, like much of the bible, apply to us today? It sure does and here's how.
Anything we hope to accomplish in life is going to require our time and attention. We put in the work and time and reap the harvest later. Wherever we direct our time and work it is there we shall get the rewards. So we work hard and spend no time with ourselves and family? Work pays us a nice salary while our family and health suffer from the 'neglect.' We live in a world where many people are busy paper chasing to acquire material things that they can surely live without. Then before they know it, they are celebrating another birthday that seem like yesterday or their baby is graduating from college and they are wondering where the time went.
"I'm busy...", "Let me check my schedule..." "Time is so short..." We humans lately always seem to be racing with the clock and still not getting enough done. We even forget to eat or sleep because we just have too much to get done. Hence the reason for 'fast foods' and ridiculous technology that may soon use the bathroom for us if we are not careful. A wise man once told me; 'don't burn the middle...' when I told him how busy I was. And by that he was simply trying to get me to see that we have childhood, then our beautiful peak 'middle' years of 20' ad 30's we literally 'burn' working so hard that by the time we slow down to really enjoy life we are too old to do it.
The worst part in all this is that we are literally killing ourselves trying to acquire things that hurricanes and 'life' can take away from us within one hour of intense 170+ force winds and rain. Actually, whatever nature doesn't take from you, death will because you'll surely DIE and leave it all behind. 'So what do you expect us to do, not work for what we want?' You may ask, 'heavens no,' i'll reply. We just need to find balance, work for material things and the things money just can't buy, not just the former. How about building strong loving family bonds and relationships, volunteering in your community or taking that cooking or dancing class you know you want to do? Life was given so that we can enjoy it and live it to the fullest. Why are we so bent on losing our souls to gain things that will fade away?
Let's not get caught up in all the useless buzz of the cooperate world that is trying to over work us for invaluable things we could lose within seconds, and allow LOVE, appreciation and a sense of community to prevail among us. Besides do you want to live an accomplished life or one where you turn 50 and realize you wasted it chasing mirages? If you chose the former, let Jesus' words be a reminder that it sure doesn't profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul. For material things can be replaced, but once you lose your soul that pretty much does it for you.
In the light of all these hurricanes hitting the caribbean this season, the affected countries' people sang the same song; "We lost everything but we have life..." What can we learn from this disaster?
Jesus said to His apostles; "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" .... Mark 8:36 when he explained to them what it took to truly be His follower. Does this statement, like much of the bible, apply to us today? It sure does and here's how.
Anything we hope to accomplish in life is going to require our time and attention. We put in the work and time and reap the harvest later. Wherever we direct our time and work it is there we shall get the rewards. So we work hard and spend no time with ourselves and family? Work pays us a nice salary while our family and health suffer from the 'neglect.' We live in a world where many people are busy paper chasing to acquire material things that they can surely live without. Then before they know it, they are celebrating another birthday that seem like yesterday or their baby is graduating from college and they are wondering where the time went.
"I'm busy...", "Let me check my schedule..." "Time is so short..." We humans lately always seem to be racing with the clock and still not getting enough done. We even forget to eat or sleep because we just have too much to get done. Hence the reason for 'fast foods' and ridiculous technology that may soon use the bathroom for us if we are not careful. A wise man once told me; 'don't burn the middle...' when I told him how busy I was. And by that he was simply trying to get me to see that we have childhood, then our beautiful peak 'middle' years of 20' ad 30's we literally 'burn' working so hard that by the time we slow down to really enjoy life we are too old to do it.
The worst part in all this is that we are literally killing ourselves trying to acquire things that hurricanes and 'life' can take away from us within one hour of intense 170+ force winds and rain. Actually, whatever nature doesn't take from you, death will because you'll surely DIE and leave it all behind. 'So what do you expect us to do, not work for what we want?' You may ask, 'heavens no,' i'll reply. We just need to find balance, work for material things and the things money just can't buy, not just the former. How about building strong loving family bonds and relationships, volunteering in your community or taking that cooking or dancing class you know you want to do? Life was given so that we can enjoy it and live it to the fullest. Why are we so bent on losing our souls to gain things that will fade away?
Let's not get caught up in all the useless buzz of the cooperate world that is trying to over work us for invaluable things we could lose within seconds, and allow LOVE, appreciation and a sense of community to prevail among us. Besides do you want to live an accomplished life or one where you turn 50 and realize you wasted it chasing mirages? If you chose the former, let Jesus' words be a reminder that it sure doesn't profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul. For material things can be replaced, but once you lose your soul that pretty much does it for you.
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