Sudden Loss
A few weeks ago I decided to finish a productive day with one last non-strenuous task before dusk. There was just enough time to mow the lawn before the sun disappeared over the horizon. After several rounds with the riding mower, I was patting myself on the back for making such good use of this last fleeting hour of the day, when I was startled by what sounded like a rock under my mower. I quickly shrugged it off and decided that the season was almost over and I’d sharpen the blades when the grass started to green up in the Spring. This event was far from tragic, …I thought.
On my next round, I decided to watch carefully for any sizable fragments of rock that might be rediscovered by the blades. As I approached the danger zone, I noticed what seemed to be small pieces of glass, foil and black rubber—none of which was large enough to fill a thimble. It didn’t take long for me to consider how closely the color of the tiny fragments resembled the color of the protective case that housed my cell phone. When I reached for my phone, the belt clip was empty. I had just destroyed my little piece of technology that had more computing power than the devices used to land a rocket on the moon in 1969. My heart sank. It was indeed a sudden, tragic loss!
Upon reflection, it seems apparent to me that incidents like this are likely to become more common in the future. No, I’m not suggesting an increase in the likelihood of our chewing up treasures with lawnmowers, but that the useful treasures of earth may “tragically” start to disappear as more perilous times than most of us have ever known, become the new norm.
My intention is not to be a “prophet of doom,” but rather, a discerner of the times. As political, social, and economic foundations start to heave under pressures produced by the godless “isms” of man, it is refreshing to revisit the simple promises of the Bible. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)” The context of Matthew 6 suggests that “these things” include: food, shelter, and clothing.