REFLECTION
How Did I Get Here?
by
Mary McGinnis
Have you ever been in a
place and then asked yourself, “How did I get here?”
I am a self-proclaimed
directionally challenged person. One of my greatest fears is getting
lost.
One of my recurring
nightmares over the years has been being on a quest. In my dream, I am usually
on foot, walking to try to find my destination. I turn in the direction I
am sure shows promise of beautiful things waiting for me ahead. That turn
gives way to another turn, and another and the scenery around me slowly
shifts. I start to see signs that I am heading in the wrong
direction, but I keep moving forward thinking, “My destination must be just
around the corner.”
The streets that once had
beautiful homes and trees that surrounded me have turned into dark alleys
surrounded by tall brick buildings and chain link fences. My heart races
and my gaze darts around each corner, fearful of who or what is going to jump
out to attack me. I panic and try to run to safety, but only find myself
hopelessly lost in the maze of endless dark and dangerous streets.
The scene to today’s
reading is much the same. And so is the scenery around us in the world in
which we live. Babylon is the picture of a great city. It has the
promise of prosperity and beauty, yet it has become a dwelling place of demons
and a haunt for every unclean spirit. Can you see glimpses of this city
around you? Are you seeing the warning signs?
It might be easy to think,
“I would never allow myself to go to such a place.” Or, “I would never do
business with such an evil city!” But from my own personal experience,
once our eyes become assimilated to the “dark,” the darkness will keep luring
us farther and farther away.
Lord, You see all and know
all. Illuminate all the dark places of this world and of my life
with the blazing light of Your glory! Send Your heralds to call out
this great darkness.You will bring about the downfall of all evil
and injustice that haunts our world.
Thank You for reaching out Your rescuing hands to us to lead us out, even
though we don’t deserve it. Guide us to place our trust into the
hands that were stretched out and laid bear on the wooden beams of the cross
for our sake
Prayer Practice:
Pray for justice. The people of God (and heaven itself) rejoice at the fall of
“Babylon the Great” because it is just. It is the act of God bringing
punishment to evil and relief to His people. Today, pray for God’s justice. Cry
out on behalf of the oppressed. Pray for an end to all forms of violence,
unfairness, and cruelty.
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