Tip of My Iceberg

Two of our daughters have been in New Zealand working with players and staff as chaplains during this stressful time that accompanies the World Cup. Where expectations are high and nerves are strung tight.

They’ve been busy, but they did have time to visit Hobbiton, the movie set for the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movies, which has since become a tourist attraction.

Located in the small agricultural town of Matamata in New Zealand, it’s in the middle of a sheep and beef farm. The setting is spectacular. What makes it fascinating is how little children find it to be so alluring because it seems made for them.

Debbie and Taylor took seventeen-month old Kolly to visit the iconic site. She was entranced by the size, color, and wonder of the tiny homes, which just fit her. With her short stature and head of curly dark hair, she resembles a sweet hobbit–maybe. No hairy feet, though.

Is it any wonder that she’s drawn to something that fits her? In a world of big, large, and massive, finding something more pint-sized has to be satisfying for the diminutive little gal.

We all want to fit in where we feel comfortable, where we’re part of, not apart from. Belonging is so much a part of who we are as people–we’ve been created to interact with one another in community. It’s not rocket science–it’s all about the needs of our hearts, minds, and souls.

It becomes complicated when we try to fit God into our lives, at our convenience, the way we want to see Him. How we’d like to engage with Him. But He isn’t like us–He has always existed, and when He created time, He made us in His image.

Not the other way around.

The prophet Isaiah encouraged the people of Israel to seek after God while they could so they could find life in Him. He offered generous mercy and grace to those who would choose Him. He also clarified a truth that people then and now don’t always understand.

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9

God is all powerful, ever present, and wise; He is different from us. He existed before us and doesn’t think or process as we do. We’re limited in knowledge and understanding of the world around us and of one another. God knows everyone’s thoughts, actions, attitudes–the fullness of our hearts.

With all that we are and do, He still chooses to help us fit into His heaven by offering us Jesus to pay for all the mess we make of life.

God has done all the work. He’s made the sacrifices for us.

We just need to receive the gift.

It’s the easiest and best fit anyone could ask for.