[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Life lessons from the monk’s story

 

By Oke Chinye 

Read: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Meditation verse:

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“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything” (Ecclesiastes 11:5).

Stories are liberating; they teach valuable lessons and fire our emotions. I believe so much in the power of stories because they inspire us into action. The story is told of a monk who embarked on a long journey on foot. He came across a river and wondered how he would cross over. He tried walking across, but it was too deep; he couldn’t swim either. Eventually, he built a raft and successfully crossed to the other side of the river. He then said to himself “this must be very useful to me; I have to hold on to it”. He strapped it to his back and continued his journey. A short while later, he came across a very thick forest, with rows of trees. As he attempted to walk through, the raft behind his back kept getting stuck between the trees, making it impossible to go through. After several attempts, he realized that the raft was now the obstacle holding him back, so he took it off. The Monk’s story teaches us some valuable life lessons:

• Firstly, life is an uncharted course; what you meet at one stage is not what you may meet at the next. So, preparation is key in the journey of life. Be proactive, keep an open mind and be discerning of times and circumstances.

• To every problem, there is a solution which may be easier than we think. Most things are not as difficult as they seem if we give it some thought. Our imaginations always make things seem difficult. The Monk dissipated so much energy trying to navigate the trees, before realizing that the raft behind his back was the stumbling block. 

• In many situations of our lives, God has already made a way of provision, we just need to ask Him to show us. 

• Unnecessary baggage will slow you down in life. The Monk did not come across another ocean, so strapping the raft on his back was a wasted effort. What are you still lugging around that no longer serves your best interest? As the year rolls to an end, lay aside every weight. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).