Isaac Mwaniki

As I think about meditation, am left with a conviction that it is one of the qualities becoming rare very quickly in our society. There always seems to be something to be done. There is a very diverse alternative to the games we can engage in all of which makes us very busy.

The famous writer Henri Nouwen has said, "Silence has become a fearful thing. For most people, silence creates an itchiness and nervousness. Many experience silence not as rich and full but as empty and hollow". However, having said that he goes ahead to say that, "silence is the home of the word of God"

The lord is however calling us to a living relationship with Him where we take time just to be with him. In a deep friendship, what is not said actually at times communicates more than what is said. Sometimes silence communicates more than the noise neighbouring it. It is no wonder God gave us one mouth but two ears. If we spoke half the time we listened, at least we would be able to contain the sin of gossip.

The Lord cautioned His disciples that they would be held accountable for any careless words they said. As you go on with life, remember that words cannot be withdrawn, therefore think before speaking. Also taketime form the busy schedules of this generation to be with the Lord. This decision will count to eternity.

There are two difficult phrases to say. These happen to be a source of frustration and mistrust among a group of people living together. Both these phrases are tri worded. These phrases are, “I love you” and “I am sorry”. They are both very short statements but their impact can change a course of life.

Whenever we find ourselves in a position of the offender, the easier way out is to justify our position and hope that people will understand. At the same time, we find it difficult to accept offence from other people. As long as we are not the offended, others need to understand that to error is human. Talk of a judge in his own case.

Both these statements have a way of bringing us down from our pride. In the first phrase, we risk rejection and being heartbroken. It is placing our future prospects on the decision of another individual. This is not a very comfortable feeling. The major motivation is the hope that the love will be reciprocated.

In the second phrase, we bow to a position of accepting that we are wrong. It means accepting responsibility for our failures. This is also not a comfortable feeling. We are left once again at the mercies of the offended person to accept our apologies.

Life would be a better place if we said these statements as frequently as they apply. A lot of bitterness would be avoided if especially the second phrase is used more frequently.

When is the last time you asked for forgiveness from someone? When was the last time that you felt somebody owed you an apology? "Do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you", advises the Good Teacher.

Sunsets are among the most beautiful sights to behold. The mix of colours and the brilliance of the sky as the sun prepare to go below the horizon. It reminds us that they day is over and the night is coming. It is a very beautiful way to end the day. Just as they say, the end of something marks the beginning of another.

In life the sunsets we have might not be as beautiful as the sight of the sun going below the horizon. They however should be a reminder to us that something new is beginning. The new thing is different hence mainly uncomfortable, just as it is walking in the dark. How we choose to behave on the face of them determines how we survive in the next stage.

Life is a channel of interconnected occurrences so that one event leads to another. A mistake of yesterday is a lesson for today. A mistake today is regret for tomorrow and a mistake tomorrow is an unsure future. An unsure future is a sure recipe for eternal loss.

As I watched the sunset on the picture, I thought about the last sunset in life. Will it be as beautiful as the sunset? Will it be leading to eternal bliss or damnation?

The three major things that people work for are money (read materials), power(read fame) and sex (read pleasure). These things tend to crowd the thinking of men that many more crucial aspects of life are not realised. Many people will do even more that can be done to acquire these things. Unfortunately, the more you have of these, the more you realise that you need more to experience any hapiness.

Someone asked, Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for? A nice question especially for Christians to engage. Charles Colson said " modern men and women have elevated their individual above all else, they hold no principles except their passions to plot their paths nothing above themselves to respect or obey, nothing to live or die for "

The truth in life is that you cannot get anything in life without losing something else in return. People struggle a lot wondering what life has for them without appreciating that what is more important is what they can give to the life. Life sometimes does not make sense. The good thing is that God never promised it would. However he promised to be with us even in those moments life never made sense.

Mother Teresa said, "what you spend years building, people might destroy it in just a moment". What should one do in such a case? Build anyway. Not all that we build will finally yield results. some of them actually will not. The thing to remember is that the Lord will never hold us accountable for the many things that others destroyed. We are however entitrely answerable for all the things we build and even the ones we freak out from building. When faced by very heartbreaking moments, what do you do? Go on with life.

Jesus was very instructive to his disciples and so told them, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you". Are there things you are lacking in life? Do your best to get them but trusting in God.

So what do we do when life is difficult? Rejoice that we can confide in the creator of all earth. This is very unique among the believers. Remember also the words of Paul, that what we are going through is common to men. In addition Paul tells us that the Lord will provide a way of escape so that nothings that can defeat us comes on our way.

Shalom