Leaky Buckets
I apologize for missing several posts last week. No matter where I am, the Christmas season is a busy time. I spent much of last week preparing our house for the holidays and practicing for our carol service at our chapel last Sunday. Now, with all that done, I can focus on my writing more. . .hopefully.
Friday night, we braved the frigid, snowy weather and attended a concert in town hosted by a local choir. We have several friends in the choir, so we wanted to show our support and enjoy an evening of Christmas songs.
I admit I didn’t know most of the carols, which is an odd feeling. But they were lovely, and the choir did an excellent job. One of the last songs they sang wasn’t exactly a Christmas song but was said to be a song of hope. The words and tune were absolutely beautiful, but hearing it made me sad.
The song's message was about not being discouraged because tomorrow is another day. The lyrics included phrases like “here is a haven,” “a shoulder to cry on,” and “have faith.” But since this wasn’t a Christian song, I found myself thinking, Faith in what? What haven are they singing of? Whose shoulder are they supposed to cry on?
Sadly, for those who don’t know Christ, these words and phrases are platitudes but little more. They don’t offer any real answers. The song itself—while beautiful—couldn’t truly extend hope to anyone because it was based on human logic, emotion, and the faulty assumption that humans will do right by one another. It led the listeners to believe that we can count on others to lift our spirits and fix our problems when the truth is, we can’t.
Now, please understand I’m not saying that words and well wishes can’t help someone emotionally because I know they can. But their effects are temporary. A life in Christ is not. I’m reminded of this passage in Jeremiah:
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. - Jeremiah 2:11-13
This world has forsaken God and tried to replace Him with so many other things. People are attempting to find peace and security in everything under the sun. But in the end, they discover they’re walking around with leaky buckets because there is only one true Fountain. Nothing else will ever truly satisfy. Only Christ can restore our souls and renew our minds. Only He can help us see life through new eyes and give us the desire to live life to its fullest. Only Christ can offer hope, a haven, and a shoulder that will always be there to cry on.
If you don’t know this true Comforter and Friend, please don’t wait another day to meet Him. He won’t necessarily make all your problems disappear, but He’ll help you cope with whatever life throws your way. Put your faith in Him. You won’t be disappointed, and you’ll find you’re never, ever alone.