When we arrived at our hotel in Villedieu-les-Poeles, France we noticed
that the hotel's private parking garage was completely full. Despite the
fact that we had reserved a spot six months earlier, the only space left
was in the laneway. Parking there would block the way so that every
other car parked in the garage would be unable to leave.
The
manager was quite helpful: "What time are you planning to leave the
premises tomorrow morning?"
"Around 7:30," was my response.
"No one else will be leaving that early tomorrow, as stores in our
country do not open until 9 a.m. Park in the laneway and don't worry
about it, all will be fine!"
We did as we told, but as soon as we
had parked the car and were unloading our luggage, an elderly British
couple walked up to us. We could see that they were quite concerned.
"At what time are you planning to leave tomorrow morning?" asked
the woman in broken French.
Strange! Hadn't we just heard that
question?
When they discovered our get up with the rooster plans,
and also that we spoke English, they relaxed and we began chatting
amiably. We made some new friends that evening, but it could have been a
completely different scenario!
How easy it is for all of us to
grumble and complain. I'm no better! I was ready to strangle the hotel
manager for not honoring our parking reservation! Grrr! I called this
tendency "the enemy within us". Interestingly, if we take the time
afterwards, we can't help but giggle at our own follies.
The
just-freed Israelites were no better: "All the Israelites grumbled
against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only
we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!" (Numbers 14:2, NIV2)
What caused such an attitude?
Twelve spies had been sent to
explore the Promised Land, and ten of them came back shaking in their
boots. To them, it would be impossible to conquer the land!
But
Caleb and Joshua had no doubts that taking the land would be a piece of
cake.
Who did the Israelites believe? The ten negative spies!
God had promised them the moon, but they would rather trust in their
own strength, which seemed to be non-existent at that particular moment
in time.
"The LORD said to Moses, 'How long will these people
treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in
spite of all the signs I have performed among them?'" (Numbers 14:11,
NIV2)
Sadly for all of us, grumbling is a kind of rebellion
against God, who promises us to be our guide in all things! How easy it
is to miss the Promised Land with a defeatist attitude!
Maybe
there is a lesson in this... Do we really have anything to worry about?
We are nothing like them!
"Who dared take my parking spot!
Grrrr."
Or maybe we are.
Rob Chaffart
The Enemy Within Us. Facing Unimaginable Odds Series, Part 7
Today's Bible Verse:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving." (Colossians 3:23-24)
The Enemy Within Us. Facing Unimaginable Odds Series, Part 7
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