Poppies.

Poppies

I was feeling low,

in dark despair.

Caught in a time warp of my own,

a black and lonely abyss.

Not a thought beyond my own.

No cares beyond the cares of selfish me.

Poor little me.

Why is life so cruel? I asked.

The beating drum of ME, ME, ME

and MY,  MY, MY.

Drowned every sound

except the hammering noise within my head.

Then there before me,

                                       blood red in all their glory

                                     stood a field of poppies.

Their vibrant hues pulled me from my pit.

Back into the world of wonderful creation.

I thought of years of blood,

                                          poured forth for such as me.

Wars fought by man,

                                          that I might have this day.

Free to wander the paths of life.

There before me,

                                    blood red in all their glory

                                stood a field of poppies.

I thought of Him,

            who emptied out his life.

I heard birds sing,

around the beauty I did see.

     No more the thoughts of ME. 

Then, in the sound of silence,

I heard a voice.

And drank the deep refreshing joy of life,

with thankful heart.

How precious is each beating moment?

And won at such a cost.

I can do what I want with my life.

How often over the years have you heard words such as those, "I can do what I want with my life. It is mine, and you cannot tell me what to do."

I can remember uttering these very words as a teenager on more than one occasion. At that age, we can almost be forgiven for not fully understanding the sacrifices that had been made on our behalf or the concern that parents and family had for our welfare.

The trouble is that many never grow out of those selfish ways of thinking, we cling to our thoughtless attitudes. This present age in which we live almost positively encourages us to think this way. We are encouraged to do our own thing, to think first and foremost of number one, self-centeredness is the mode of the day.

Maybe once we have made it in life, become successful, become a great entrepreneur, we can look back and let our wealth trickle down to those less fortunate.

Such selfish thinking can only, and has, led to a divided society in which the poor get poorer and the rich increase in wealth owning. Around us, we only have to look to see the increasing broken relationships and families. Society itself becomes torn asunder.

The deeper such thinking eats into society the more the younger generation look around them and wonder what life has in store for them.

It is not only at the level of society that damage is done. Such selfish thinking is far from good for the individual. It frequently, and more often leads to loneliness and in turn despair. Another consequence of such thinking is the increase in those who think that they should always get what they desire. All desires should be fulfilled. Many even believe that it is the right of being here, society owes us a living.

We can see those who, when they do not get exactly what it is they want and when they want it,  throw a tantrum.

How many times during my ministry I came across people who had left the fellowship of the church because the minister had said something they did not like to hear. "I am not listening to that," they say and off they head. Some to another church but many more to the womb of their own thinking and living.

Sadly, even within the bounds of religion, it becomes little more than a pick and mix of comfortable ideas with a personal faith challenged by nobody.

How much time is spoiled quietly walking the paths of resentment, building up new and better ways to, "get my own back." 

One day I saw a field of poppies, so unexpected and magnificent. It lifted me from selfish thoughts of myself to the many sacrifices that had been made on my behalf. If this was true for me it is equally true for us all. Nobody is an island.

It is worthwhile, from time to time, stopping and considering the many who have made sacrifices for us even when we did not ask for such. To consider and rejoice that they have. As a society, we need to ask ourselves if we are being true to all of those who have gone before and given much, often their lives, that we might have ours.