‘Me too, I didn’t want it this way,’ said me. The boring looks on our face says it all. Life’s not happening in the moment.
‘It’s alright. But I wish you get well soon….’
‘Yeah, the time will surely come.’
We used to play football in the park, ride bicycles in the nearby driveway, in the evening. They understood that we’re not going to the park. Instead, we lay back on the mat telling stories till I become nauseous.
The way of kicking football, which I taught earlier, needs polishing under my supervision. I might not be that person best fitted for supervising them, but God put me here. So, we accepted it as a gift.
Their bicycle is rusting and depreciating day by day, since in the city we live we don’t let loose children due to certain reasons. Something needs to be done.
Children are active as you know; which needs to be tapped up so that they do not feel neglected. Even when you do not have the energy, it’s better to let them understand or engaged in other useful matters. No father or mother wanted to their children going to other people in those periods.
Some years ago when I decided to be with them, we did not expected this to happen. My neurological disorder escalated until brain surgery needs to be done. We’d spent time along with my children as they grew up with the hope of working again; but that’s only what we thought it’d be.
I understand that they would enjoy touring around – seeing new things and places would please them. But we’re short of cash most of the time. So it is my duty to focus more on teaching them as much possible with my very limited knowledge.
With my hospital visits and stays in between, due to my chronic illness, it’s really hard to make a plan. Without meeting people and or chattering around, it’s obvious to feel life as not happening. At the same time, people around me feel the same way too.
The other day, I took my guitar in arms to pluck few strings along with a song in my mind. But my fingers simply aren’t helping. I glanced at the guitar as I put it back, with certain amount of acridity to my beloved guitar.
Each morning, I read the newspaper and there are happenings around the globe. But not in good way. Many happenings would be better if it doesn’t happen. Well, that’s totally a different chapter so let’s leave it here.
My life’s simply not happening as much as I desired. In certain times, I feel seizure or epileptic disorder stole some part of my life. Even though there are its upsides, which came as a surprise in most cases. It restricted my living, with the feeling of being stuck in one place.
Most of the options I kept for these difficult times didn’t work as well. It seems as if nothing’s moving forward, but if it doesn’t move backward, that’s fine with me. There are men and women in the Bible whose life underwent such times as well. But in the right time God lifted them up. Moreover, God has purposes in their ‘not happening’ phases of life.
I don’t know about other people’s life; nor did I know when they would refer to as a ‘non-happening’ phase. But I believe each of us have this phase once in a while as in my case. Some people easily overcome it but some people don’t.
However, it really affects our living either in a good or bad way. It’s like side effects of my medicines I cannot undo with since I need regular medication. The most important thing is not get carried away or consumed by the mild affect notwithstanding the purpose or our purpose.
NOT Happening Life?
Not happening, as I put it here, was a way of describing sometimes boring or unable to keep up with obligations. In other words, let’s simply put it as non-phenomenal living, less adventure, less chance, likely to remain in one place due to various reasons. There’s numerous ways of using ‘not happening’ in people’s lives:
For the party-goers, it would be less event and lazy music; number of red-tapes in the workplaces. A redundant co-worker is another example. For a business man, it would be the business not booming as it’s supposed to be.
Sometimes these events and the consequential mood lessen our hope, affect our way of living, losing our usefulness, eating our mind, and many more. Yet in any case, God did leave us nor forsake us but He’s with us in every situations of life. (Hebrew 13: 15)
In the wilderness of Life:
Moses led the people of Israelites in the wilderness for forty years. The wilderness, in my opinion, would not be a place to enjoy about. In today’s word, I don’t think it would be happening at all.
In the wilderness, they murmurs; they wanted to return to their slavery. They are not enjoying it. The people with less faith would die in the wilderness. But those who renew their faith or the new generation are to enter the Promised Land.
Should you go through the book of Numbers in detail, you’d be surprised by how God cared the Israelites even though he sent them to the wilderness:
First, they saw miracles which would not happen again –water from the rock. (Numbers 20) Second, the Ten Commandments were taught.
It was the flip side of their NOT happening phase of journey, as they did not move forward. Only with God can we not get consumed in the wilderness of life.
A Happening Life Again:
There are instances where we wanted something new; a new happening yet it never happens. We may plan for it. We wanted to start something new but not given the chance due lack or financial matters or we didn’t meet the right working-partner as yet.
Now, let’s put it this way: We have only life to live; many more things you wanted to do for your family, your church, or for the society. Yet there’s very less thing you can do at your end. We are to learn more of abiding in Christ in this NOT happening life’.
It’s easy to easily get consumed with this thought. I also sometimes feel it, so I knew at some extent. The feeling of being bound by restraint; in certain or many forms can kill us.
But for a person who have hope and trust in the Jesus Christ, it is beyond that. Jesus Christ, during his time here on earth was bounded by all kinds of restraints, hardships, and pain any person could endure.
Yet Jesus Christ had served his purpose; not with a glitzy, comfortable, and luxurious life but as was required of him by his father in heaven.
Holding onto our Faith:
Now, I do not know how and when would these phases of our life ends for good? We can be anxious; we cannot simply tell people not to. But our boring life, in the wilderness; the NOT happening life would end one day.
I believe we would rise up again like the Grass after the rain despite being trampled upon. In that state, when we have nothing to offer other than brokenness, we rely more and spend more time with God. So, take the matter to the Lord.
We must hold onto the faith we profess, for we have a high priest who is able to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, just as we are! (Hebrew 4:14:16) So that, we may receive mercy and find grace to help us, in times of our need.
These times may be hard to endure; but with God it’s possible. As the vines in a bad year we may not produce plenteous fruit, however, our little produce if ever might be worth it.
Life’s happening the most when it’s not happening; if you’re with God. Let the Evil One not consumed us whilst life’s not happening as we wait till it’s happening again, I pray.
With God the flowers will bloom again!
