Laziness

It was on a late Friday night, the wind was sweeping the snow into the streets of a small village in the Canadian Prairies. It was more than chilly, it was bitter. For the last several days the snow kept falling down almost unceasingly, but that night, the sky was totally clear; at last it was not snowing anymore. As I walked out the dorm I quickly ran to the main building of the school and went through it to get to the street, I could have walked outside, but I wanted to take with me every particle of warmth I could before heading home. Again I hit the cold wind as I left the building and started to run on the sidewalk, well aware that I could easily slip and fall because of the thick layer of ice under my feet and the snow that was pilled up high here and there on my path, but it was rude, harsh weather so I ran. As I crossed the street I looked up and what I saw literally stopped me from running and even walking. For about 10 second, there in the middle of the street, I stared at this big, strong orange, full moon. The sky in the Prairies is different than anywhere else and at some times, one can witness beauties. I felt compelled to keep on walking, I had run for a while and now I was wasting my time in the cold. So I continued on my way. As I stumbled through the snow in the street, I thought that I should take a picture of that moon. But doing that required me to go back in the cold after getting my camera at home. So I turned down my own idea. Still breathing the freezing air, I started to think about laziness.

I thought myself to be lazy for not daring to spend more than the minimum amount of time I was obligated to, that is my 5 minute walk from the school to my home. I’d be nice to have a picture of this gorgeous moon, but I was too lazy in my pursuit. A picture in this case isn’t a big deal, but it made me think about my laziness in general.
People are always finding news ways to make our lives easier and painless. Just look at your computer (that you think is slow), or your phone, or television or… all of these were made in part so human beings would communicate quickly and easily when apart. Think about your car or the toilet or food mixer or… all of that, so we’d be able to live and work in ways that are more comfortable. And that’s neat, I believe human are extremely intelligent beings and that’s to the glory of God.
I guess I’m just used to find ways to do my work as quickly as possible with the best tools I can get so it’s easy. I guess I’m used to be warm, so it’s hard to stay in the cold. I am used to have electricity and running water and my schedule and… It’s good, but the thing is that when something happen, when I want to take a picture in the cold or when I need to go outside to get some more lugs of wood to heat the house or shovel the driveway instead of using the neighbor’s “blowing machine”, or when I’m asked to wash the dishes when it’s not my turn or… You know, anytime you’re not in your comfort zone… Well when that stuff happens, are we quick to get up and do the work or walk one more mile in the snow or stay up or get up early? Most of the time, I find myself doing these things with frustration or very slowly to show my disagreement and etc.
I feel that we are lazy. Apart from a few individuals who have the heart of servants, we hardly run to help or do things that aren’t required but would be nice to do. I guess, it’s partially not “our” fault. We grew up in a world where everything is always perfected for our comfort, so we want to be comfortable and have it all as easy as possible. But really, this is not an excuse for being lazy.
I think that our problem, or my problem, is a lack of love, a lack of passion. When I think about it, if I would have a friend who loves moons, it would have been easy for me to go home and go back in the cold and take a picture for my friend. It’s easy for me to do things I usually don’t like, to help someone I love, I am never lazy when asked for a favour from a friend. Why? Because I love the person, so it’s easy… I’m not sure how it works though. So I wonder, what am I telling the people, what am I telling God when I am slow to help my brothers and sisters when they need help, thinking that others can help them? What does it say about me when I have a hard time doing things differently for someone else’s sake? I am simply spelling the phrase “Gabe has little love for you” to these people.

I pray that I am becoming more and more eager to help and do things for others, that I don’t wait for someone else to fill the blank spot on the “Need Volunteers” sheet. I want to be challenged every day to work and live in ways that will show people their worth because they are God’s creation.

BANK FOR NATIVE MISSIONARIES: 25$ / as of March 18, 2006.
On March 29th I will send the gift to Gospel for Asia and ask them to buy a KEROSENE LANTERN @ 29$ - Please consider providing for the lacking 4$ to help a native missionary in need of light when it’s dark outside and needs to find his way home or show a gospel track or some verses to people without Jesus. Thank you again to those who contributed already this month.