Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 1344 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
The Guardrails of Life – Meditation Monday
Wisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1344 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy.
For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you, too, will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.
This may appear a stupid question to consider, but what are the purposes of guardrails alongside the road? Let us consider…
The Guardrails of Life
Come along with me on a road trip in your mind, and ponder for a moment the following scenario...Say we are driving along a curvy mountain road on a snowy day, and you suddenly lose control and smash into the guardrail, which damages the front of your car and leaves a big scrape down the side before you come to a stop. As you get out and look over the situation and assess the damage to your car, you peer over the guardrail and see a steep 1000 foot drop on the other side with a raging river at the bottom.
What would your reaction be? Would you curse the guardrail for ruining your car? I doubt that many of us would have that thought, but instead, we would be abundantly thankful for the guardrail, for sure. It saved your life. The car can always be fixed or replaced, which is only a temporary inconvenience in comparison to losing your life.
Life serves up a lot of unexpected and, most of the time, unwanted challenges. How do we view them? Do we curse the guardrail, or are we thankful for its salvation? In many unexpected problems, we look only to the short term inconvenience instead of the long term blessings. Just as I have experienced financial crises that impacted us significantly and severe illness of our very young granddaughter, maybe you have experienced what seems like a tragedy in your life. Perhaps for you, it was a lost job, a failed marriage, a chronic disease, bankruptcy, unfulfilled dreams, accidental death in the family, or deep betrayal of a close friend or loved one.
In those circumstances, it is easy to lash out and blame God or others. Even when it seems your world is falling apart, it is helpful to try and look at the big picture. Cursing your circumstances, or God, is like cursing the guardrail that saved you from something much worse. Take comfort in knowing that God loves you, and that even though circumstances can be excruciating, He will see you through the hard times. Romans 8:18 tells us, "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later." If we explore that passage further, it gives us more insight. Although Romans 8:28 is many times misquoted or taken out of context, when we take into consideration the verses that surround it, we can understand it better.
Let me read Romans 8:26-30.
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
What are some ways God uses our trials and tragedies? He will strengthen and support us through and after. 1 Peter 5:10 is one way that says, "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." Suffering also teaches us as in Psalm 119:71, "My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees."
No, testings and trials are never easy, but we must remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty. Whatever the test you are going through, let it propel you to search for the strength and reassurance that can be found in God’s Word. Don’t curse the guardrail, rather praise it. It may cause some temporary pain and suffering, but that same guardrail protects you from what could be much more damaging.
That is a wrap for today’s meditation. Next week we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
If you would like to listen to any of the past 1343 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.
As we take this trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow!