Ashes

Isaiah 44

Yes, they're what we're made of. But our sights should be so much higher...

Instead, amongst the ashes of our human solutions come to naught we still search for direction, seemingly unconscious of the light above and before us. Like the poor man of Isaiah 44:46, we chop down a tree, start a little fire, cook a bit of lunch, and say: "Aha, I am warm..." Yes, for just this one moment... 

Don't get me wrong, we must turn to ashes... But then what?

When it was all over he scraped up the residue and made a god. We make plans, set standards, and formulate our norms... And then we wonder why we're still not satisfied. 

How can we be?

Oh Jesus, teach us to look only to You...