The Perfect Seat

“Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.” ~Augustine~

Aren’t people amazing? They think they can play with fire and not get burnt and move away from the light and still see. As much as we would all like to have that “perfect seat” we never seem to find it. At our family park around the fire pit the chairs constantly seem to be moving. If its not the smoke getting to them, the fact that the fire is too hot or not hot enough sends people around the pit in searching for that “perfect seat.”

The same is true with light. Yesterday as I went for my mid-morning walk with a co-worker someone back at the clinic was busy. An order from the “higher up” was given that all light bulbs needed to be working. The problem with that is the fact that some people didn’t want them working. Years ago we had made peace between those who like it dark and those who like the light. Eventually all had settled into their “perfect seats.”

However, just like that within a matter of minutes the seats of choice were no longer perfect. Old arguments arose once more about headache lights and hurt eyes. In either case whether we chose to sit close to the fire the fire continues to give warmth. Whether we like the lights on or off doesn’t change the wattage of the light itself when it shines.

The same is true with God and our relationship with Him. God is there whether we choose to live closely in the warmth of His love or walk in the brightness of His light or not. We need to be the ones who are willing to adjust our chair to get that “perfect seat.” The seat found near God. The one brightly lit with the rays of His Fatherly love and care. Over the years since the beginning of time we have always viewed the perfect seat as the one right next to God. Only Jesus belongs in that seat. Our seat is the one close by. It may be tattered and torn showing tremendous sign of wear over the years but that doesn’t matter. A seat worn and torn by our struggles in life while on earth that has been trial tested and endurance proofed as we did all we could to keep it near God.

It reminds me now of the song about the old rugged cross. For Christ it was the rugged cross, it was a symbol of suffering and shame. We have our old rugged chair that is the symbol of our suffering and shame endured over time in our quest to be the children God wanted us to be. It has nothing to do with our sufferings for doing wrong and making bad choices but our suffering to remain close to God no matter what the cost.

Eventually destiny has it that we will all be called home and there awaiting us will be God, Jesus, and that “perfect seat.” Oh, it makes me cry just thinking about it. How awesome can you get! It’s awesome to know we all have that opportunity but it starts with us today and how willing we are to adjust our seat here on earth. Adjusting it to stay within the warmth of God’s loving arms and the light of His glory and grace in Jesus. Hot or cold? Light or dark? Which is it going to be?

© 2010 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing