Those Teaching Ants

While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us.

―2 Corinthians 5:4

In all my years I have never seen a time when death was so frequently the default solution.

Just in the last few days we’ve witnessed two young men with strong political convictions who felt that the solution was to kill others who had strong convictions on the other side of the issue. And one of the young men baked into his solution killing himself as well. So tragic! Unfortunately this is an all too common scenario in these troubled times.

There’s a better way: Let us choose life!

Yes, death is a realty and all of us will eventually have to face it. But until then: live.

Enjoy your life – even with the aches and pains and tribulations and trials. Remember, God gave you your body to live in. To be alive is to have a chance, to hope, to believe that things can be better, that there is something more to do, that there is something more to experience, to give, and to contribute.

The book of Proverbs informs us that we can learn from the ant. Isn’t that something? Those little creatures scurrying around doing whatever it is that ants do. But one thing is clear – they are alive.

The other day I was walking on the driveway and saw a few heading somewhere. They were right in my path but I was listening to the chapter of the day from Proverbs with my earbuds and the narrator had just quoted: Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! (Proverbs 6:6, NLT)

(Coincidence or God teaching me something?)

There they were – those busy little living ants – right in my path, the shortest path to where I was going. What to do? The word lazybones poked me and the answer presented itself crystal clear: Choose life. So I inconvenienced myself and added a few steps to my journey and stepped around them.

I know…it’s a very simple little thing, but compound a lifetime of little decisions of choosing life; think how much better your life and the lives of those around you could be.

The ONE THING for today: Life is not supposed to be easy in this fallen world, but it is supposed to be lived. Be an advocate for life today. And while you’re doing it – live fully yourself!