Forgotten

“And He said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’” (Mark 8: 21).

Christ Leaving the Praetorium (Limbourg Brothers)

So many times, in my life – even at the hardest and most difficult of times – I encounter miracles.

Now, my real problem is that when I see a miracle – when it stares me in the eye, so to speak – I very, very often fail to recognise it for what it is.

After all, miracles come in all shapes and sizes.  The very fact that I am alive today and writing this is – in itself – a miracle.  It is evidence that God has allowed me to continue to live on this Earth.  While I am here, others have breathed their last breath or are going to breathe their last breath even before I have finished writing this passage.

And that is just considering life itself.  We have also to consider how many marriages are still intact because of the miracles provided by God.  How many children have grown into wonderful adults despite so many challenges, only through the Grace of God?

And yet – even despite all of this – it seems that there are no miracles for me…

And I have been thinking of this as I have been thinking of the Gospel…  “Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ And they discussed it with one another, saying, ‘We have no bread.’ And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ And he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’” (Mark 8:14-21).

And there was Christ – speaking to His followers twenty centuries ago, and here I am, giving Him the same grief…

He had multiplied the loaves and fish, He had cured the blind the deaf, the dumb and the lame, He had cast out evil spirits, He had even raised people from the dead – and still His followers doubted Him.  And the same applies to me.  I have witnessed God doing all of those things in my own life – every single day.  And then as soon as something difficult crosses my path, I immediately doubt Him.  I immediately think to myself, “Oh No.  God has deserted me.”

And today, as I reflect on that, it occurs to me that there is so much more that I could be doing to show my Lord and God that I trust Him – and that I have not forgotten all that He has done and is doing and will do for me in my life, just because He loves me more than I could ever understand…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.