Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TOWER (01/16/20)
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TITLE: Crashing Castles | Previous Challenge Entry
By Chiazo Obiudu
01/23/20 -
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“Oh, Oh!” And with these few words, plus a little gibberish, my two year old son, gathered what was left of his crumbling masterpiece and tried again. Perhaps, there was a more promising permutation and combination that would make a tower of plastic cups and plates stand the test of time, or at least, for a few minutes longer.
And before long, he created another one, a bit steadier than the first, and when he was done, he stepped back. And then there was silence again, mostly because the crowd was now watching something else intently, completely distracted by the television. This “crowd” was usually composed of his two older siblings and I (three is officially a crowd, though sometimes, my husband would also be there). Then as in the past, he saw his finished work, believing it was good, he started to cheer. And the crowd was compelled to applaud and cheer too (it was either that or deal with his tears).
This process is normally repeated a few times every day. Whenever one tower tumbled, he would proceed to build another, or create something else using the same materials he had raided from my kitchen shelf, or just completely abandon the whole building project and go find something to throw around.
Kids are great like that. They most times don’t have too many high expectations. They can spend a few minutes building towers and castles which will tumble and crash the next second. They may throw a tantrum for a little while, but before you know it, they are way over it and on to the next thing. Not like many adults, definitely not like me.
I grew up with great expectations for “grown-up” me. In my mind, I had laid out a blueprint for the towering success I would be. My plans were good and they did look impressive on paper. But they did not necessarily fit into God’s plan for my life. And sometimes my motive, which is at the very heart of any plan, was wrong. Just like the builders of the Tower of Babel, I have found that I often made big plans to achieve big goals just to make a name for myself, just for accolades and applause.
Not surprisingly, I have seen some of those plans crumble right before my eyes, like my kid’s tumbling towers. And sometimes like him, I have thrown tantrums. I worried to the point of depression, asking, Why, Oh, Why, won’t my plans work? However, as I grew older and got more mature, I knew I had to let go. I had to turn to God to get His blueprint for my life. For truly, many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the Lord will prevail (Proverbs 19:21).
I am still learning to let go of the bits and pieces of my failed plans, and let God re-design my life according to His will. And I have found that sometimes, he does use those bits and pieces, if we surrender it all to him. Things that might have crushed me in the past, God has the ability to create amazing things from them. When I come to God with an open heart and willing hands, then I can work with Him in creating a true masterpiece, one that has a firm solid foundation, one that will stand the test of time, one that seeks not applause from people or accolades for self, but seeks to return all glory to God.
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Great job with the topic, and good wrap up.
Thank you!
Blessings~
We really do need to use God's bluesman in our lives.
Our lives begin to crumble if we are not in God's plan. Thanks for the reminder.