Bella Vista is home to several lakes, and I happen to live on Loch Lomond. There is something special about living on the water, even though we only actually see the lake in the winter. We have not cut down all the trees between our house and the shoreline, so in the summer we live in a tree house and in the winter we live on the lake. While this is good for keeping the water free from debris that could wash down our hill into the lake, not everyone would be happy with our lifestyle. However, the birds love the tree, and when the summer temperatures hit three digits the shade is more than welcome.
I find it interesting that I have also participated in a Bible study that was based on how God created life from the chaos of the waters at the beginning of time. While our lake is not chaotic, it is water in its natural surrounding and I wonder if there is a connection between the two. What always captures my attention is that when fall temperatures begin to drop, the water remains somewhat warmer than the air. As I drive down the street and on my way to Town Center, I drive past other lakes as well. A mist gathers above the surface of each of them and becomes very visible as one drives by. While it doesn't take long for the rising temperatures to evaporate the mist, there is that time early in the morning when I see it and think about what its effects are.
In a way, it prevents me from seeing what God has created. Yes, perhaps the Bella Vista lakes are the result of mankind here in the village damming the areas now filled with water, but lakes as an entity have been with us since the beginning of creation. Out of the seas came creatures which evolved and lived upon the land, from those that crawled to those who walked on four legs and ultimately upright on two. If we read about those things that walked and eventually that became man, it is a fascinating process. I realize that not everyone accepts that same philosophy regarding how we evolved, but eventually we did. Here we are today, a humanity that lives, breathes, talks and develops relationships with others and with God. How it happened doesn't matter a great deal to me. I am more focused on where I am now and how to deal with who and what I am.
I know while I may not be able to see the water through the mist, if I walk down to the shoreline and look closely I can see the lake. The closer I get, the clearer my vision becomes. Interestingly, the more time I spend with God, the clearer my vision becomes. If I can get closer to Him and see what He has created -- and hopefully what He wants for me and from me -- I will be a better Christian. I also know that while there is not always harmony between the creatures of His world, including mankind, there is a place for all of us. Over time, some creatures have become enemies, including killing and eating each other. And unfortunately, humanity hasn't done much better since we too have killed each other -- usually for power. We want to be in charge and only those who share our ideas and philosophies are welcome in our world.
I believe that is not the ultimate plan God has for us. By coming to know the message of Jesus and His father, we can grow closer to each other as we grow closer to Him. We cannot always see the whole picture; for just as the mist can obscure our vision of the physical world, our attitudes can obscure our vision of what God wants of us. It is not always about us or what we desire. We can learn from others, grow in our relationships both with God and with humankind. There is a beauty in learning from others, in opening our hearts and minds to who and what they are, and seeing God in their lives just as we see Him in ours. It is a good thing for me to remember that beneath the mist is the true meaning of life.
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Jan Burgess moved to Bella Vista in 1995. She considers each day a gift -- although some are more fun to open than others. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Community on 11/02/2016