Fireflies and Stars

Last night, as I walked the dog, I was mesmerized by the twinkling in the sky and in the fields. I was torn as to which to gaze upon. The air was sweet and warm, still fresh from spring - not yet mature as summer - beautiful all the same. The fireflies that sparkled through the fields were bright and new to the earthly evening, but the stars that shone their light were (are) ancient in comparison...Steadfast, their light shines.

New and old, steadfast and wavering, fresh and mature. It would seem that 'comparison' was the theme of my night.

Do you compare for the sake of tearing down or do you compare for the sake of understanding and thus building up?

16"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.' 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions." ~Matthew 11

It is kind of an odd question, but really, when you think about it, many of us compare ourselves or things/others only to impose our perceived self-sense of superiority, which is destructive in nature. In the scripture mentioned above, Jesus is commenting on the state of the generation at the time and the inconsistency of their thinking...Ironically, that generation and our generation can be compared in the same way. We too are inconsistent in our thinking and understanding of God's Truth. And like the generation of old, we are challenged by Jesus' words to abandon our cynicism and skepticism and have faith in Him. We are challenged to leave the comfort of cocooning ourselves with arrogance and humble ourselves, gain truth and understanding, and to live with faith in Him....and build each other up.

Tear down...build up....But wisdom is proved right by her actions.