Happened today quite by chance, to see the 1998 film Simon Birch, directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Based on the novel A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, the film stars Ian Michael Smith as Simon, Joseph Mazzello as Joe, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt and Jim Carrey as the grownup Joe. The titular role is that of the 12 year old kid who is afflicted with Morquio syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism.
Well, I'm not here to narrate the entire plot of the movie. You can just browse anywhere on the web for related info. I'm planning just to quickly excerpt the bead of thought that caught my attention.
Simon Birch: Does God have a plan for us?
Rev. Russell: I like to think He does.
Simon Birch: -Me too. I think God made me the way I am for a reason.
Rev. Russell: Well, I'm glad that, um, that your faith, uh, helps you deal with your, um...you know, your, your condition.
Simon Birch: That's not what I mean. I think I'm God's instrument - that He's gonna use me to carry out His plan.
We are, where and how we are, on a plan sketched by God. One may not always see anything reasonable enough to be happening as good for ourselves. Dropping the teabag, jabbing not the carrot but the thumb, missing a train, failing the important interview, turning a direction unseen or unexpected. All might not work well for us always. Those instances should recall us of Simon's words that we are indeed becoming "God's instruments". What a privilege! Your mischances may open up doors of chances for the probably more deserving others. The train you missed may have fetched an unseen blessing on time. God knows when to give you anything and when not. If only you'd try opening the precise location of your memory, you'd start counting the array of blessings that come your way every second. Now, do not again shed tears for what's happening of you albeit negative or shattering. Share a SMILE instead, for God's sharpening you -His instrument- to conduct His mighty plans.
Quite possible it is that this thought might have reached you in some sermon or any enlightening talk. I don't however mind a slight repetition, if it'd recall you of this familiar idea. I believe I'm God's instrument too. That's how you came across this and are reading till this word.
Thanks. God bless.
Very true. It is said that he the silversmith puts you in fire and watches... I recall that saying often and it fills me with the hope of turning myself into a beautiful ornament because that is what I've been put into fire for!!
ReplyDeleteWhat you said is true..I liked the last paragraph. I've heard this before..but as you said I will never mind a repetition..hope to see the film sometime...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, friends.
ReplyDeleteVineet, You reminded me of a story, the author of which is anonymous. Just thought of adding it here :)
There was a group of women in a Bible Study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. "This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.
She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, how do you know when the silver is fully refined? He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Be blessed!