Dichotomy

I was driving home from work today and realized that it's actually light out at 5pm. That brought joy to my heart, thinking each day from now until June 21st will be a little bit lighter later than the one before. As I admired the beautiful pink/blue sky horizon, I realized that you cannot realize the importance of something until you understand its opposite. Imagine if it was always dark out (half the year in parts of Alaska), then when you would see the sun it would be a joyous occasion, because of what you knew you had been missing. And the same thing if it was always sunny out. Once you had a glimpse of darkness, you would be happy with the change.

I realize how much I love the summer heat after four months of below freezing weather and snow in Central New York, even though in the middle of the hot summer, I'd rather it be snowing.

Farmers realize the need for rain after a long drought, and the need for sun, after lots of rain flooding their crops.

Although, God our creator made the world and saw that it was "good," he also allowed for free will. Within his created world, angels (like the devil who fell from grace) and humans had the freedom to be disobedient and "bad." God wanted us to choose Him. He didn't want to force Himself on us.

How would we know what God's goodness was all about unless we first knew what it wasn't. God's first interaction with humans provide us with that chance.

"And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:16-17

He told us what to do and what not to do. It wasn't until Adam and Eve made the wrong choice that they realized what the right choice truly was.

God gave the 10 Commandments to the people of Israel to help them realize that doing certain things are AGAINST the laws of God. In order to help people understand His laws, He told them when not to do. "Thou shall not..."

But just because you have two options doesn't mean each one has to be experienced.

I don't know if I have any real points with this. I think in the end it's just important to remember that when you're really annoyed with something think of the reasons why it exists in the first place.

Rain nourishes plants to grow, as does a hot sun. And although some things are "wrong" or "evil", they help us realize what is truly important. Think of all the horrible moments (9-11, earthquakes, hurricanes) that force us to look at our lives and what's truly important.

Let me digress a little further, for each thing that takes our thoughts off God, imagine if we were forced to only think of God 24/7. Instead God gives us the freedom to put Him first. He puts the desire for Him in our heart so we'll want him and strive to be closer to Him. Everything we find beauty in, everything we feel we're lacking, and everything we feel we need to be complete, is an internal desire to be closer to God and reconcile that relationship in our soul.

Thank you God for the rain, for the sun, for our freedom, and for the desire to be close to you in our hearts.