Replace the Balloons with a Banner

UV 1634/10000 Replace the Balloons with a Banner
Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41 v 16
The previous uni-verse stated that we should “thresh the mountains.” Mountains are huge collections of rock and earth dotting the face of the earth. Hence, the word “mountains” is a metaphor for the huge problems, difficulties, crises and challenges we face all through life. The way to deal with the mountains is not to break our heads on it or loose our peace and sense of joy while we confront these but to “ thresh it.” The concept of threshing comes from agriculture and it means to beat the plant to separate the grain from the straw. It implies that as we struggle with all our life’s issues, we discover the true meaning of life.
Our lives are like that of a balloon seller holding different balloons, each marked with the common aspirations of mankind- health, wealth, fame, immortality, pleasure. Each of these balloons will sooner or later burst as the balloon weakens or receives a tiny pin prick. The balloon seller left with all these burst balloons will realize that he too like a balloon one day would give up the air or breathe his last. He then decides that all he has that will last is his inner being or soul. It will last provides he finds a way to connect that soul while he is still breathing with the One who breathed that soul into him. Jesus said, “ I am the way to connect your soul with the Creator. Even if the whole world is lost, you have gained eternity.”
This uni-verse speaks of the process of winnowing after the threshing where the grain is further thrown or fanned in the air to separate the grain from the chaff. It implies that once we have chosen the way to connect with the Creator, we need to focus on separating the important from the less important, the essential from the non- essential. The wind that the Lord sends or the Holy Spirit will purify or refine us of the non –essential in our lives. If we do not willingly participate and speed up the winnowing process of life, we are inviting the whirlwind. The whirlwind will scatter those who are proud and unrepentant. Those who repent and change will find their mountains turn into a fountain of endless joy and peace. The uni-verse ends in a promise of joy –that we shall rejoice and return to the mountain of the Lord. Zion, in contrast to the mountains of sorrow and pain in our lives, is the mountain of the Lord, the joy of the whole earth. Whatever be our circumstance, when we take refuge in the strength, grace and mercy of the Lord, our mountains are levelled out, threshed and winnowed. Whatever be our problem, God is bigger. Whatever be the challenge, the Lord is our helper. Whatever be the sorrow, the Lord is our comfort. We shall glory in the Lord, implying that our victory is total and complete, lacking in no aspect. We have replaced the balloons with the banner of love and victory of the Lord.

Prateep V Philip