Too close for comfort…

Sitting across the room, Renaissance Man couldn’t believe it. Obviously the hotel room was recently updated, so why didn’t the designer replace the old leather ottoman?

 

I laughed… because I realized what he didn’t:

  • The ottoman wasn’t old; it was brand new
  • The ottoman wasn’t real leather; it was “faux”
  • The ottoman’s significant signs of wear weren’t added over time; they were fabricated in the vinyl
  • The designer thought the “lived-in look” would make guests more comfortable

Did it work?  Not really. Comfort isn’t something you can fake. It either IS–or it ISN’T.

comfortable chair ottoman

 

As dark comes early for many of us these days, our minds turn to comfort.

 

Dropping temperatures send us inside as crackling fires beckon.

 

We place warm throws within easy reach. Aromas of hearty soups waft through the house.

 

Even as holiday preparations occupy our time, our thoughts are subconsciously preparing us to get comfortable–to “settle in” for the Winter.

 

That’s one face of comfort.

 

Those of us who profess to be followers of Christ are promised the presence of the Holy Spirit, also called the Comforter (John 14:26). We are safe and secure in our salvation. But it’s not all about us–and in that realization, another face of comfort appears. The one that reminds us: Our comfort comes with a responsibility. 

 

God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.

~John Henry Jowett

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction,

so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

 

So we comfort those around us–our family, friends, the occasional neighbor. We share from the comfort God has given us. We obey–and it feels “right” and good.  But, if you’re like me, sometimes it just feels like the tip of the iceberg. Like there’s still more to life. Something I’m missing…

 

And then another face of comfort appears. The face that isn’t pleasantly comfortable to view. The face that draws my reluctant self toward it–away from all that is comfortable.

 

 

There’s a part of me eager to see where it leads; the other part of me nervous, terrified of the unknown.

 

But what if it’s true? What if The End of Life As We Know It turns out to be a good thing? A really good thing?

 

The BEST thing, in fact?

 

There’s only one way to find out…

 

What about you? Are you a little too comfortable these days? Are you feeling a little nudge–or a mighty tug–to step out of your comfort zone?

 

To which voice are you listening?

“It’s impossible,” said Pride.

“It’s risky,” said Experience.

“It’s pointless,” said Reason.

Give it a try,” whispered the Heart.

I’m joining Spiritual Sundays at Blogger Spirit.

Comments

  1. We can miss out on so much that God has planned for us if we never take that leap of faith! But, when we trust Him and follow His leading, we’ll discover blessings we never knew would be ours! Thanks for the encouraging post!

    Blessings, Joan