Friday, October 28, 2005

Who Ordered The Chaos?

This last week I was sharing with a coworker about some of the latest challenges that have presented themselves in our otherwise quiet empty nest. Being a devoted christian and avid gardner she had some Godly advice that was seasoned with down to earth examples from her garden that an old hippie like myself could relate to. I love it when Father talks to his kids in the garden, after all that is where it all began - in his garden.

One of her favorite metaphors about life and its unexpected trials comes from her love of gardening. She asked me if I was familiar with English Gardens and the concept of "Ordered Chaos". I joked about not placing any orders for chaos, how I didn't remember ordering this current situation and I certainly didn't request this super sized order of chaos. After a brief chuckle she went on to explain that "Ordered Chaos" is the term used to describe the way an English Garden is planted. The intent is to recreate a natural looking space, like a small meadow bursting with wild flowers untouched by human hands. The appearance of the garden is chaotic and random but in fact it is planed with great care and it is quite deliberate in its design and execution.

To the observer the English Garden is totally random and without any visible hint of design, just as life's trials can appear seemingly senseless and without purpose. The truth is that there is a designer that has every situation under his control, no matter how horrific the pain or how mind numbing the confusion, the Father loves us and holds us in his hands. Our challenge isn't getting through the chaos, but rather understanding that the chaos isn't so random and senseless. The challenge is to learn to trust God in the depths of darkness knowing that he will bring us through it, hopefully stronger and more compassionate, able to help others in their painful time of chaos.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

We may never understand the reasons for the chaos beyond learning to trust Father in every situation. It is in trusting him that the chaos begins to loose its ability to hide the designers hand.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

3 comments:

Bill Heroman said...

Great analogy about the English Garden. I like that one a lot. We never do know just what He's doing... that 'ordered chaos' thing is at least encouraging. Thanks, Kevin.

By the way, how's the sleep? :)

Hippie Christian said...

Thanks Bill,

Sometimes the Little Princess gets me up at 4am some times she sleeps through to 7am or even as late as 8am... but that smile is worth getting up for at any time! Typing with one hand while holding her works but it isn't so easy - you must have had more experience with it, our first brood was out of the nest before the invention of home PCs.

Peace & Love!
Kevin

Anne said...

I loved the ordered chaos analogy too - great words to hang on to. Kingsjoy sent me to your blog. How nice to meet a fellow Christ follower & old hippie! (Funny how we never used the word hippie back then though - another freak, I should say...)