The other day, a fly got into our house and found its way to a window. It bounced off a couple of times, but then it settled and just sat there. Soon, another fly landed on the outside of the window. It, too, just sat there for a while. I was inside watching them, and I couldn’t help but wonder what, if anything, a fly thinks. Can a fly think? It seemed to me that the inside fly wanted out and the outside fly wanted in.
How many times do we, as humans, think that whatever is on the other side of something must be better than what we have or where we are? Most of the time, we can only guess that something is better. We can’t be sure that it actually is. Paul writes to the Philippians that he “has learned to be content in any state” (Phil 4:11), but to the Corinthians, he writes “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Cor 13:5).
To me, it boils down to the difference between contentment and complacency. When are we supposed to be content with something that is going on in the world and when are we wrongly being complacent? I believe God puts us where we are for a reason, but we need to recognize the reason and try to fulfill our purpose.
I went on a mission trip when I was a teenager, and the Holy Spirit told me, “There is more to life than what you are living.” After that, I delved more deeply into my faith. Life’s circumstances change as we get older, and we have to continually reevaluate what we are supposed to do. For me, this is much easier said than done. I admit that sometimes I am just a fly stuck on a window, not knowing which side is best. I can only pray this popular, but profound prayer. I confess that I never knew it was longer than the first part, but it sure fits with my thoughts and feelings these days.
“The Serenity Prayer”
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can: and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen. (prayer attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971) https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/famous_prayers/god_grant_me_the_serenity.html