How does one embrace emptiness in a world that values fullness?
Full schedules,
full closets,
full bellies,
full homes—everything screams for more.
We are a people who finds no satisfaction in voids. But it’s the inherent emptiness in each of us that leads us to the rabid search for more. The search to fill the empty places plunges us along a spiraling staircase of relationships, achievements, trinket collections, power-seeking, misuse, and self-neglect only to discover that what we obtained only quenched our thirst momentarily. And after the curtain closes, I am right back where I began sitting on empty.
Linking with Gypsy Mama for 5-Minute Friday
I liked both this post and your one on Bare but not Barren. I am a collector of “things”–they meant identity yet they never fill. Only the “things” that I have been blessed with fill, and at times can empty, but they remind me that things from above are the only things worth thirsting after.
Hi SnipeWife, certainly there is nothing wrong with things as long as we keep them in their proper place. Reminds me of the A-Z Scripture Memory verse for the letter E. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. All that we accumulate comes from Him but there is a place only He can fill.
To have the feeling of emptiness in one’s life is not ro be reccommended.
I try to fill my time doing things and planning ahead so I have something to look forward to.
Spiritual emptiness is a different matter altogether, One can never feel empty with the Good Lord in their lives.
Yvonne.
While I do understand the point you are making Yvonne, I think we do ourselves a disservice when we always fill our lives with activities, things, etc. There are moments I need to empty out all the noise and cease all the activities so that I might really get full of Him. Finding a balance with doings and quietness is important I think.
I love this post. It resonates truth. We do live in a world that values fullness and the pursuit of more. Empty spaces are good places to dwell. When we empty our hearts, we allow God to be our fulfillment. And then we are whole.
Thank you Joan. The pursuit of more leaves us miss out on the best things in life.
I got a little teary reading this. My favorite aunt, who was probably the most content person I ever encountered, use to go around the house singing a song, which played in my mind as I read this:
Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
“Draw from my well that never shall run dry”.
Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more–
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
Today, this is my prayer, that we are filled and whole and content and satisfied.
I never knew all the lyrics to that song but I remember the bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more part. When we are full of Him, it leaves little room for substitutes for sure.
So true! I have tried to fill the emptiness with so many other “empty” things. Thankful that God is always there… always waiting for me to come back and let Him fill the void.
Yes, He allows to go on our hopeless pursuit only to find find that it was He thought we were actually seeking.
Such powerful truth made abundantly clear, Wanda. Over the past ten years or so God has been convinced me of the emptiness of “things” and prompted me to “weed out”. Recently, I have again felt Him urging me to “weed out” an area of my life–my time. He is teaching me what is “fluff” and what is vital. Great post, my friend.
Oh Pam, I have been hearing the call to do away with some of the stuff I have been clinging onto. Nothing wrong with the stuff but just need to make room. Fluff can fill up so much of our time that we have very little for the essentials.
You described today’s business so well….I have not thought of emptiness before
Not something I think about a lot either Kim.
Dear Wanda,
You expressed that quiet well. When I saw this week’s word empty, I too thought we are anything but empty, especially in this country. Too often we fill any void or emptiness with things that will never satisfy, only to leave us feeling empty again. Praise God that He alone can give us the Living Water that will quench our thirst. Blessings…Susan
Amen! I strive to fill my life with God, for without Him, I will always be empty. Many may ask, “How do you fill your life with God?” Well, I try to look at people, places, things and situations through the eyes of Christ…what would He say, feel, go, do…? This keeps me in communion with the Lord and living my life to its fullest. Thank you, for this post. Blessings!