The Pendulum in the Hands of the Master
People tend to think that because I am an antique dealer, I know everything about antiques. Right down to the name, maker and date of an item. I hate to disappoint everyone, but I do not.
Take for example this clock I purchased for $1.00. I knew it was valuable, but didn't know how much so until I researched the maker, Gustav Becker. A master clock maker from Germany. Also adding to the value was the discovery that it had its original pendulum.
A friend astutely observed, recently, that I was living in a sort of temporary "pendulum". She encouraged me to write down the blessings and graces that were evident in the good times so that I could remind myself of them when the pendulum swung to the bad.
So this got me thinking, "what possible purpose could a pendulum serve in the hands of God to work in my life"? "What sort of tool is this"? After minimal research, I found that even the experts have a hard time defining it (more likely its that I am having a harder time grasping it). Here are a few definitions that I found:
"A pendulum plays a critical role in governing a clock by using the force of gravity to provide a regular beat or tick tock and force the movement to release the power from the spring or weight in a slow and controlled manner. In effect it controls the rate at which the wheels in the train turn. For instance in the case of a weight driven clock if you remove the pendulum the clock weight would take over and the wheels would revolve at high speed and the hands turn very fast as there would be no control over the escapement."
"The pendulum, as it swings, releases the power from the movement at a set rate."
Slow and controlled manner. Set rate. Steady. Measured. If the pendulum is too long, or too short, the clock will not tick accurately. Remove the pendulum, no control over the escapement.
Perhaps the pendulum is not so much of a tool, but a reminder to me. The Master. Setting the pace of my trials. My blessings. Sovereign. Loving. Wise. Perfect. Peace. Bringing good and bad. For my good and His glory. Fashioning time, to fashion my heart. He does the work. And I must trust.
"Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?" Lamentations 3:37~38
"then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials..." 2 Peter 2:9
Take for example this clock I purchased for $1.00. I knew it was valuable, but didn't know how much so until I researched the maker, Gustav Becker. A master clock maker from Germany. Also adding to the value was the discovery that it had its original pendulum.
A friend astutely observed, recently, that I was living in a sort of temporary "pendulum". She encouraged me to write down the blessings and graces that were evident in the good times so that I could remind myself of them when the pendulum swung to the bad.So this got me thinking, "what possible purpose could a pendulum serve in the hands of God to work in my life"? "What sort of tool is this"? After minimal research, I found that even the experts have a hard time defining it (more likely its that I am having a harder time grasping it). Here are a few definitions that I found:
"A pendulum plays a critical role in governing a clock by using the force of gravity to provide a regular beat or tick tock and force the movement to release the power from the spring or weight in a slow and controlled manner. In effect it controls the rate at which the wheels in the train turn. For instance in the case of a weight driven clock if you remove the pendulum the clock weight would take over and the wheels would revolve at high speed and the hands turn very fast as there would be no control over the escapement."
"The pendulum, as it swings, releases the power from the movement at a set rate."
Slow and controlled manner. Set rate. Steady. Measured. If the pendulum is too long, or too short, the clock will not tick accurately. Remove the pendulum, no control over the escapement.Perhaps the pendulum is not so much of a tool, but a reminder to me. The Master. Setting the pace of my trials. My blessings. Sovereign. Loving. Wise. Perfect. Peace. Bringing good and bad. For my good and His glory. Fashioning time, to fashion my heart. He does the work. And I must trust.
"Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?" Lamentations 3:37~38
"then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials..." 2 Peter 2:9
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