I'd Hate to Burst Your Bubble, Or Maybe I Wouldn't

I enjoy watching Sophia play with bubbles.  For those moments, the world drifts away, and all that exists is laughter and whimsy encased in a sphere.  I have often wondered why God created the bubble.  It appears to serve no purpose other than to create delight.  I know that there are a few people in this world that fear bubbles (although I couldn't find a clinical name for the fear of bubbles), but almost everyone else seems to smile when bubbles are present.

Bubbles are nearly impossible to catch.  Most attempts to capture a bubble end in it bursting.  It is a sad phenomena that can only be erased from memory by the creation of new bubbles.  Thus, the bubble has a symbol of a dream or dreamlike state that allows for momentary displacement of reality.  I suppose that is why the phrase, "I hate to burst your bubble," entered our language.  The speaker is stating that the dreamlike reality in which the listener is living in will come to a close as soon as the sharp point of reality is driven home.

When I watch a bubble floating in the the air, I find myself wondering what would a bubble feel if a bubble had feelings?  Would it find its satisfaction through existing or by accomplishing its purpose?  Granted, it couldn't accomplish its purpose apart from existence, but which would bring the bubble greatest joy: being a bubbling or bring delight?  What if a bubble, upon coming into contact with a frolicking, laughing child, burst with shear delight?  What if, having achieved its purpose, that is bring delight, its joy became so overwhelming that its thin spherical skin could no longer contain it?

By now, you tuned me out as a loon.  I know it is impossible, this side of heaven, to prove the purpose of bubbles.  I know that non-living things don't "feel," and therefore can't experience joy.  Yet, the thought of a bubble bursting, because its joy was uncontainable, makes me think of greater things.  Things that, although they rarely happen, should happen frequently.  What if we creatures, were less concerned about our existence, and more concerned about living out our purpose?

What if it were possible to live in such a way that our joy became uncontainable, and who we are right now ceased to exist, because we were transformed into someone new?  Does that sound far fetched to you?  It shouldn't.  The general thrust, or overarching story, of Scripture leads to the conclusion that mankind was created to know and love God.  Thus, the greatest purpose in human life is to glorify God and to enjoy him.  Humanity can only find genuine fulfillment by making God the center of their life, and pursing him.  To pursue anything other than God, is to pursue an existence that can never accomplish its true purpose.

Life in the kingdom of God, is gained not by pursuit of one's life, but by the yielding of one's life.  To paraphrase Jesus, "If you seek to save your life, you forfeit it.  But, if you give me your life, you will find it."  For some reason, this statement makes me think of bursting bubbles.  The bubble does not exist for its self.  It was created with some other purpose, and only in fulfilling that purpose can it have any meaning.  Like a bubble, we are created for a purpose, and only in fulfilling that purpose can we have any meaning.

Where to Begin

Some days it is so difficult to write. There are so many avenues that could be explored or that need to be explored. But where does one start? The thing most needed isn't always the thing most perceived as needed. Or to put it another way, people don't always know what they need.

We often think we have it all figured out. "Things," we tell ourselves, "have a way of working themselves out." We conclude that there is little we can do to alter the course of the events surrounding us, so we give in and go with the flow.

Or we become paralyzed with guilt for all the things we haven't done, so we don't move forward. We sink like a tea bag into the hot waters of regrets, and watch the colors of life bleed out. We lose our flavor, and feel worn out and used up.

We get trapped in traditions. Our effectiveness is narrowed by the parameters set for us by generation long gone. We favor the traditions of men over the Word of God. The refrain comes, "We have always done it this way." But, is it right, is it biblical. The message is still the same, but the way it is to be applied changes with each generation, for each generation faces unique challenges. But the Word remains true and unchanged.

The trick is learning to discover what are real needs are, and once we find them, learning how to meet them. The gospel does both. When we speak of the good news of Jesus Christ (that Jesus, the God-man lived a sinless life, died an atoning death, rose from the dead, and is now King over all), we not only expose the greatest need (redemption from sin), we expose the great solution (the sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit). Jesus not only saves us from sin, he enables us to become all that he has purposed us to be.