Empty and Blank

The Older we get, the less this seems to apply, but imagine a baby born with no consciousness of their present world. No anger, violence, war, politics…pain, suffering, disappointments. In essence, that child is an empty slate just waiting for the input that will build character, personality, language, culture, customs and a host of other items that will define the end product.

It takes a while, but eventually this little baby finds their slate no longer void and empty. It is rapidly filling up with everything fed to it by home, culture and world events.

But let’s not focus on millions of babies born every year, instead, let’s think about the billions of people already alive with a slate full of personality, beliefs, and a history of past negatives that seem to outweigh the positives.

The Good… the Bad… and the downright Ugly.

Think about it. We’ve known for a long time that we store up our teachings, examples and action. What we’ve learned either haunts us, or benefits us. We’ve seemingly always known that we represent what we experience.

“Man that is born of a woman
is of few days, and full of trouble.”
Job 14:1 (KJV)

Perhaps we could adjust our thinking a little and put a fresh thought to work! We have the opportunity to start each morning as Empty and Blank. Last night you prayed for forgiveness, and you forgave others that had wronged you. This morning, that past is history. Time to start fresh.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:21-23 (KJV)

The Lord’s mercy, compassion, faithfulness… truly, anything you can imagine. They start fresh every morning. Just in time for you to start your new day with a blank slate!

This is something we need to learn and comprehend. Every day you have the power to wipe the slate clean from yesterday’s struggles, and face the new day with a fresh slate, cleansed from last night prayers where gave everything over to God! Hold on to yesterday’s woe’s and you have a convoluted challenge to face. Release it. Let it go. Start fresh. Empty and blank.

Michael Gurley