day 2341: Open Space

But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).  Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.””

A few weeks ago I wrote of the collapse of large-scale bricks and mortar retailers.  Since then, the news has worsened and there is much talk about will happen with all of the empty square footage, especially in high-priced city buildings.  I’m a bit of a skeptic when I see companies like WeWork (co-working space for free-agent workers and start-ups) taking over these AAA rated spaces, because they are so tightly related to the technology boom and busts (I still remember driving to work on 101 South on the morning of March 13, 2000 when the bubble had burst and the panic was setting in). So, we have been at the top before, but we tend to forget what it feels like to slide back to a new bottom. I’m not saying that we need to begin to throw overboard everything not essential, but, when it feels just too good to be true, it probably means it is time to put some capital in reserve and be smart about our investing and spending.  Yes, we don’t want to miss opportunities in front of us, but we also want to be sure that we are not getting ahead of what we can’t control of the future. Open space doesn’t automatically mean that we should move in.

i find the learning of Abraham and his wells to be a good life lesson.  To get to the “Open Space” well of peace and available water (prosperity in that time), he had to dig (literally) through “Argument” and “Hostility” (other translations call this well, “Opposition”). And isn’t that just what happens in our everyday work lives?  No new idea just immediately us accepted when someone springs it on the team.  There is a “process” that occurs with lots of convincing and cajoling needed before everyone says, “Let’s go”.  And in our own lives it can feel that way too.  Just about the time we think we have reached a place in an area of our lives where we want to be, up comes something that can take us back to an argument and opposition, before we finally gets to that “Open space” we so desire.  God’s lesson is also God’s promise.  The story of Abraham and his wells is about his faithfulness and perseverance in his listening to what God told him to do.  If we can follow that example, we will be able to dig ourselves out of, and through all that is on front of us and know that our open space is assured.

Reference: Genesis 26: 20-22 (New Living Translation)

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