The Slot Machine

I went to a certain mall a few days ago. It was one of those plush malls you’d either find in New Delhi or in Gurgaon and, if you were that eager, in New York too! This time it was in another city, the name of which begs anonymity, and so I shall leave it and be accommodating to the plea. Nonetheless, I shall elaborate upon a small experience in our mall which left an indelible impact on my life. Gave me a perspective, few things have ever given; an analogy to use when I’d need to explain my stand…rather our stand!

Well, I’d never seen a slot machine for beverages and chocolates, much less used one, before this time! Anyway, thrilled at the opportunity of using such a tech., my tech savvy lunged at it! The machine panel read “Insert four Rs.5 coins and press the button for your choice of beverage”. I obliged. I drew out the coins and thrust them into the slot, pressed the button against the ‘coke’ option and out popped a coke! Boy thrilled was I!
I had money, I loved the thrill (comparatively smaller though) and another coke would have done me no wrong till the time I had it! so out came another 20 bucks and this time, pop! came the Mirinda!

I was flushing with excitement – I could care any less about the people watching me, looking at the machine like a cave man! I winked at them and continued checking out the machine closely. Guess I had my “Eureka!” momen when I found a chocolate bar slot too…Whoa! Whoever said only girls could love a mars bar! Anyway, I brought out another ten bucks and thrust it in (to the machine) for the double thrill of a mars bar and the already waning experience of the slot machine – out came the bar and I gobbled it up without wasting no time, lest I’d have to share it with my friends who had no idea, whatsoever, of where I was. I moved away realizing I’d sent my wallet spinning and wasted more than much time fiddling around for the ‘thrill’!

While walking back to the curb and to my home something ticked-off a thought in me…“over the years I have become so self obsessed, narcissistic in the way I treat myself. Everything I do, is about three people only 'I, Me and their sister, Myself'. Every thing that I say is so much more about me. Every thought I think is so much soaked in hedonism. Over the years I have turned God into an object, a cosmic bell-boy who comes down at every ring-of-the-bell, A dog who’s chained out in the cozy doghouse of my heart only to be released when I want to play with him! A SLOT MACHINE , I throw in the coins of my ‘praise’, ‘ worship’, ‘sacrifice’ to get the mars bar or the coke can of success, fame, girls (for ladies: do I need to tell you replace this with Boys?), money and other fleeting stuff that is seemingly enjoyable!"

But this God is no Slot Machine – He’s like the Father who’d give E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G He has/had for His child, to protect, care, nurture and love him/her. One who longs to form a relationship with you, to spend time with you, to hear from you – your pain, the longing, struggles and share in your happy times too!
But we have turned Him into a machine – we’ve called Him Dead, if nothing else!
If we long for Him, He will draw near to us;
"His friendship is a thousand days better than every brand’s, mom & dad’s and every friend we've ever had!"
God is not dead.
Bless You.
TM

P.S. "When we can't piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together." ~ Amethyst Snow-Rivers