IS THE NEW WATER TOWER IN BROKEN ARROW LEANING? OR JUST AN OPTICAL ILLUSION?
Once upon a time in the charming town of Pisa, Italy, the townspeople gathered for a grand celebration. They had just finished building a beautiful, tall bell tower next to their cathedral.
The entire town was buzzing with excitement—until someone noticed something odd. The tower, instead of standing proudly upright, was tipping ever so slightly to one side.
The tower leaned four degrees to the left. This was the result of an unstable foundation which could not properly support the structure’s weight, or the architect pressed the ‘ITALICS’ key on accident.
“Mama mia!” cried the mayor. The townspeople tried everything to straighten it out. They pushed, they pulled, they even tried propping it up with spaghetti noodles.
Some blamed the leaning on the town’s annual pizza-eating contest, claiming all the extra weight shifted the ground. Others insisted it was because Pisa’s pigeons always perched on the same side.
The townspeople decided to embrace the lean, and soon tourists flocked from all over the world to see the famous tilting tower.
People took silly photos pretending to hold it up or kick it over.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa became the most famous “oops” in architectural history. The townspeople, now experts in creative problem-solving, continued to enjoy their pasta, pizza, and pigeons—always with a slight tilt to the left, just in case.
Now my city has erected a nearby water tower which strangely resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It appears to tilt. I call it “The Eileen Tower of BA.”
Is it an optical illusion? City officials say the tower is completely vertical and blame the perceived tilt on the sloping terrain around the site. I guess the problem is the Leaning Landscape.
The water tower looks like me—about to give up and give in to gravity.
My vision must be four degrees off to the left. Every year, our Christmas tree leans to the left.
Early in my marriage, I hung a large picture in our living room. My handyman skills were on full display to impress my new bride. Instead of relying on my male intuition, I used a measuring tape, pencil mark, hammer, nail, and level.
My wife was not amazed. “It is leaning to the left.”
Tilted left. I rearranged the wire hanger. As I stepped back, the picture swung upside down. I think it was a critique of my skill set. I straightened it again. I announced to the empty room, “Perfect.”
Vicki entered and stopped in her tracks, just as museum visitors do when they see a famous painting. She did not say a word, seemingly spellbound at the magnificence of my handiwork.
She quietly removed the picture and the nail. She stepped back staring at the barren wall. I stood there ready to offer all the necessary tools including my Swiss army knife.
With the patience of a saint and the precision of a NASA engineer, she marked a spot on the wall. She put in the nail and hung the picture.
When she stepped back, the painting was so centered that even the furniture seemed to applaud.
Oh, I measured. I thought it was slightly leaning to the left. It hung in perfect symmetry.
The girl is gifted. Throughout all our years, she hangs every picture. Picture Perfect.
On one occasion, she stuck a gold-star sticker on my chest in gratitude for me not trying to help.
In college, I built a Leaning Tower of Pizzas. My roommate described it as lean cuisine.
I also routinely stacked books, papers, and cups of coke on my desk. One night I must have leaned into my studies too hard. I stared in frozen fear as the pile of books began to slowly tilt, sliding further and further, like some slow-motion disaster movie.
As I reached out to stop it, the entire tower of textbooks crashed down, sending the Coke spilling over my term paper. I was so depressed that all I wanted to do was lean my head on my arm and stare into space. That went on for so long I had to change arms.
That pretty much sums up most of my life.
Lean to the left and then lean to the right.
Thankfully I am also a Learner as well as a Leaner.
The #1 Textbook has advice for leaners and learners.
“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; LOOK TO GOD IN ALL YOUR WAYS, AND HE WILL ALWAYS POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION” (PROVERBS 3:5-6).
What about you? Do you lean into cultural changes or lean on the Rock of Ages? What would others say? What would be the report from a heavenly plumbline? Are you leaning on the everlasting arms of God? Or are you an optical illusion?
In a world that is constantly changing, where trends, opinions, and values shift with the tides of society, the importance of leaning on God and one’s convictions based on God’s Word cannot be overstated.
Convictions—deeply held beliefs and principles—form the bedrock of truth to guide decisions, inspire courage, and provide emotional stability in turbulent times. Leaning on God’s Word is about maintaining integrity, purpose, and authenticity amidst pressure to conform to the latest cultural whims.
The #1 Textbook serves as a moral compass to navigate complex situations with clarity and confidence. This enables one to face ethical dilemmas or peer pressure equipped to make choices that align with true values, rather than succumbing to external influences.
This is where character is forged and direction in life has purpose. Leaning on God becomes the anchor that holds firm amid the storms of change, the spark that ignites courage, and the foundation upon which authentic relationships are built.
Life is filled with moments of joy, sorrow, uncertainty, and hope. We can lean on God’s Word for wisdom, comfort, guidance, and stability.
Moreover, leaning on God’s Word helps us endure hardships, understanding that God has a greater and better plan, even when circumstances appear bleak.
Learn to Lean on God. Trust God’s Word. You will find strength for today and bright hope for all your tomorrows.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern society, cultural norms and values are constantly shifting. This drift can manifest in various aspects of life, affecting individuals, families, and entire communities in profound ways.
One of the primary dangers of moving away from God’s Word is the erosion of absolute moral standards. The #1 Textbook provides clear guidelines on what is right and wrong, serving as a moral compass for every person in every age of time.
Lean on this timeless and unchanging truth. God is always with us and for us.
Without a solid foundation, individuals will lean on base personal preferences or societal trends shaped by the changing winds of culture. They will struggle with issues of identity, self-worth, and existential despair. The substituted pursuit of material success or fleeting pleasures always fails to provide lasting fulfillment, resulting in widespread anxiety, depression, and hopelessness.
Our culture is leaning, from its towers to its trenches. The plumbline of current culture assures us all is as it should be. Things are properly aligned even though they appear leaning right or unbalanced on the left.
Is it just an optical illusion? Are straight and true now in the eyes of each beholder?
I know what I see in our culture. It is definitely not an optical illusion or a tourist attraction leaning four degrees to the left.
My natural inclination is to complain, criticize, and condemn. I want to respond with peacetime apathy or warlike hatred.
What about you? Are you concerned? Afraid? Judgmental? Hopeless?
The present leaning tailspin toward worldliness and cultural Christianity should not surprise us. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). God’s rightful ownership will be manifested at His appointed time.
Until then, what should we do? We wait, not passively or cynically. We weep. We pray. We shine as lights in the darkness. We use our platforms of influence for love and for good.
This is not about leaning politically to the left or to the right. We do not own or rule our culture. We serve its people with love for God and love for them. Our goal and actions are dedicated to illumination, not domination.
God accepts anyone and everyone with a love that changes one’s desire and direction in life. We must do the same. Let us commit to be learners and lovers who LEAN on God and LIVE in God’s Word.
The #1 Textbook gives us light to navigate the tidal waves of changing culture.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; look to God in all your ways, and he will always point you in the right direction.”
- Who is the Lord? God is the eternal Creator and everlasting ruler of this universe and each one of its inhabitants.
”In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that—and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison—you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud, you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you” (C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity).
Do you realize what a mystery and what a wonder it is that the self-existent, self-sufficient God who is so above us and beyond us is the God who comes down to us and talks with us and makes himself known to us?
- What is trust? Trust involves reliance on God’s character and promises. It means believing that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised. Trust is not merely an intellectual agreement but a deep-seated confidence that influences actions and decisions (Jerry Bridges).
Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us.
Trust is faith in God’s unfailing love and unending faithfulness.
- Trust…with all your heart, entirely and exclusively. How?
- DO NOT LEAN on your own understanding or rely on your own insight.
That does not mean you do not think or make good decisions. It does mean you saturate your thinking and navigate your decisions in life relying on God’s wisdom.
God-given wisdom allows you to see life from God’s perspective and live life according to God’s playbook.
- In all your ways and with all your heart acknowledge God. Live God’s way in God’s world. Lean on God. Learn from God.
- and God will make your paths straight. There is a God-designed path for your life. There will be rough spots and potholes, but you will never go wrong if you stay on the pathway that leads straight to the goal.
God does not provide a full map of your life from beginning to the end of this earthly journey. God points to the path step-by-step. Trust God to guide you.
BE A LEARNER AND LEAN ON GOD.
- “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this” (Psalm 37:5).
- “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:4).
- “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me” (Psalm 28:7).
- “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and I am not afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4).
Leaning on God for spiritual encouragement is a fundamental aspect of our faith journey. In a world filled with uncertainty, challenges, and moments of weakness, seeking divine support can provide a foundation of strength and hope.
This is God’s world. Let God point to the path. Trust Him. He is with you and for you every step of the way.
This is God’s house. Let God hang the pictures. They will always be perfect.
I am praying for you. Please pray for me.
This week I am leaning towards staying in bed—every single morning. I told my family not to worry. Like the ‘Eileen’ water tower, it is just an optical illusion.
EYES UP! God loves you and I do too!
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 