Beyond the River Jordan
-Nayan May C. Borja
Two steps forward, one step back. Limitations. Worry. Disappointment. Failures.
All these lead to being trapped. These are common words that you can feel penetrating
deep inside your bones the moment you hear them.
Nowadays, it is stated that the most negative word you could ever hear is the
word positive. But is that really true? Haven't you thought that the word trapped is much
worse? Trapped to a toxic mindset of hopelessness. In closed in the idea that you are
alone. Living in a world where all you see and do is for carnal pleasure. Walking, day 'n
night like a routine to the point where you think even breathing becomes work. Buried
deep in moments of failures.
Trapped in a box that wasn't really there to begin with. People often times
overthink things and bound themselves to rules, desires, and relationships that they
wanted, even if it harms them. Just like how the Israelites were freed from the palms of
the Egyptians yet were still imprisoned to the thoughts of slavery. That is why they
angered God by celebrating a festival for a false god. And these thoughts that chain us
down takes a toil to a perfect path God has given us.
Yes, all of these, lock us away from a future that is bountiful and peaceful. And
no, we cannot break them. From the start of metacognition, we tried and tried to change
ourselves into a better version. Until frustration and depression came, then we
eventually gave up. We know that we don’t have the key to free ourselves. So, enough
struggle, enough hardship, enough pride, and enough reasons it is now time to let God
break the chain and give us a life that is beyond the walls of our limited minds.
A life free from constant fear of the past mistakes we made, of the present that
we might mess up, and of the future that is unknown. A life full of desire that are not
bounded to the pursuit of passing things/pleasure. A life not without troubles or
problems, but with an assurance of victory and serenity. That is the life God promises us.
A life beyond riches or fame, beyond wishful thinking, or even satisfaction. Beyond the
river Jordan, where a better life is waiting for us.
