An Icarus Identity Crisis
Let me preface this post by stating that I don’t typically spend my leisure time reading Greek Mythology. I am, however, quite familiar with Icarus….a character in Greek Mythology….in fact, I would encourage all of you, if not already, to read the story of Icarus.
Icarus’ story is one in which everyone can identify with at one point or another in their lives!
As the story goes….Icarus is imprisoned with his father, Daedalus, who is an artist. They were imprisoned on the island of Crete, by an evil King. Utilizing his artistic skills to escape their imprisonment, Daedalus constructed wings, with feathers made of wax, so he and Icarus could escape their island imprisonment. Before they took flight, Daedalus instructed Icarus not to fly too close to the sun, because his wax wings would melt and he would surely fall to his death.
After those last words, both father and son flew from their island prison…Finally free from the oppression of the evil king.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the story ended there? But does it ever? For any of us?
No, Icarus felt so free for the first time, that he flew too high, thus eluding his father’s warning, and the sun melted his wings, and Icarus fell to his death.
We all have moments, or even seasons, when we experience times of legitimate pride….However, when that period of legitimate pride is not countered with humility, we can fall into an elapsed sense of bravado. It is during these times of bravado when we lose our bearings and sense true north, and we crash and burn….Often leaving a disastrous crash site that would make any 6:00 pm news report.
The disastrous effects we experience durnig these times or seasons of bravado, often lead us to a sense of complete decimation from our perspective. It is during these times when we must trust God and His Word – Take Isaiah 55:8-9 which states: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Whether you’re soaring in the clouds or suffering through your circumstances….Remember, God’s artistry is not like that of Daedalus’, no, His never fails….God’s Masterpiece of Grace is a Mosaic of His unending love for everyone, anywhere, at anytime!!!
