“The ships of Tarshish traveled for you in your trade. So you were filled and heavy laden in the heart of the seas. Your rowers have brought you into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners and your pilots, your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, and all your warriors within you, with all the company that is with you, sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your ruin.” Ezekiel 27:25-27

The city of Tyre (the people of Tyre) blessed by God with flourishing trade networks that reached out world-wide became arrogant – they claimed all their success and beauty as their own work. Greatly respected the rest of the word was shocked by the devastating and tragic devastation when all is lost at sea – ships sunk in deep water. The sin of arrogance, is not new, it is the sin of Adam and Eve, who desired to make themselves like God. The result, the consequences are not new either – separation from God, destruction of the relationship that allows one to participate in the beauty of creation and God’s blessings. In my life, I pray I recognize the blessings God lavishes upon me, that I recognize the origin of those blessings and that I remain humble, thankful and obedient to God. That I give God the glory and credit for the blessed network He establishes around me, that any and all success is attributed to God. That I not claim any as my own. O God that I not sink heavy laden with your blessings, claiming them as my own and taking many down with me.