I was enjoying a DQ cone in the Oshawa Centre mall food court today, when I overheard a mom telling her young daughter (at least it seemed that was the relationship), “You talk too much. Nobody wants to listen to you when you are yapping all the time.”
Well, mom of the year, maybe “Nobody” is just you, and someday you will pray that she will “yap” to you–or somebody–when you are lying awake at night wondering what is going on with her.
Month: June 2013
Reverse (Dis)Order
I was reading something the other day about past (incorrect) and present (considered correct) methods of determining the age of Earth, and, for that matter, our solar system. The common theme that struck me in this is decay. My mind starts to get fuzzy (more than usual) when trying to follow a lot of this stuff, but what I get is that the currently accepted method of “radiometric dating” has in common a phenomenon in common with previous “failed” methods: decay. Basically, the age of ancient rocks can be determined by measuring their rate of decay.
Some of us might think, great, I’m just like ancient rocks: ageing and decaying. Life is winding down. It might also resonate with a certain view of the world: that socially, politically and economically, it is devolving into increasing disorder. And maybe even that the morale of your life is not much different: a mess and getting messier. Nothing every works out, lurching from one crisis to another. And the various crises of life are like compressed entropy, the process of decay and increasing disorder compressed into my lousy day.
Maybe that has something to do with why the disciples where scared out of their minds by the storm, even with Jesus with them in the boat (Mark 4:35-41). He didn’t seem even to care! That just adds insult to injury. And maybe that’s the real crisis with us in our storms, in our sense of things winding down and disintegrating: “God, don’t you even care? Are you, like, sleeping or something?”
God is creator, but he is not identified with nature or its processes. We may be united with one whose ways are increasing while the world, yes, may be decreasing. He is in the boat with us. He stills our storms, and gives us hope.
Epidemic of Blame
If we’re honest we would probably all have to admit we’ve indulged in the blame game at some time, but the public display of it in high places has become epidemic. When was the last time you heard a public figure accept personal responsibility for something gone wrong, or a misjudgment, or just plain wrongdoing, without his or back being against the wall?
There is a better way. There is a healthier environment for us to share. There is a character of life, a reign of influence, the character of which is described in a few sayings at the beginning Matthew 5. They are called the Beatitudes, but the handle may be unfortunate if it evokes Hallmark images of fluffy clouds and flower petals. It really describes a gutsy way of thinking, feeling, and living. But how can being “poor in spirit” be good? It is if I accept that there is Another who is all good and offers to share his power with me. I am blessed or happy if I “mourn” over the state of things around me, and thereby show some genuine concern outside myself. “Meekness” is not weakness but humility that makes room for the other. If I hunger and thirst for righteousness I want what genuinely is right, and now just, or I might think, for me. Mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, blessing those who are against me: There is no room for blame here, no excuses. A better. I know I need to embrace this daily. And I suspect I am not alone.