Comparing and Being Never Satisfied

We need to be very careful about comparing ourselves to others. We can always find someone who seems better off than we or worse off. Comparison has no end. Even the brillant Shakespeare knew the dangers of comparing one's self. Corin: And how like you this shepherd’s life, Master Touchstone? Touchstone: Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a shepherd’s life, it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I like it very well; but in respect that it is private, it is a very vile life. Now in respect it is in the fields, it pleaseth me well; but in respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. As it is a spare life, look you, it fits my humor well; but as there is no more plenty in it, it goes much against my stomach. Hast any philosophy in thee shepherd? William Shakespeare, As You Like It, act 3, scene 2.

My Christmas Cactus

When I was Pastor of Lexington's Trinity Baptist Church, I had a Christmas cactus in my office. It sat on top of the bookcase where it would get the morning sunlight. Prior to Christmas it was in a pitful state of health or so it seemed to me. It was limp. The leaves were browning. I didn't know whether to water it or leave it dry. I received advise to do both. I wondered about moving it since that office got cold at night. Again, I received advise to move it and, also, to leave it alone. It seemed to be in a terrible shape and I didn't know what to do. After Christmas I arrived at the office and discovered the Christmas cactus had bloomed. There were pretty red blooms at the end of many branches. Needless to say, I was surprised. One of the lessons from my Christmas cactus is that sometimes things aren't nearly as bad and hopeless as may appear. Life's best bloosoms, flowers and lessons may break open just when we are about to give in to our sense of confusion and hopelessness. Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap is we do not grow weary." Good lesson.

Maybe The Message Is Deeper And Broader

I have listened to others, as well as myself, trying to understand and reconcile God’s instructions as recorded in various parts of the Bible. For example, I have attempted to reconcile the sixth commandment, i.e., “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) with Joshua’s understanding that they were to kill every living thing in Jericho, (Joshua 6:21). The killing of one’s enemies, as frequently recorded in the scripture, seems to contradict not only the Commandments but also Jesus’ teaching to “love our enemies” (Matthew 5:21-26). I wish I knew how to reconcile all of this, but I don’t. I do, however, have a thought. What if our Old Testament heroes got it wrong about what God was saying to them? I wonder if the good news of their stories is that in spite of misunderstanding God and doing things that are not God-like, God continues to love, care for and ‘grow them up’ toward maturity? The good news of the Bible may not be what they did, but that God was faithful to them in spite of their misunderstanding God’s messages, directions and what they did. That message of God’s faithfulness is good news to me because I continually misunderstand what and how God is guiding me. I do dumb stuff even when I think it is God who is guiding me. The message of God’s unfailing and steadfast care for me means that I don’t have to be perfect—in fact I don’t seemed to be programmed for perfection. Nevertheless, it is God who is faithful and that’s good and hopeful news.