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.

Church vs State--still an issue

We still struggle with separation of church and state. Today’s Lexington newspaper (11-27-20) carries the headline, “Federal judge says Beshear can’t stop classes at religious schools.” In 1980 my Pastor predecessor at Trinity Baptist Church, who was on the State School Board, was debating whether the State has the right to supervise private schools. Private schools were primarily religious schools. My predecessor believed the State did have the right to guarantee all students, whether in public, private or religious schools, were receiving an equal education. Therefore, the State has the right to supervise all schools. With this pandemic, the issues may have changed but we are still debating issues of church and state. My Baptist background says there needs to be a strict division between church and state. Nevertheless, my Baptist colleague ministers, as well as other ministers, will say when they are officiating a wedding, “By the power invested in me by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I pronounce you husband and wife.” Not much separation of church and state in that statement and action. I believe in consistency. If the State cannot regulate religious schools, then, only the State officials should be conducting marriages. If the couple or family should desire, Ministers and the churches may bless the couple, but not ‘officially’ conduct the wedding.

Leaders Needed

The Lexington newspaper (November 20, 2020) headlines “Kentucky sets ‘staggeringly high’ new record for coronavirus cases” which meant that the Governor established new recommendations for dealing with the pandemic. On the same front page was the article “Republicans denounce [the Governor’s] new COVID-19 restrictions.” When the Republicans were asked about their plan, the newspaper reports “their answers were murky.” It is easy to be a critic, but it is difficult to be a leader. I believe this COVIA-19 is dangerous, and we are in a ‘war’ with an invisible enemy. I know when challenges are difficult, we use denial and/or avoidance rather than face the difficulty. It appears that many of our residents believe that ‘the COVID-19 virus won’t come to me, my family or friends.’ That is denial and avoidance. We cannot deny or avoid this pandemic. It is real and it is dangerous. My prayer and hope are that God will rise up leaders from among us. Whether they be Democrats, Republicans, Independents, etc. is unimportant. We need leaders who can talk and listen to each other without prejudice, i.e., an open mind; as well as a willingness to compromise and negotiate, i.e., not my way or the highway. Leaders are often unpopular but extremely necessary. Politicians are usually popular, but unnecessary. I am praying for God to rise up leaders among us.

Interpreting Scripture Through Our Prejudices

God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 13:15-17). I understand that. Much later (perhaps 400 years) under Joshua’s leadership, the Hebrew people took the land from the people who were living there in the name of God’s promise to Abraham (Joshua 3:10). Many, but not all, of those people living in the land during that time may also have been descendants of Abraham. The written record also reads that they were told by God to kill everyone--men, women, and children. (Joshua 6:17, 21 & 24). I have often thought that not only does not seem right or fair; it does not look like the likeness of God which we see in Jesus. I wonder if the authors of the book of Joshua were not prejudiced in the manner with which they wrote their history. Maybe God had plans of another way of fulfilling that promise to Abraham. Using the name of God as motivation can be a powerful temptation for acting out of our prejudices. I think we have been guilty of that in many ways. Folks were prejudiced when they used God to support slavery. Folks were prejudiced when they believed God was with them when they took land from Native Americans and marched them to Oklahoma (ex. the Trail of Tears). In these histories, innocent lives were lost with the prejudiced view that that too was supported by God. I believe we have been prejudiced in the way women have been treated in many Churches. I suspect that we have used the name of God in many ways to support our personal and/or national desires. There is pretty clear evidence of this in our present time. I wonder if the danger of this way of thinking may be what God had in mind when the third commandment was written (Exodus 20:7), “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (KJV); or “for evil purposes.” (GNB). I fear we blame God or try to make God responsible for much of which is not God’s doings, but ours. Lord, in Your mercy forgive us.

Death Is Such A Waste

My best friend of 56 years died a couple of days ago. We were college roommates. He had fought cancer for fourteen years. He was an extremely brave man in his fight against the disease. He kept his sense of humor during his battle against Cancer. When I would call him his usual answer was, “I’m not dead yet.” He worked as a Therapist until these last couple of weeks. He was a wonderful Therapist. He possessed a great deal of knowledge as well as wisdom. Many Therapists have a lot of knowledge but little wisdom. At the beginning of those last couple of weeks, he made the decision to cease treatments. He knew what he was doing. Those last couple of weeks saw his significant diminishment and death. I will miss him greatly. He loved me and accepted me as I did him. Death is such a waste. The world will no longer have the advantage of his wisdom, knowledge and skill as a Therapist. I believe death is one of the functions of the evil that inhabits this world. Evil seeks to diminish and destroy. I hope in that other dimension of life my friend will have all of his abilities and be able to continue making use of them. Maybe that’s a part of what redemption means. Peace, my friend.