Meditation on the Future: Part III

Must not panic. Must… not…

But there’s so much here! The tuition I haven’t paid, the books I haven’t ordered, the classes I haven’t taken, the placement exam I haven’t studied for, the sleep schedule that’s back to normal, the laziness that’s set in, the overarching procrastination that ties them all together *gasp for breath*—why, oh why, did I decide to go to college?

Perhaps the most prevalent response to the future is worry. We all have our moments. And we’re not entirely to blame. Our culture shapes us this way. There’s always another crisis, another threat. And regardless of the legitimacy of those threats, they do their job. They keep us afraid, worrying. Have you ever watched the news? It’s enough to drive a person crazy. And the previews are the worst!

Breaking News: “This just in—there’s something else that could potentially cause mass hysteria, and YOU need to know about it so YOU can freak out too. More at eleven.”

A Special Report:” Don’t trust your pets, babysitters, swimming pools, plastic products, government officials, furniture, or anything imported from China… and if anything you possess falls into more than one of those categories, you’re doomed. More at eleven.”

Weather Warning: “There’s a storm going on right now… It will never even get to you, but here’s some stock footage of a standard American house blowing down, so you can start pondering your own home’s fate, should it ever be pummeled by hurricane-force winds.”

...And so forth, and so on.

Ah, what’s a worrying, cable-owning citizen to do?

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt 6:27)

Connections: Christmas and Winter

“The grass withers and the flowers fall,

       but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;

       if I go to the west, I do not find him.
 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;

       when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
 But he knows the way that I take;

       when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:8-10)

“Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”           ~ Letter VIII, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis


It’s Christmas Day! Rejoice, for God is with us!

Have you ever stopped to consider how curious it is that the greatest celebration of our faith takes place in the dead of winter? There are many curious historical reasons for this (which I highly encourage you to look up, should you have the chance), but I find the spiritual aspect to be just as enlightening.

Humans are seasonal beings. In our faith lives, we joyfully revel in the spring blossom of praise, find strength and resolve in the summer blaze of the Holy Spirit, discover peace and harmony in the autumn quiet of meditation, and withstand fear and temptation in the chilly winter of doubt.

Ponder a spiritual winter you’ve felt in your own life. As the bitter unworldly cold sets in, optimism becomes difficult. A Godsong that once rang out in your heart falls silent. A passion once fiery all but winks out. Nearly defeated by a fatigue you feel to your core, you trudge onward. Spring seems an eternity away.

But take heart! The Lord never leaves us in this state longer than we can endure. He liberates us with a single great proclamation—one we have heard countless times in this season:

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

As we gather close to family and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ and the beginning of a new year, may we be rejuvenated and given the strength and resilience to stand fast in His Word for many seasons to come.

Merry Christmas!

Meditation on the Future: Part II

You might think that it frightens me to consider the extreme brevity of my life, or, as I once heard a guest speaker at my church refer to it, “that little puff of breath you add to the world”. It did, at one time. Every once in a while, it still does. After all, I’m likely more than a quarter of the way through it already.

It's no wonder some people spend their whole lives running away from old age. What do they have to look forward to in death?

On the other hand, there are some people who want to know now how everything will play out later. I see no need to rush. As C.S. Lewis writes, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”

I personally am at peace with the changing seasons, the changing years.

I can almost hear the mental “You say that now!” from my older audience as I type. And perhaps they’re right. But I’m curious to see how my story unfolds, to see where (and to whom) God will lead me. I’m thankful for every breath he’s given me. If a year’s wages suddenly fell into your lap (or a year worth of college, to the broke students in the group) which of you would complain that it wasn’t two years worth? Anyone? Now, how much more valuable is a single minute of your life? Rejoice, you’re alive today!

Each day is a gift from God—a Christmas present, in fact. Some will be better than others. You’ll have surprises, and letdowns, and moments when you jealously compare with the person beside you. You can stop looking forward to the holidays and assume you’re just getting sweaters. You can be impatient, and try to open all your presents at once “just to know what they are”. Or, you can find a little bright spot in each one, and recognize the love and joy packed into each box… no matter how creative its other contents are.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, 
       
but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

Connections: Blessings and Responsibility

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 110:5)

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48)

“What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God.”
~ Danish Proverb


If you are reading this, you are blessed. Situationally, the inspirations and motivations and migrations of generations before you have, by no virtue of your own, produced opportunity, freedom, and security in your life.

You are blessed in that you can read—nearly one out of every five people in this world can’t. You are blessed in that you have a computer to use, when four out of every five people on Earth live on less than ten dollars a day (That’s around $3500 a year, by the way). You are blessed that you have access to the Internet, and through it, the rest of the world—75 percent don’t. Peace, education, food, drinking water, family and friends, shelter… we have all of the above.

Look at your immediate surroundings. I personally am sitting wrapped in a warm blanket, with central heating buzzing around me, under electric lights, with coordinating furniture, painted walls, a bed, a TV, and three guitars resting against stands and walls (I could defend myself with “But one is my brother’s!” but I have a fourth resting in my room anyway.). These and many more amenities that we consider standard, most of the world’s population will never have.

But your blessings aren’t only material. If you’re reading this, you are more than likely a Christian, and if you aren’t, you are at least free to make your own choice without fear of persecution or death. Also, believing or not, simply living in the Western world means that you have some experience with the body of Christ—whether it be years of Sunday school and church, or a single friend.

Meanwhile, some live and die without ever hearing His name.

So what will we do with these blessings? In a word? Serve. Note that in countless passages, such as the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-28), and the “Watchfulness” section of Luke 12 (verses 35-48), not to mention Jesus’ talk with the disciples about the widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44), God judges our service according to our means. And whether we recognize it or not, our means are plentiful. It is our responsibility, and ours alone, to serve him with what He has given us.

Around Christmastime, it’s easy to remember the baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes, born in a manger, getting gifts from wise men, and so forth. But this Christmas season, remember Jesus devoted to us—He who lived and died that none might perish. And who, beyond the gift of grace, blessed us. As you celebrate the holidays, enjoy the blessing of this beautiful world, filled with music and laughter and people you love.

Sitting here, warm and safe, happy and full, I begin to realize just how much He has provided. And how much He deserves in return, invested in His people, for the glory of His kingdom.

Facts and Figures taken from the CIA World Factbook and the International Telecommunications Union, Accessed 12-17-09

Meditation on the Future: Part I

On Friday, I came home for the holidays.

On Friday, I finished a full semester of college. It passed in the blink of an eye.

Time may tick by at a constant speed, but I can’t help but feel like it’s accelerating as I get older. Mom tells me it just gets faster from here on out. I had lunch with my grandparents last Sunday and wondered: How long before I open my eyes in the morning to portraits of grandchildren? To 50 years of marriage? To family Christmas at the house my children grew up in?

Grandkids! How long before those youngsters are in college themselves, facing the same struggles and temptations that I now resist?

How long before I start using the word “youngsters”?!
Such are the important questions in life.
 
“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 110:5)