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We do this every day, especially when Facebook discussions veer into politics. We hear what was said, evaluate it, see which position has the most weight, and call that correct, our stance. But often wise people, including sincere followers of Jesus, see the same situation and evidence and reach different conclusions. Why?
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Image by successandfailure.net
Most of us have heard the line, "When you're up to your neck in alligators, it's hard to remember your objective is to drain the swamp."
Good advice for life. We don't have to allow the present to dominate our thoughts and emotions. Let's not get so obsessed by enjoying the present that we ignore saving for retirement. Let's not get so obsessed with our current problems that we ignore more serious but less immediately urgent ones. I struggle with that, particularly in the world of the spiritual life.
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Isn't this a great season, as the upcoming national election kicks off, almost two years early? The politicking brings out our best and worst, some thoughtful comments intended to persuade the marking of ballots, along with verbal bombs with asinine and degrading and insulting comments about the "other" side. Can't help but love it, right? Only if you're ...
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Not, this post won't address the billionaire running for the Republican nomination, but his line, combined with one from my dad, and my work on excavating our back yard and hauling dirt in a wheelbarrow, all together, have caused me to ponder an important issue of spiritual formation. Complaining.
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A paradox is two contradictory statements when both are true. My preeminent example comes from Jesus, "If you save your life you'll lose it, but if you lose it for my sake you'll save it" (Matthew 16:25). But we need to move back to gain a greater context to understand its significance. In verse 21, Jesus proclaimed that he must die, to which Peter protested vigorously. Jesus then called him Satan, a pretty strong accusation, because he relied on a human perspective rather than a godly one. Jesus then gave the mark of a follower...
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With great anticipation, I made a Facebook post last week. Yeah, I skipped the blog post, but my grandson Josh and I were on our way to climb Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. So I put up a pic of our goal, Mt. Whitney, at 14,508 feet. It's above. Under it is Trail Camp, at 12,000 ft. the last stop before Whitney. Understand my eagerness to climb it.
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I'm consumed with returning our yard back to good condition after six years of rental neglect left it overgrown or dead. One task: remove the back lawn and replace it with a brick patio. Rarely for SoCal in June, over 1" of rain fell last weekend, which softened the turf enough to remove easily. Well, easier than if it were hard and dry. So I eagerly started in with a shovel and old muscles and fairly quickly excavated 3/4 of the 600 sq.ft., only to realize I'd created a problem.
Take a close look...
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image by dailymail.co.com
Sometimes I feel like Blondin. In 1858, the French acrobat pictured above stretched a 2" hemp rope from one side of Niagara Falls to the other, and attempted to cross it. One misstep and only death awaited him. People crowded both banks, and the smart money wagered he would fall.
16 years ago, curiosity overcame my values and led me into a year-long struggle with soft core pornography.
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