Well, I had another post planned for
today. It was a post about peace, how to achieve it through obedience and
simplicity. But once again my country is reeling from current events in our
ninth largest city. A city in which I lived as a young girl. A city known both
for its southern hospitality, and the assassination of our country’s 35th
President. And now it’s known for 21st Century violence.
For a country that likes to call
itself a “Christian nation” this kind of thing is heartbreaking, and
embarrassing. We have a serious problem, and our political and social leaders
seem to be confused about how to “fix it.” Although they certainly know how to "talk" about it. They spend an inordinate amount of
time yelling at each other about it, pointing fingers at one another in blame,
and posturing and grandstanding on their own or their party’s official
positions. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, though. What else should I expect
from such a fallen world? A self-focused, entitlement-minded world. A world that really needs to stop thinking about and pining for "the good old days." “The good old days” really weren’t so good for many
living in our country, and these days aren’t so good for many, either. They’re
scary, violent, and void of hope.
Still A Shining Light?
President Ronald Reagan talked about our
nation being a shining light on a hill. He was a man filled with hope and
enthusiasm, qualities I don’t see a lot of now, or hear spoken about. Sometimes I wonder if
God has removed our candle, but then I remind myself that He always
maintains a remnant that clings to Him and to His promises. And that knowledge
gives me much comfort. But if we do have a flickering remnant, we need to start
shining it. We can’t hoard it for ourselves or keep it hidden under a bushel.
(When I think of it being hidden under a bushel, I always imagine the dried
bushel combusting and frying the house around it, so that might be more
destructive than simply snuffing it out!)
I think Senator and former
Presidential candidate Marco Rubio headed the right direction this week when he
said that we need to examine our public discourse (a horrible thought to many
who have elevated free speech to the level of an idol), where we pit people
against one another and foster hate. As James the brother of Jesus told us, the
tongue can start a fire. We should listen more and speak less, be long
suffering and slow to anger.
So for today, it is one more time
that my nation has had yet one more reason to lower our flag in memory of slain
emergency response personnel and American citizens; yet another day to mourn; yet another day to ask,
“Why?” Yet another day to be reminded that evil is alive and well in our midst;
and to ask ourselves—as Marco Rubio did—how we are personally contributing to
the problem, the evil. And for believers everywhere to ask, “Am I contributing
to the abuse of the Gospel’s truth by my words or deeds, or lack of them?”
And get on our knees and really
lament, repent and pray.
Until next Monday.
Blessings,
Andrea
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