A few thoughts from this week . . .
First, I am thankful for this ruling. I don't buy the argument that it chips away at women's rights since inevitably some of the children involved are fully female, too, and since I understand that this only accounts for a small percentage of the abortions performed. I actually try to not worry about politics much since all sides of most issues seem to be deceptive and complicated, but this is something I do support and for which I am thankful. What do you think?
Also, I am very sorry for the families of those who were killed earlier this week and for the people who suffered in those scary moments. That seems pretty obvious, but I can't go without saying it since there is so much talk and disturbing news of it around. So sad. It does make us long for the days when every tear will be dry.
In smaller news, I'm trying to make the quote above by Helen Keller something I actually live by. I can't honestly say that I always take joy in humble tasks which seem to be abundant (I'm thinking laundry, cooking, and most of what I do each day at work), but I think this is my duty, and I'd like to grow to actually have this attitude. I sometimes feel a kinship to the guy, whose name I've just forgotten, in the Old Testament who was willing to do something "lofty" to cure his leprosy but felt a bit offended at only being asked to dip in that nasty Jordan river. Sometimes it seems we're given different challenges than those we imagine as being impressive. Does that makes sense?
And yet if I were given something really impressive to do, like to endure some terrible trial like the one the people from Virginia Tech are enduring this week, there is no doubt that I'd cry and complain and wonder why God was picking on me. It's like I have a very narrow definition of what circumstances would be acceptable to me - interesting but not overly painful. A little pain is ok and almost legitimizes (if that's a word) your life in some way - like, "I've had to work hard to get through this, but I've made it." But no one actually wants to be called on to suffer Job style. The problem is the perfect balance doesn't seem to be an option often. What a trick to learn to be content in every circumstance! Your thoughts?
April 19, 2007
This week
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1 comment:
I think I have trouble differentiating between a mediocre life and a humble life. At what point in my life do I say, "I don't want to be avg...I'm going to make something more of my life!" and at what point do you admit "this is the humble and even mundane life that God has for me, and I want to learn to be content."? Maybe there's no good answer to this question. A professor from Harding that I met at our retreat put it this way: Abraham is known for his great faith. But really his great faithful acts were only on 2 days of his life: the day when he left his home, and the day when he began to sacrifice Isaac. So is it possible that the real life of faith was lived in the days in between, when he was hiring shepherds and taking care of his wife and kid. He lived those days in such a way that when the test of faith came, it was natural that he would step out in faith.
Both the noble and the painful tasks are something that I want to be able to meet with faith. I pray that God will bring both into my life to refine me. And I pray that I will be content with what He has for me in the meantime.
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