Reflectionary II

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.

… warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.

Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?

Who are your enemies?

Your ex-wife or husband? Your boss? Your in-laws? A neighbor? A friend that has been gossiping about you? A co-worker? Someone in your distant past, that has influenced every bad decision you made in your life?

Or is that too harsh of a word: "enemies"?

If you're like me, you find yourself wishing ill upon another person, or other people, maybe several times a day. When we observe children expressing such views, we recognize it instantly as immature and self-centered. Nevertheless, when you wish bad things would happen to someone else, is it fair to say that that person is your "enemy"? (Someone will protest and say - "No, that person is not my enemy. I love her and that's why I want her to learn a lesson." But I guess that makes it okay, as long as it's not a child making the same case.)

But God tells us that, when we are in some unfavorable situation, to pray for the ones responsible for it, and to work for their welfare! Your ex-spouse continues to be someone whom you should serve and help!

God says that these hateful circumstances that others visit upon us, are things God lets happen; but in the end He gives us peace and rest! Your clueless boss is actually working on your behalf, as God's agent! (She just doesn't know it!)

These people that are spreading hateful, and harmful gossip about you, are actually bringing ruin to the people they are talking to!! In fact, anybody gossiping about you, or fostering divisions among us, are actually not hurting you at all, unless you listen to it!  

And in the end, the people that end up getting words of wisdom like the above, end up being the one you would least expect: someone on the edge of society, an outsider, a foreigner, an underprivileged person - - - people that come first to mind when you think of "enemy". They are a deep minority, like 10%, or less, of the total population. You do not see them because you are looking in the wrong places for people that will lead you to God. In fact, I daresay that many of us will discover grace and wisdom outside the walls of our Church, from the least likely places. 

So I think that we need to let go of the very concept of "enemy." In the first place, the person you think is your friend may very well not be. The person you would think is your enemy is the one with your back. But what matter? You're supposed to pray for your enemies anyway. And if you're busy enough serving others, and thinking good thoughts about everybody, you will not have any space in your mind for negativity and gossip. 

And while you're at it, you might try avoiding gossip, from the very start. It looks like listening to it is as bad as repeating it.

Reflectionary I

"How lonely sits the city that once was full of people!"

"It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

"So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails."

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him."

"Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

"So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, `We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

There is a sense in history, that despite the best efforts of good men and women, to advance the cause of justice, peace, purity, honor, and wealth - that the world itself conspires to return to violence, carnality, poverty, slavery, and chaos.

Every Moses has his Pharaoh. Every Ghandi, his Pol Pot. Every Lincoln, his Booth. Every Christ, his Caesar.

If the Universe is expanding, becoming more random and disorderly, then it makes sense for the Great Designer to create the method for it to be attracted back to that good state that was at the very beginning. We stray, and God calls us back to Him. We stray again, and the process repeats itself. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and the Word was toward God." I write "toward," because I have read that this is much more accurate translation than "with", as in "The Word was with God." It denotes God's Word, His plan, being simply this: the plan that would draw everything back to Himself. God lets us go our own way, knowing that we will choose violence and slavery. Yet He speaks a Word (and that's all it takes) - and, hearing it, we may choose to return back to Him, to progress back, if you will, to the original state of innocence and peace. Except that, having lived our lives in this realm, we have gained the knowledge that comes from pain, disappointment, failure, and heartbreak. A hurt being is an empathetic being is a compassionate being is a loving being, and so on.

Western culture has twisted the meaning of slavery, so that it can never mean something good. But as Dylan said, you've got to serve somebody. We are never without being subject to someone's whim. Our response to God's word, our return to Him, is hastened by our becoming His slave. If your master builds you into your true self; If He provides your needs; If he cares for you more than anyone else. If he can, and does, offer you eternal life, then this is a slavery worth having. It's all in the return to the Universe's first voice. You can either go out and make your own way, and take the randomness that will follow. Or you can get with the program - - - with the team, if you will. Like a well-tuned instrument, your willingness to be bent and adjusted to your own best fit, puts you in sync with the world's true Social Network. You get into a zone like no other.

The world and its programs, even the good ones, lead nowhere. But listen, wait, be still, and hear the voice that calls gently, but more persistently and lovingly than any other.