Watch (Lake)

 . . . his eyes keep watch over the nations.

 - From Psalm 66

How could a loving God . . . ?

I have come back to this point over and over again, in the almost ten-year history of this blog. It is not a very creative question: "How can God just sit back and let evil happen?"

But that's not the point.

How can we permit evil to happen? Or better yet . . . how can you permit evil to happen?

Now, a lot of people believe that the way to get in the way of "evil" is to win elections. Maybe so . . . it doesn't hurt when real evil is what's being fought. But simple political partisanship is not the way to flesh out good from evil.

What are you doing about evil? There is hunger in your town, maybe even on your block. What - you're just going to sit back and do nothing about it?

The Hudson Education Center in Dexter Michigan is one small group of people's humble attempt to do something. They formed a 501(c)3 non-profit, whose purpose is to make sure that people of all ages get to experience the performance and practice of music. Everybody can do music. And out of that comes scholarships, trips to senior centers, service to low-income schools and neighborhoods. People are brought together.

But that's only a start. It takes so long . . . so long . . . to get even the most simple public service idea off the ground and sustainable. But it's something. Don't just stand around and yell out "Somebody do something!!" No!! You do something! Look around! Dig around. Someone needs you.

I believe this is what is meant by God keeping watch. Yes, He is up there, or out there. And He does permit (present tense) bad things to happen. But we are supposed to be part of the solution. God has set into motion an overall strategy that will eradicate evil . . . from selfish thoughts all the way to Death itself.

But for now He watches, and sees everything. And when you get around to do some kind and helpful act, God sees it, and He banks it for your eternal benefit.

God watches. But real watching, like Real Love, is not a sedentary activity. It is quite dynamic and involved.