Shade Tree Wisdom 4/17/09

On the way to an eye appointment I fell in behind a lawn service truck pulling a trailer.  When we reached the corner, the truck signaled a left, but the trailer signaled a right turn.  It was easy to see the signal light wires had been crossed.  To me it shows the state of modern man’s mind about things, ever ready to follow the latest fad because he has no touchstone, no guide, to give sure direction.  And without such a guide, man drifts in his own direction, always confused, never quite certain, prey to every lure sent in his direction.              We see it on talk shows.  The host sits in vapid amiability while the guest dismantles ancient truths and spouts nothingness.  They sit and listen while another espouses whatever thing comes to mind, whether it is gay marriage, or easy sex, or the modern fable that “all things lead to the same destination”.  And the host responds, “What I hear you say”, or “We need this input”.             This simply won’t do.              It is not good enough to receive everything as if it was of the same value or even had any value to begin with.  We need discriminations.              A meal of vegetables is good for our health, but mix in some toadstools, and it becomes a deadly feast. We need someone to discriminate, and eliminate the bad.              We need truth, truth agreed by everyone everywhere. The ancient Fathers used the phrase, quod ubique, quod semper, et quod ab omnibus creditum est.  What has always been believed, everywhere, by everyone.              We must be able to say, “This is SO.  This is true.  I know it.”  That ability keeps people from straying into every avenue that opens to them.  Keeps them sane, if  you will. Unless we have such  a sure guiding principle, our likes cannot be serene, for every storm will upset us. Of course I’m talking about the Book.  The Book that says, “Your Word is eternal, it stands firm in the heavens.” And “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.”  And “Your Way is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path”. Psalm 119, 89.93.105.               The sainted Dr. Walter A. Maier, in his very first Lutheran Hour sermon, said this:” In the crisis of life and the pivotal hours of our existence, only the Christian , having God, and with the assurance that no one can successfully prevail against Him, is able to carry the pressing burdens  of sickness, death, financial reverses, family troubles, in short, the burdens of modern life, with confidence that God is indeed His God.” GPD 4/17/09