Shade Tree Wisdom 5/1/10

This is May Day. Did you dance around a pole on May Day with the rest of the children, or was it left unobserved there also? Just as well, because we have enough stuff to keep track of, don’t we?

Right now the country is concerned about the oil spill in the Gulf, and is mobilizing to get that under control. Terrible consequences there for the entire fishing industry. And that new law the Sate of Arizona just passed is causing major uproar - but it is mostly that, noise, for something had to be started to get control of this situation. Just yesterday we read some had shot a deputy who was patrolling in the desert. No, it is not about Human rights, it is about obeying the law.

But we wonder, was there ever really a time when there was no unrest? I think of growing up. We lived day to day, worked what lay at hand to do, rested when the sun went down, visited on Sundays after the Church service and in the afternoon, and celebrated the Fourth of July with a picnic. And that was fun, but when I was small it was comforting to see my mother or father always close at hand.

Later I learned that quiet communities like ours had been ill treated and were under a cloud of suspicion because their ancestors came from Germany, and the Great War (The War to end all wars), had just ended.

No, there never was a time when there was no unrest. A reading of history shows that. The Bible is filled with wars, disasters, calamities, and for the Church, always persecution. That was the case for the people Peter writes to in his letter. They were often shunned in the market place, ill-treated at work, their children made fun of. And to them Peter writes. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possession, that you should show forth the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2,9. As such special people, ”Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that they may glorify God by seeing your life”. V.12. Then, “be ready to give an answer every man who asks.” 3,15.

Don’t be too involved with the world, because you are Pilgrims passing through. Do not drive the tent stakes too deeply. As such, ”avoid fleshly lusts, which war against the soul”. 2,11. Then Peter reminds them to “cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you”, and because “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may destroy. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing the same afflictions are done in your brethren which are in the world.” 1 Peter 4,7-9

Those words I find heartening and comforting. The letters end with the suggestion to “Grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Because the more we do that, the closer we move to God, the more we can see clearly that in all the turmoil in this world, He reigns. God bless us in His Care.

GPD 5/1/10