Not All that is Normal is Good
Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and move towards the goal of true maturity.
-Romans 12:2 (Phillips Translation)
We wandered through Lent with our new restrictions on personal movement serving as a kind of enforced discipline. Now, Easter has arrived with its focus on new life and grow and expansion; and we are getting really tired of the recent status quo. I confess that I am longing for a boatload of normal stuff to float my way. I will also admit that I hope some of those regular things drift off into the Bermuda Triangle, never to plague humanity again. Let me share a little of my wishful thinking.
- Polluted air can just stay away forever! We have been driving less because we can’t go anywhere. Still, I believe we drive too much and some of that motoring around doesn’t need to happen. Can we drive ten or twenty percent less in the new order of things? That would go a long way in our fight against greenhouse gases and climate change.
- Interpersonal hostility: O, it hasn’t gone way; but people over all seem to be kinder and gentler these days. This has become a we’re-all-in-this-together event like none before. Yes, some are suffering way more than others, but life is different for pert-near everyone. I wouldn’t miss the every-being-for-themselves attitude prevalent in our previous social order.
- Endless political campaigning: Who misses the constant attack adds everywhere you look or listen? I see no hands!! Other civilized societies attach time limits to their campaigns. We can, too. We have to get the fox guards away from the campaign industry hen house, however. Way easier said than done. I am all for it, just the same.
- Apathy among RPC members (other churches, too):We are experiencing just how valuable our ministry is, mostly because of those things we value about it are gone for the time being. I hope that the new normal witnesses all RPC members putting up and stepping up to make the next chapter in our life together the best ever!
- Busy-ness:We humans are too busy! We’ve slowed down because reasons for busyness, good and otherwise, have disappeared. I hope that more of us will realize that Sabbath—rest for rest’s sake—is a good thing. Examine what keeps your SUV on the road too much, and pare a thing or two from your Gotta-Do list.
I have gone on and on; and the more I think about this, the more I could go on and on. Take the sit-and-think time you presently have to imagine how you can create the life you want, not the one the world expects you to live. I hear a lot of complaining about the way things are. Things won’t change if WE don’t change. Sweet dreams!
Blessings,
Pastor Zomermaand
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