SEEING CLEARLY

           Tomorrow morning(Wednesday the 28th) I am scheduled to have a cataract removed from my right eye. In that I have clear vision in the left eye, I put up with the cataract for several years, but it has become so problematic I finally asked my Doctor to remove it, which he had volunteered to do years back.

            I am grateful that today the operation is considered minor and does not require any special recovery. When I began in ministry fifty years ago, I would visit patients who had cataracts removed and they had to lie on their backs with their head between two sand bags, immobile, for TWO WEEKS.

            I hope afterwards to sing “I can see clearly now the fog has gone.” But what I and others really need is an operation to open our spiritual eyes. Like the blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” (Matthew 20:33) God has given us new eyes in Christ Jesus, but so often we do not discern His will in our particular situation or see His glory in current events. Our song should be the hymn, “Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.”

            Speaking of spiritual sight, I love the old story of the little lady, who when called on to pray in her small church, always prayed the same prayer, “Lord remove the cobwebs from our eyes so we can see you more clearly.” She prayed the same prayer every time until she was finally interrupted by a man who cried out, “No Lord, don’t do it! Please kill the spider!”

            Maybe that’s what we need to do, kill the spider.

 

Grace and peace. 

LIVING ON HAPPY LANE

           When we lived in Bluff Park we often drove up Shades Mountain from Lakeshore on the Old Oxmoor Road. On that route you pass by a street named Happy Lane! I always wondered if the people who live on Happy Lane really are happy, or if someone moved to Happy Lane it would make them Happy.

            I’ve turned in to Happy Lane a couple or so times out of curiosity.  It winds down toward Shades Creek. For a while an abandoned building, which I assume housed a general store when the railroad was close to that location, stood at the head of the road. It has since been torn down and a large field covered with kudzu is left. There are some land parcels for sale. The four houses on Happy Lane are modest but I imagine comfortable enough. I have no idea as to whether their occupants are happy.

            But the truth is, you can live on your own happy lane. Those who are in Christ Jesus have the Holy Spirit within. Paul tells us, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)  I focus on the word joy, which the dictionary defines as “the emotion of great delight or happiness.” The forgiveness, victory, and the present and future confidence we have in Christ gives us joy through the Spirit.

            But this is not the entire story. Happiness is not a matter of circumstances. Happiness is a matter of choice. Two people can be in the same circumstances or facing the same problems and one is happy and the other is unhappy. One can choose happiness because of the joy we have in Christ. 

Grace and peace. 

SUPERSTITIONS

            Over Halloween a T.V. segment reported that 52% of the U.S. population is superstitious. These are people who will not walk under a ladder, who will not sit on seat 13 or row 13, who avoid black cats, who knock on wood to drive away evil spirits, etc. etc. . There was a time, however, when I was among them. I wouldn’t have admitted to it, but I avoided walking under ladders, stepping on a sidewalk crack, etc. After all, why take a chance?

            Searching online reveals dozens and dozens of superstitions.  Some are familiar (i.e. lucky four leaf clovers, lucky horseshoes, lucky rabbits feet, some of spilled salt tossed over the left shoulder to avoid bad luck, breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck). I was reminded of the old one that it was unlucky to light three cigarettes on one match.

            But, many years ago, when I began to examine such things in view of what I claimed to believe, I saw that such superstitions are a denial of faith. In Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your path.” Our days and each moment are in the hands of God, not subject to luck, spirits, or superstition.

            Now I walk under ladders without a second thought. I don’t have any prejudice against black cats and consider the number 13 as no different as any other number. When something good happens I praise the Lord. When something bad happens, I turn to the Lord for help and understanding. I seek to trust Him with every event, with every moment.

            Living this way gives one confidence and peace of mind. So let us trust in the Lord with all our heart. 

Grace and peace. 

CHANGING TIME(S)

             Remember to set your clocks back Saturday night. Otherwise you will be at Church an hour before everyone else. Daylight Savings Time is fairly well accepted now. But some still complain about changing times.

            A lot of people in my age bracket would like to change the times more drastically and go back to the 1950’s. For us that was a golden age. After World War Two people were prospering, buying homes and automobiles, going on vacations and sending their children to college. Rock and roll ruled musically, and T.V. shows were family oriented like “Father Knows Best” and “Ozzie and Harriet.”

            The emergence of the flower children and hippies in the 1960’s challenged the morals and lifestyles of our youth. Vietnam anti-war demonstrations and the civil rights movement further changed things.

            But, honestly, would we really want to go back to the 1950’s? For much of our population those were not a golden age. Instead, they were days of poverty and struggle. Besides, think of all the advances which have been made in 60 years. Because of medical advances I, and many more like me, am still alive. Medical discoveries, advances in care and changes in lifestyles have advanced the average lifespan by almost 20 years. Also, in spite of the current economic downturn, a greater percentage of the population has been able to achieve the “American Dream.”

            True, 2012 has some drawbacks and problems, but this is our time. Paul exhorts us “See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time…” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

 

Grace and peace.