The other day, I went into the local drugstore, and, while waiting for a prescription, was chatting with one of the clerks there. To paraphrase what she said: "I'd rather be just about anywhere else right now, because everyone that's come in here, has been so rude, angry, and in such a foul mood". I've noticed a marked increase, lately, in terms of agression, with respect to people's behavior, generally, and their driving, specifically. As I stood there, waiting, I began to wonder, why, during a time of celebration - of Thanksgiving - were so many people so discontented and angry?
I've been "under the weather" these last few weeks with the same cold-or-flu virus that's afflicted at least 1/2 the people in this area (I think the number is actually higher, as those who escaped "it" the first time seem to be coming down with it now). Consequently, I've been doing a lot more listening than I have been talking - or writing. Which, as it turns out, has been a good thing, as I've had the opportunity to listen to the wisdom of others, and their interpretations of what life is all about; what the Word of God is; what the Christian Bible says, and what is meant by both various passages in the Bible, and the Book in it's entirety.
Generally speaking, I'm reluctant to write (or say) much without being very explicit, to the point, I'm told, of over-explaining and being pedantic to the point of being dry, or even "beating a dead horse". I've been told numerous times that I have the ability, though, to write, speak, and otherwise express myself rather well. The "why", with respect to the former, is an expression of my own fear that what I say will be mistaken. I'm not afraid that some thing will be somehow "held against me"; what frightens me, is what I believe to be the awesome responsibility I assume every time I open my mouth, put pen to paper, and so on. Ideas and words can be very powerful things, and I've studied enough human history to know full well that some of the best intentioned words, ideas, and beliefs, have resulted in some of what we, collectively, regard as some of the worst and ugliest episodes in human history.
After all, only the author of a work ever truly knows what they had in mind, and in their heart, when they wrote whatever they wrote. How often has the work of any given author - even one who was living, and who either attempted to explain what they meant, or could have been asked, been interpreted by others to mean something different than what that author meant? Take the writings of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: he stated on numerous occasions, in numerous ways, that what he wrote was not what "the academic community" had taken his words to mean; that much had been "read into" his works that ranged from things he had never thought of, to that which was entirely "off the mark". Another example is James Joyce, who stated, flat-out, that at least one of his works (Ulysses) was written primarily - if not solely - for the purpose of seeing what meanings others would ascribe to his work - what they would concoct.
My point here is that anything that I say, write, create, runs the risk of being taken as meaning something other than what I intended. Regardless of my best efforts and best intentions. And, therefore, there are potential consequences to "sharing" (personally, I've come to loathe that term, it having been appropriated by members of the psychology community and taken on a life of its own; I'm unable to come up with a different one, though, so it will have to do) - anything. Does that mean I shouldn't "share" my abilities, my God-given gifts with others?
I can sum up the conclusion I've come to in one, simple word, which is an emphatic "no". Moreover, the realization I've come to is that not "sharing" that-which-I-can-do with others is an affront to God, who gave me those abilities. They weren't given to me for my own sake; they were given to me, so that I could "share" them with others. If I choose to hide, hoard, ignore, not develop, those gifts, I'm telling God that I don't care about God's plans, overall, and specifically, God's plans for me, personally. I believe, firmly, that, as in all matters, God gives me the choice to accept his will for me, or reject it. What could be more of a rejection than to take something that someone, anyone, has given you, and neglect it, or destroy it; to do anything with that gift, other than nurture it, and "share" it?
You, the reader, will take from this what you will. Based on your own perspective, as shaped by your own personal beliefs and experiences. My hope is that you'll take from what I've said, that, when we say that we believe in God, that we've assumed a responsibility to care for one another, as we're all God's creations, and God's children. I've heard this put in various ways, by various secular and religious traditions; the one that springs to the forefront of my mind is "“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" (Matt 25:40, NIV). I'm not, personally, a huge fan of citing specific scriptural references from a particular version of the Christian Bible; as I've already said, one can easily find the same message, ableit in different words, in different traditions; and, it's far to easy to "get hung up on" matters such as "which is the correct version of the Bible", "what's the one true religion", and so on. I absolutely am not casting negative aspersions on the Christian Bible or any version thereof; I believe "it" to be the Word of God, and it's often my point of reference slash starting point, because I'm familiar with it (though, admittedly, not nearly as familiar as I ought to be). What I am saying, is this: I do not believe the Word of God is found only in "it". Metaphysically speaking, if I believe that "God is", by definition, I believe that God is everything - which includes "no thing", if God so chooses; it would be the epitome of arrogance for me to attempt to put any sort of constraints on God, and foolish, I think, to assume that God chose only to impart God's Word to his children in one way.
Especially during this holiday season, I pray that I remember, and that my actions reflect, what I believe. Including the following:
* "caring for one another" involves a great deal more than doing that which is easy, convenient; that which allows me to assuage my own personal guilt; that which I'm doing for my own purposes - because it somehow benefits me. Simply telling someone "I'll be there for you" doesn't cut it; answering the phone when I'd rather be sleeping, and listening to someone who needs someone to talk to, on the other hand - well, at least, that's a start.
* it's important for me to be, and remain, healthy and whole: spiritually, physically, mentally, and so on. Or, there's no way I can be of any use to anyone else. "Taking good care of myself" and "caring for someone else", for me, involves walking a very thin slash fine line; striking an extremely delicate - but necessary - balance.
* "caring for one another" involves taking the risk of being misunderstood, disliked, or even despised (as does telling the truth when it's not personally convenient for me to do so); it involves sacrificing my own wants, perceived needs, and desires, and actually "doing the right thing". It includes dropping all pretense, and "just being myself". Which isn't to say "here I am; and if you don't like me, you can go take a hike"; it's simply saying "here I am. How can I help you?".
* It's not enough for my intentions to be good, and to "do the best I can". I need to do the right thing, for the right reasons, and - as far as worldly concerns go - "let the chips fall where they may". When I do differently, I'm not serving God, or God's children; I'm serving myself. Any time I start taking myself too seriously, that is what's invariably going to happen.
So, I risk sharing this, with you. And I truly hope that everyone, everywhere, will have a blessed holiday season. And whatever you take away from this, it'll be what you needed to hear, to do what you needed to do, to serve God, and share the gifts that you've been given, with someone else.
