Although the eclipse was to be 99.3% in our area, it appeared more like the darkening skies before a rain storm. Initially, two of my neighbors and I anticipated the hype surrounding the total eclipse of the sun might actually yield something spectacular, even though we fell out of the total blackout path.
The lampposts in my community sensed that it was nearing evening even though it was just 1pm, the insects began their chirping, and we could feel a slight drop in temperature. But, alas, it was not our fate to experience the majesty of the event. Heavy cloud cover prevented us from even a peek at the moon crossing between the earth and sun.
So, for the three of us who donned chairs by the community mailbox and looked skyward, the hype didn't meet our expectations. But, it was reality and certainly did meet, and even exceed, that of others.
I guess we could equate that somewhat to faith. Sometimes we maybe expect too much, but that doesn't mean that it's wrong to do so, or won't happen − just maybe not for us. Take for instance the prayers for a miracle cure for a loved one (been there, done that). It's disappointing and sometimes disparaging not to bear witness to it, but there are still many miracles that happen all around us.
It's easy to hype our expectation, but when the outcome is not what we wanted or anticipated, we have to remember that it still doesn't negate the reality that it can and does happen. I think that is what faith in prayer is all about − answers are sometimes, yes; sometimes, no; and sometimes, not for us but for others.
I won't be here in approximately 100 years when the total eclipse again occurs in my area, but there are other locations where the total eclipse will occur as early as in 2024. I'd love to see it personally, but even though I probably won't, I know the hype (just like prayers) will still be reality for some.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
The Shack Reaction
I've read The Shack by William Paul Young twice − once when it was first published and then before renting the newly released movie. I was grateful that the movie pretty much followed the book since one of my biggest pet peeves is when a movie doesn't.
The story offers a different approach to God's view of the world, one to which I know some Biblical scholars even subscribe in regard to God's "punishment." I will leave it at that. The movie did fail to include what I consider one of the most important aspects of the book which more or less proves the experience of the main character to be true. I'll leave it at that, too.
My biggest concern, however, wasn't the movie or its message. It was people's reaction to it as stated in their comments.
On one hand, you have a religious sect that takes exception with the way God is portrayed. He can't be black or a woman, and you must incur the wrath of God. Some of what these Christians cite to approbate their beliefs (not unsurprisingly) is from the Old Testament. I won't speak any judgment on that, but I prefer and believe in the loving God whom Jesus introduced us to in the New Testament.
Now, on the other hand, you have the atheists. I honestly don't know why they even bothered to see the movie, and maybe they actually didn't. There was a good deal of profanity. disdain, and outright loathing for Christians in some of their comments. I think this disturbed me more than the presumed fundamentalists who truly think they speak God's word.
I wondered what in someone's life would cause them to so vehemently deny that there is something greater than themselves. You can explain how things happened to create this world, but where did it begin? Substance had to come from somewhere.
In the end, it wasn't the difference in what I believe versus their non-belief that disturbed me. I simply felt sad for them. I also felt sad for the world because these are not the people who make our world a better place. Hate of any kind, from any group, never makes a positive difference for mankind.
I've known some very good, caring and kind people who were atheist or agnostic so the people who made these disparaging comments carried something different with them. The "great sadness" in The Shack refers to a specific matter, but I think there is another sadness that needs our prayers.
The story offers a different approach to God's view of the world, one to which I know some Biblical scholars even subscribe in regard to God's "punishment." I will leave it at that. The movie did fail to include what I consider one of the most important aspects of the book which more or less proves the experience of the main character to be true. I'll leave it at that, too.
My biggest concern, however, wasn't the movie or its message. It was people's reaction to it as stated in their comments.
On one hand, you have a religious sect that takes exception with the way God is portrayed. He can't be black or a woman, and you must incur the wrath of God. Some of what these Christians cite to approbate their beliefs (not unsurprisingly) is from the Old Testament. I won't speak any judgment on that, but I prefer and believe in the loving God whom Jesus introduced us to in the New Testament.
Now, on the other hand, you have the atheists. I honestly don't know why they even bothered to see the movie, and maybe they actually didn't. There was a good deal of profanity. disdain, and outright loathing for Christians in some of their comments. I think this disturbed me more than the presumed fundamentalists who truly think they speak God's word.
I wondered what in someone's life would cause them to so vehemently deny that there is something greater than themselves. You can explain how things happened to create this world, but where did it begin? Substance had to come from somewhere.
In the end, it wasn't the difference in what I believe versus their non-belief that disturbed me. I simply felt sad for them. I also felt sad for the world because these are not the people who make our world a better place. Hate of any kind, from any group, never makes a positive difference for mankind.
I've known some very good, caring and kind people who were atheist or agnostic so the people who made these disparaging comments carried something different with them. The "great sadness" in The Shack refers to a specific matter, but I think there is another sadness that needs our prayers.
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