Whatever

These days, the term, ‘whatever’ is frequently used to connote a dismissive, derisive, indifferent attitude. For example:

A parent tells a teenager: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

Teenager responds: “Whatever!”

A few years ago, I developed this ‘whatever’ attitude towards God. I felt like God was not really going along with my plans, so I might as well give up, throw my hands up in exasperation, and exclaim ‘Whatever Lord!’ This was as close to surrendering as I could get!

There are certain things that I feared and dreaded. I wasn’t eager to embrace these situations, even if it was God’s will for me. Jesus also experienced these feelings of dread before suffering. Thus it must be part of the human condition. Yet, Jesus overcame these emotions and submitted to the Father’s will—which was NOT whatever other humans wanted or expected.

Recently, I noticed a slight shift in my prayers. I have been asking God to change my attitude: Grant me whatever I need--to do whatever YOU want, Lord. Equip me, strengthen me, so that I may do Your will.

I’m still not eager to do God’s will, but neither am I filled with dread at the prospect. The tone of my ‘whatever’ has changed to one of less exasperation and more acceptance.

Putting Out Fires

Each day brings a new set of pressing concerns--things that have to be dealt with immediately. In the larger scheme of things, most of these daily dramas are not earth-shattering—forgotten wallets, overdue bills, car trouble, taxes, work stress, aging parents, icy roads, relationship conflicts, emotional issues, etc. Then again, some are personally significant—major health issues, deaths, disabilities, life-changing choices…

By the time I’m done taking care of these matters, I have run out of time and energy. All my attention is poured into resolving the crisis at hand. I’m so busy putting out fires, that I often neglect fire prevention.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the most common causes of residential fires are: overloaded circuits, neglected smoke alarms, combustibles near heat sources, and unattended stoves or ovens. When I read this list, I realized that I need to focus on both the literal and metaphorical fire hazards in my life. I need to redistribute the electronics plugged into the hubs of power strips around the entertainment center and computers. I should check the batteries on the smoke alarms. I have to move the boxes in the furnace room and remind my son not to use space heaters next to blankets or curtains. I can’t walk away from the kitchen when I have something on the stove. These physical fire hazards are easier to deal with than the metaphorical ones.

I also have a tendency to overload certain areas of my life. I need to reevaluate the essential activities that I need to expend my energy on and unplug from the rest. Sometimes I ignore the alarms going off, even going as far as disabling the detectors that notify me of danger. My body usually sends out signals of stress—reduced immunity, elevated blood pressure, sleep issues, exhaustion, headaches, skin break-outs—and I ignore or cover up these symptoms. I also neglect to leave adequate space around situations that are sure to generate heat. Even when I know something stressful is coming up, I pack my schedule too close, leaving very little room for ventilation. And I often get distracted and leave my hearth unattended. What was intended to be nourishing and sustaining ends up boiling over or scorched.

If I could take some time to fireproof my life, maybe I wouldn’t have to spend as much time putting out fires!

  

Middle-Age Marriages

Marriage is a lot like a team sport. It takes a lot of hard work, strategy, stamina, and concentration to reach the goal. There is always so much going on—and as the game progresses, the players get exhausted.

Middle-age marriages—after the kids are grown, but still dependent—when aging parents require your attention, when neither your health nor energy is as high as it was in younger years—this period can be especially draining.  

In sports, teams use time-outs to halt the game at strategic points. They use these short breaks to huddle together, discuss strategy, give each other pep talks, and get quick refreshments. In football, time-outs have to be used up during each half—they can’t be accumulated and carried over.

Many of us try to plan vacations as a means of refreshment and restoration. Yet, week-long getaways can be expensive and time-consuming. Not to mention that most of the time, you need a vacation from your vacation when you get back. A week is a long time to leave tasks and responsibilities unattended. Stay-cations (where we stay home and do relaxing things close to home) can be restorative. However, most of us are pulled in by all the responsibilities that are part of our regular life. There are people, pets, housework, bills, and phone calls that need our attention.

A 24-hr time-out can be a good compromise. It allows a couple some restorative time—to huddle together, discuss strategy, give each other pep talks, and get quick refreshments. It’s important to take these time-outs at strategic points in the game, especially when the opposition is strong. This might seem counterintuitive—to take a break when the game is at peak intensity—but this can disrupt the momentum, thus changing the outcome of the game in your favor.

Tomorrow I Will Come

On December 15^th, Sunday, I woke up in the middle of the night with this song in my head: “Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall ransom captive Israel. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.” I kept thinking about these lyrics and what they meant as I lay awake. Rejoice, God is with us. He shall ransom us from bondage--free us from the grasp of evil. The Savior shall come to us, because He has chosen to be with us.

Later that morning, I heard the same hymn at church—which is not unusual since it is Christmas season. However, when I picked up the church bulletin and saw an article about this song, it caught my attention. Here is what I read in the church bulletin: Benedictine monks wrote this song with seven stanzas, each with a title for the Messiah.

Emmanuel—God-with-us

Rex Gentium—King of the Nations

Oriens—Morning Star

Clavis David—Key of David

Radix Jesse—Root of Jesse

Adonai—Lord

Sapientia—Wisdom

“The first letter of the titles in Latin, starting with the last verse—Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapienta—spells ERO CRAS—that is “Tomorrow, I will come.” (from the church bulletin—Basilica St. John, Des Moines, Iowa)

God is Present. He is Powerful. He brings Light into darkness. He is the Key that opens locked doors. He keeps us Rooted and stable. He is Lord and Savior. In Him is all Wisdom. 

Red Convertibles

A higher education can lead to a job, which, in turn, may provide enough money to pay expenses. This is a necessary part of life. Yet, many of us mistake the means for the end. We imagine that education, title, career, and material wealth will bring fulfillment. By mid-life, most of us have accomplished what we set out to do and discover that we are still unsatisfied.

“Second journeys commence when the power of youth is gone. When the dreams of earlier years start to seem shallow and pointless, when anxiety and self-doubt rise to the surface, and when the possibility of failure presents itself—when the predictable jobs have been completed, when you find yourself saying: ‘Now what?’” (Fr. Gerald O’Collins. Second Journey)

I am at that ‘Now What’ fork in the road. I am not looking for another distraction—yet another red convertible to drive on scenic routes that lead me further away from true fulfillment.

Most of us resist the stereotypical clichés of mid-life—the red convertible, the toupee, the plastic surgery, the affair, etc. Yet, we keep seeking that elusive fulfillment in other, more subtle distractions. We join a cause and make a name for ourselves. We embark on new career paths. We build or buy a bigger house and fill it with articles that reflect our sophistication. We take exotic trips, hike up mountains, jump off airplanes, and learn to scuba-dive—hoping that all these experiences will bring fulfillment.

Basically, it’s like buying a blue convertible and pretending that we are not as predictable as the guy in the red convertible.

Now What? How do we find this fulfillment for which we yearn?

I don’t know…but I suspect that there might be a clue in the following excerpt:

“But now you have arrived at your destination…By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God…the fulfillment of God’s original promise (bond). (Gal. 3:24-27 MSG)

Mid-Life Skills

“Much of the work of mid-life is learning to tell the difference between people who are still dealing with their issues through you, and those who are really dealing with you as you really are.” (Falling Upward—by Richard Rohr)

Most relationships act as a magnifying lens, bringing the good and the bad into focus. Certain relationships bring out the best, while others expose weaknesses. By mid-life, we should be able to distinguish between a magnified image and a real image.

We gauge our own personas through the eyes of our friends and family. Often, the unverbalized question that underlies many relationships is: What does this say about me? If I have good friendships, it makes me feel like a valuable, kind person. When I have strained relationships, it makes me feel yucky. When others are disappointed in me, I feel like I must be a disappointment. I rarely pause to consider that maybe they are just disappointed in themselves, maybe they are merely using me as a magnifying lens to work out their own issues, or maybe their ideas about me are just distorted images of themselves.

I hope to learn this mid-life skill of differentiating between perception and reality. I want to learn to see others for who they are—not based on images that are filtered through my own unresolved issues. And, I want to have a clearer understanding of myself—not based on reflections of others—but an undistorted image of who I really am.

The Second Half

In his book, Falling Upward, Richard Rohr discusses the differences between the first half and second half of one’s life. He writes: “The task of the first half of life is to create a proper container for one’s life and answer the first essential questions: “What makes me significant?” “How can I support myself?” and “Who will go with me?” The task of the second half of life is, quite simply, to find the actual contents that this container was meant to hold and deliver.” He mentions that those who do not complete their first half developmental stages will continue working on these tasks well into their second half.

Most of us, who are past 40 years of age and still dealing with issues of significance, financial security, and relationships, are lagging in our development. We are like 5-year-olds who are still not potty-trained. We should have different priorities and agendas in the second half of life than we did in the first half.

Let’s compare the first half of life to climbing up one side of a mountain and the second half as coming down on the other side. Once you reach the top and enjoy the view for a bit, you have to leave enough time and energy to come down the other side of the mountain. Ascending requires striving and stamina, while descending requires balance, caution, and good knees. The last time I climbed up a mountain, I kept focusing on the peak. How much farther? How come these other climbers are going faster than I am? Am I going to make it to the top? On the way down, my focus changed to the next step. I was not at all concerned about anyone else’s speed. I just kept looking down at my own feet, focusing on keeping my balance and not tumbling down the mountain. 

During the second half of life, we grow more introspective and less competitive. We are no longer embellishing our containers. Instead we are focused on the purpose of these containers—to hold and deliver something beyond our own significance, happiness, or comfort. Our goals have changed. We have already reached the peaks of worldly priorities, and now our focus turns inward to soul transcendence. We are no longer impressed by human accomplishments—which pale in comparison to Omnipotence. We have matured beyond grasping--to gasping.

Indiscriminate Giving

“Most women I know are really good at giving. And we should be good at giving. We follow in the way of a Savior who gave himself for the world. But Jesus didn’t give himself indiscriminately; he didn’t give people everything they wanted. Jesus knew his calling from the Father; he knew the unique shape of the redemptive gift he was to give to the world. I believe that too many women give bits and pieces of themselves away, indiscriminately, for years and years, and never have the time or energy to discern their unique calling from God, never have the time or energy to play the redemptive role they are gifted and impassioned to play. The result is a lot of good-hearted, devout Christian women who are exhausted and depressed.” (Lynne Hybels, Willow Creek Church)

I agree with Lynne Hybels. Women are conditioned from an early age to give of ourselves selflessly, without limits. Anything less would be considered selfish and unchristian. As wives and mothers, we are used to putting the needs of our family before our own. And this is how it should be. However, some of us give indiscriminately. We ignore our physical and mental health. We put our relationship with God on the back burner. We get burned out. We become ineffective, out-of-service, and empty.

 

Let’s say your boss sent you to a pawn shop with some money to redeem a watch--a family heirloom. As you walk into the pawn shop, you see a lot of things that seem worthwhile even before you get to the counter. You decide to buy a few extra things for your boss, thinking that you will still have enough left to do what you were sent for. But, by the time you get to the glass counter where the watch is kept, you realize you do not have enough reserves to redeem the family heirloom. You have spent the boss’s resources indiscriminately and now cannot accomplish your assignment.

 

Even if our intentions are good, giving ourselves away promiscuously can be harmful. We are given limited resources of time, energy, talents, and assets. We must be vigilant, selective, and disciplined in how we manage these resources. We are called to give purposefully, meaningfully, and carefully.

Standing Up to Bullies

Most of us have dealt with bullies during our school years. I never stood up to them; instead, I just tried to stay away from them as much as possible. Even as an adult, I use the same strategy. I find it easier to avoid bullies than to stand up to them. Grown-up bullying usually involves mental manipulation and coercion. Bullying is mostly about competing for power. When you allow someone to mess with your mind, you give them power over you.

Although I usually try to steer clear of bullies, I tend to get confrontational when I see them attacking someone I love. My claws come out, and I get really defensive. Trust me, you DO NOT want to mess with me when I unleash my inner b@#ch!

It’s really hard to stand by and watch someone picking on your kid or your spouse or your friend. I have several friends who are just sweet through and through. Bullies frequently abuse their generosity, kindness, tolerance, and grace. And, just like the school-yard bullies, the situation gets worse over time. Continuous disrespect will eventually wear even the most confident person down.

Now…if it bothers me so much when bullies mess with my loved ones, I’m sure it bothers God too. I know most parents would step in when siblings pick on each other. A loving parent would not ask us to tolerate abuse. And our Father is a good parent.

“How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings…Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts. Don’t let the bullies kick me around; the moral midgets slap me down. Send the upstarts sprawling flat on their faces in the mud.” (Psalm 36:7-12 MSG)

Inheritance

“But Moses gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. God, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, just as he told them.” (Joshua 13:32-33 MSG)

Imagine a rich man (for example, Warren Buffet) decides to divide his assets among his children. Let’s say he allots all his stocks to one son, all his insurance companies to another son, all his overseas holdings to a third son, and then he tells his daughter: “You don’t need an inheritance. You get to stay with me and take care of my personal needs and affairs. Oh, and maybe I’ll leave you this house.”

I bet that daughter is going to feel a bit gypped!

However, if the daughter’s love for the Father eclipsed her desire for worldly gain, then she would be pleased with her portion. She would think: Let my brothers have all the businesses; I get to spend time with Dad!

I don’t personally know anyone who would think this way! If I were that daughter, I’m more likely to think: “You gotta be kidding me! Do you think I have no life apart from YOU? Well, I do! You must not think much of me. I’m just as capable as my brothers. I’ll show you!”

Unfortunately, most of us don’t realize the value of our portion. Spending time with God, getting to know Him, studying at His feet, attending to His wishes, and enjoying His presence—this is the most worthwhile of all allotments.

“The one thing I ask of the LORD--the thing I seek most--is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple.”(Psalm 27:4 NLT)

Expecting Christ

When I was pregnant, I slowed down considerably. I still went to work, did chores around the house, and maintained relationships—but somehow I was detached. My body and mind were occupied with the business of growing, transforming, and preparing for the arrival of a child. I lost interest in things that were not connected with the baby. I carefully considered what I ate and what I exposed myself to—whether it was toxins, stimulants, or stress. I was very protective of my body and my environment. I prepared space for the baby. I cleared out stuff from my home--remnants of hobbies I would no longer have time for. I bought baby paraphernalia—crib, blankets, and clothes. I rearranged my schedule and my priorities.   

The season of Advent reminds me of pregnancy. It’s a time of waiting, of anticipation, of preparation, and of joy. I am eagerly expecting Christ.

“Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”). (Matt. 1:20-23 MSG)

The Spirit is implanted within me—growing slowly, yet surely. Soon the emptiness will be filled. There shall be light in the darkness. I shall have a purpose beyond myself. I shall be transformed, made complete—for Christ shall be with me.

Planting Trees

When we first moved to our current house, our one acre yard had no trees. I decided to rectify this by ordering twenty tree saplings from the National Arbor Society. When the trees arrived in the mail, I was disappointed. The tree seedlings looked like small sticks with tiny roots. I decided not to put too much work into planting these trees, because I didn’t think they would make it past one winter. I went out and made holes that were just wide enough to fit the seedlings. I watered them once and decided to let nature take its course. Half of the trees survived the first winter. They didn’t thrive, but they didn’t die either. They just remained stunted, indistinguishable from the grass that surrounded them. Every time we mowed the grass, one or two of these tree seedlings would get mowed down accidentally. This pattern continued for several years until finally all the little stunted trees disappeared.

Around the same time, we got two maple trees from a local store. They were about 4 feet tall when we bought them. We dug wide, deep holes for these little trees. We edged the bases of these trees with paving stones and mulched around them. We watered and fertilized them regularly for the first few years. They are the tallest trees in our yard now.

God is the Planter and we are the planted. Unlike me, God is not an inconsistent gardener. He doesn’t just stick us in the ground. He plants each tree thoughtfully and cares for it properly. 

“For my people will be as long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work. They won’t work and have nothing come of it, they won’t have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed. Before they call out, I’ll answer. Before they’ve finished speaking, I’ll have heard.” (Isaiah 65:17-25 MSG)

Unfaithful

“Come back to me with all your heart, don’t let fear keep us apart… Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.” (lyrics from the hymn ‘Hosea’ by Gregory Norbert)

I was reminded of this hymn recently by my friend JW. She mentioned how, in the book of Hosea, God compares himself to an abandoned, neglected spouse.

When we seek fulfillment in someone or something other than God, are we being unfaithful to Him?

Is complete devotion to God even something we should strive for?

Most of us who have been married for a while know that being a faithful, devoted spouse takes a lot of effort. We start off with good intentions, but eventually our attention is diverted from our spouse to other things—kids, work, other family members, friends, hobbies, projects, etc. We know that our spouse cannot provide us with all the validation and attention that we want and need. So we look for it elsewhere. We don’t call this being unfaithful; instead, we call it being realistic. Yet, even couples who have been married for decades will tell you that they still want this devotion from their spouse. When you stop desiring this, then your relationship has flatlined, and it’s time for some CPR!

Similarly, even though complete faithfulness to God is not humanly attainable, it is still something we should strive for. We can’t give up on this relationship. We have to keep going back with all our heart, not allowing our fear or disappointments to keep us apart. God is faithfully waiting for us.

Adjectives

“They desired to be on their own, to take care for their own future, to plan for pleasure and for security. They wanted to be nouns, but they were, and eternally must be, mere adjectives.” (--from The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis)

We want to be nouns: Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Mother, Father, Wife, Writer, Teacher, etc.

We don’t mind if someone uses an adjective to describe us, as long as it enhances the above nouns. For example: great doctor, successful lawyer, wonderful mother, dedicated father, etc.

We strive to become nouns and perhaps modify these roles. We want to be ‘doers’ of verbs—the subject in sentences of our own construction. However, we are meant to be adjectives that glorify God, not ourselves.

What are some of the most common adjectives that are used to describe God?

Holy—set apart

Faithful—reliable, trustworthy

Compassionate—empathetic and having a strong desire to alleviate suffering

Loving—gracious, kind, caring

 

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do…(Ephesians 5:1 NLT)

Cultivating these characteristics in ourselves is a good start—as long as our intention is not merely to enhance our own self-image.    

I don’t want to have a defined identity apart from God. I don’t want to leave my own mark, but to be a part of whatever God is drawing.

Gift-Wrapped Bombs

I was listening to a podcast by Greg Boyd in which he said something to the effect of: “Evil works by making us do stupid things.”

Stupidity as a tool of Evil—this intrigued me.

Imagine that you are under attack from a super-power country with every imaginable high tech military weapon ever invented. However, this Enemy decides to start off the attack with a simple, yet amusing tactic: Gift-wrapped bombs! Boxes of all sizes, packaged in shiny wrapping paper, tied with pretty bows. Curiosity and stupidity will cause thousands to open these packages, destroying themselves and their loved ones in the process. After many such experiences, the news spreads by word of mouth: these shiny boxes are not as they appear. A few may decide to leave gift-wrapped boxes alone. Then the Enemy changes its tactic just slightly. Scatter a few harmless packages filled with useless trinkets amongst the bombs. People will let their guard down and convince each other that these baubles are worth the risk.

Why would the Enemy go to such trouble? Why not use the direct approach and just drop bombs on top of homes and destroy people? Why would he toy with civilians? We expect the Enemy to fight fairly, to conduct an honorable battle. However, this is not how this Enemy operates. He relishes deception and humiliation. No need to pull out the big guns when banana peels will bring someone down just as easily.  

The Enemy finds it extremely amusing to bring an intelligent person down by having them do something stupid. Anyone can bring a dim-witted person down, but where is the challenge in that! Yet, to watch an intelligent, capable, talented person self-destruct because of one stupid move—is something for the Enemy to gloat about.

The Enemy uses strategic deception that exploits our weaknesses, causing us to self-destruct. We slip and fall on the banana peels of pride and stupidity. We eagerly open gift-wrapped packages of greed, lust, and ambition which soon explode in our face. Yet, we seldom learn from experiences. We continue to fall for these traps.

Lost Signal

My cell phone coverage is spotty in certain regions. I can’t make or receive calls in these dead zones. I’m either too far away from a cellular tower, or the signal is blocked by some large structure such as a hill or tall building. I’ll try to hold up my phone, waving it in the air, hoping to recapture the lost signal. Sometimes this works, and other times it doesn’t. I can predict from my previous experiences where I am likely to lose coverage. On my way home from town, there is a curve that goes through a valley where my phone frequently drops calls. I hope I never get stranded in this spot!

Unfortunately, there are many such valleys with curves in my life.

I have certain areas in my life where I have difficulty hearing from God. The coverage is spotty. God’s signal or influence has not permeated into these regions. Either I am too far away from the signal tower, or there is something in between me and my Provider. I try to hold my hands up in supplication and prayer. Sometimes it works; other times it doesn’t.

When I worry, I tend to stop hearing from God. Anxiety is a curvy road that goes through the Valley of Fear. The signals of Faith and Trust are blocked by barriers of Doubt. We might have to drive through these valleys regularly, but we must be careful not to get stuck in these dead zones.

Laziness

I am absolutely afraid of laziness. I wonder if my fear stems from being perceived as unproductive by others or from an internal drive to be useful. I suspect it’s the latter, because I have this urgency to be industrious even when I’m all by myself. I am a risk-averse rebel. I am reluctant to conform to societal expectations—which can be risky. Yet, paradoxically, I’m resistant to change. I am most efficient when I follow a routine. I don’t like disruptions to my external circumstances, but I am constantly striving for internal transformation. I am ambitious, but not in the traditional sense. I am motivated by things unseen, yet apathetic about acquisitions and achievements.

 “Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants. What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don't always do what you intend to do. If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses' laws. (Gal. 5:16-18 GWT)

Back then, Moses’ laws were accepted as the primary code of conduct—the rules and regulations that everyone was expected to follow. Not much has changed. Even now, there is a deep, internal conflict between our spiritual nature and our corrupted nature. Our corrupted nature wants to pursue self-interests, to follow societal expectations, to conform and be accepted. Our spiritual nature wants to go in the opposite direction.

I want to be motivated by God, not by other humans. What would laziness look like from God’s perspective?

A lethargic relationship with HIM? A lack of intensity and passion for HIM? Succumbing to the natural instinct to follow the herd, instead of pursuing HIM?

I’m not sure, but I think spiritual laziness is more detrimental than worldly passivity. I have a nagging suspicion that being God-motivated is the key to meaningful productivity.

Cleaning Light Fixtures

It’s time to clean my light fixtures again. It’s a big job, and I’ve been putting it off. Dust and dead bugs shroud the opaque glass. As I look up at the fixtures, I wonder why most of them are frosted and not transparent. I call my friend who is an expert at such things. She tells me that people prefer opaque fixtures, because they reduce glare and create more ambient lighting. Clear light fixtures allow more light to shine through but also have a tendency to cast shadows. Oh, and dust and dead bugs are easily apparent through the transparent glass.

“Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” (John 8:12 MSG)

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:17 NLT)

Yet most of us prefer a filtered version of God’s light. We don’t like the shadows or the glare that comes along with the clear light. So we choose opaque fixtures that diffuse this light to ambient levels. We opt for a life of distorted truth. We never stop to question why we choose to live under frosted fixtures that alter God’s light.  Over the years, the dust builds up, further obscuring our ability to see clearly.

It’s time to clean the light fixtures.

Adaptive Mutations

I’m hesitant to call myself a writer. I’m more of a thinker and notetaker. I read, listen, observe, think, and ask questions. I draw from the wisdom of others around me. I could write a whole book by merely quoting and expounding on the nuggets of truth that my dear friends share with me.

Yesterday, my friend SW said this: “We can all learn to adapt to situations, but that doesn’t mean we are actually flourishing.”

Oftentimes, we can adapt to toxic environments. Like mutated frogs in contaminated habitats, we too may develop extra limbs. I wonder if malformed frogs imagine that they are better at multitasking because they have developed a few extra legs!

In rural areas with septic systems, the wastewater is channeled into a drain field far away from the homes. Most homeowners landscape over these drain fields with ornamental plants or a lawn. Even though this might seem like an ideal place to plant a vegetable garden, most rural residents know better. The risk of bacterial contamination is too high. Trees and shrubs with deep root systems are unsuitable for this area as well. Yet, some unwise residents will plant without consideration for what lies beneath. They base their decisions on the visible, the obvious—on what ‘looks good.’ They learn to adapt to the corrupted environment. They misidentify their malignant mutations as benign metamorphoses. 

Adaptation is not the same as thriving. Human beings can survive in a variety of environments—war zones, concentration camps, divorces, unemployment, homelessness, addictions, sickness, hunger, neglect, etc. Yet, very few of us would welcome these stressors. We would be reluctant to send our children into these situations, even though we know that they would probably learn to adapt. However, many of us voluntarily plunge head-first into circumstances that we suspect will be deleterious in the long run. Why? Because we convince ourselves that the obvious rewards outweigh the vague foreboding that we feel.

Undefended Territory

My front door latch is a bit finicky. If I run out to my detached garage for something, or maybe go for a walk—I don’t always lock my door with a key. I just shut it behind me. My husband has told me several times—“If you go out the front door, then push against it after you close it behind you. Make sure it is latched properly. If not, it will blow open in the wind.” I ran out to Bible study the other day and the front door blew open. (Yes, I forgot his instructions.)  Here are a few possible consequences of my actions: the dog could have run out and gotten hit by a car; the field mice that have been visiting the bird feeders on the front porch could have come into the house; surely the heating bill will be higher, because I let all the cold air in. The moral of this story is NOT that I shouldn’t leave the house for Bible study—but that whatever I pursue, I need to be conscious of not leaving other important things UNATTENDED.

In the book of Joshua, there is an obscure sentence that caught my attention:

“The city was left empty and undefended as they were chasing __________.” (8:15-17 MSG)

I just kept thinking about areas that we leave undefended as we pursue new ventures. Here are a few examples:

Leaving faith undefended while pursuing knowledge.

Leaving trust undefended while pursuing stability.

Leaving the mind undefended while pursuing diversions.

Leaving health undefended while pursuing pleasure.

Leaving the truth undefended while pursuing illusions.

Leaving a marriage undefended while pursuing self-fulfillment.

Leaving children undefended while pursuing success.

My friend, LV, sent me the following verse from Proverbs 31:16 Amplified Version:

“She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard."

Lord, help me to spend my time and strength productively, expanding prudently, without neglecting my present duties.