I fell asleep on the couch a couple of hours ago. I woke up, and had the urge to listen to Rich Mullins singing, "My deliverer is coming, my deliverer is standing by..."
So often, I fall into moments of despair wondering about my own personal problems. Problems which usually could have been avoided if only I had taken the time to avoid them. On top of that, there's also the troubles of the world which seem to burden me like they burden everybody else. Even though we prayed and petitioned and protested valiantly, Terri Schiavo went to her final reward. It seems at this time that we need to remember that our deliverer is coming.
"There in the Sahara winds Jesus heard the whole world cry
For the healing that would flow from His own scars"
Hope. I think a lot of us are looking for hope. Terri's dead, but the fact that we're still around tells us there's hope. Christ hasn't returned yet. There is still hope for a nation that kills it's children, that allows a man murder his wife. There must still be hope for us because nothing has truly ended yet. If it's not over, then there is still hope. Terri may be dead, the media and the majority of people may never be able to comprehend the significance of what just happened today. But we should hope that someday they will. They'll move on to the next big story.
I think I'm most proud of those who did protest, those who were willing to be arrested for a silly attempt to bring a dying woman a glass of water. I'm proud of those who prayed vigilantly. It's people like these who the world looks at and just snickers at. They call them fools because they try to save somebody who's life they deem worthless just because she can't do the things we can. But as Mark Shea said in todays word of encouragement, "It's far better to be a fool for Christ than to be a fool on one's own."
We now know what fools can do on their own. They're a murderous bunch. But let our hope in Christ allow us to continue to be fools for Christ's sake. Let us show the world what wisdom there is in being foolishly hopeful.
For Terri:
Eternal Rest Grant unto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
" There is still hope for a nation that allows a man to murder his wife. "
It happens every day Robert, he might beat her to death, or blow her brains out with a revolver, but it's the same thing.We just choose to ignore it, shake our heads at news reports cluck our tongues and say how wrong it is. Question is, what do you do with this new found clarity you have?
We all seem to be able to identify what the problems are, but how do we help to make them any better? I know I could do a helluva lot more than what I currently do!