Did you ever meet someone who never got upset, never got disappointed??
I haven't.
When we get upset, do we really get upset?? And why is that??
Is it often because things didn't turn out the way we'd expect them to ...something affected us, making us feel uncomfortable??
And if our expectations are directing our feelings, do we also evaluate what kind of day we are having?? Do we feel we have good days, not so good days, and even bad days??
Do we believe there are people who have it worse than we do?? Do we also feel there are people who have it better than we do??
If we think of the very worst, do we also think it is very bad?? And if we think of the very best, do we also think it is very good??
Do you believe there is such a thing as good and bad?? Do you believe love exists, and do you feel it's good?? Yet, if the expectations of those good and loving feelings do not seem to grow and at times exceed expectations, then those loving feelings may begin to feel commonplace and at times feel like not love at all (at least compared to what you perceive it had been). And at that point it may not feel so good, and at times we may let our thoughts conclude that we have been betrayed ...and beyond not so good, that can be considered bad.
I take it a step further ...as I've read about things that I consider outright not right, beyond wrong and even evil. To me, the idea of extreme evil is one which attempts to eliminate good. Good on the other hand, does not see people as evil beings, but as people who still have the potential to change and do good. So, the one attempts to eliminate, while the other attempts to rehabilitate. There are some people who strive not to just disagree, but to harm those who disagree with them. I disagree with many people who disagree with me ...but, we are still here to choose whether to disagree or not. We don't seek to attack people, we aim to have civil conversation about how we believe. But, like I said, we are still here, so I believe that is good ...and I also believe that 'good' is more powerful than 'bad', and if on occasion it does not appear to be so, the greater good will survive.
And I believe that greater good is 'love', whether at times we understand it or not. Even some small or halfhearted expression of it is better than what we call evil. When love is disturbingly absent, bad things can happen ...but, bad things also happen when love is present.
It is not bad people who are players on a cruel stage, acting out their roles. People make mistakes, and people often get hurt ...whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. But, people also get hurt when mistakes aren't made. It is not a mistake if I walk outdoors on a beautiful day, but a tree branch could just happen to fall and hurt me. Sometimes we get emotionally hurt because we are emotional persons. It could be said that a baseball player who makes the most errors is the one who plays the most innings. The player on the bench doesn't make any errors because he's not in the game. We have to be in life, and the objective is to make fewer errors when we can. But, we should not let ourselves fall into despondency if we have a 'bad' day.
We have politicians and leaders who discuss what can be done to improve things, to make things better for people. In focusing on the problem and communicating with the people, the concern is often presented as lack of education, inadequate housing, and a low minimum wage with no health care. In truth, these are all factors ...they are not just lies by politicians. Yet, it becomes more problematic when these are considered the only things that have to be fixed. And even worse is when just money is thrown at a problem.
Why is it worse when money is thrown at the problem?? Well, when money is involved (which it has to realistically be), it tends to draw in temptation, mismanagement, and often the criminal element. The 60's riots raged throughout the nation when I was not yet 12 years old. The response was to set up a commission to deal with the problem. I was so very young, I don't really remember any of it ...as I didn't grow up even close to any large city.
So much for insight from a twelve year old ...how about over a hundred years before that?? Edgar Allan Poe said, "Believe nothing you hear, and only half of what you see." Is this also to include what we 'hear' on the news and what we 'see' in print?? Less than two decades after Edgar's statement, most everyone was feeling the affects of the American Civil War, still a hundred years before the 1960's riots. This should not be still happening ...but legislation cannot change people's hearts. Yes, evil is still in the world.
A couple years ago, our daughter was living in Baltimore ...her husband had the rare privilege to have been chosen to attend world renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital. Crime was near its peak in Baltimore a few years ago, and still was improving much ---and there was a Presidential debate going on, leading up to the national election ---when the question came up about how Baltimore was doing. Statistics said that Baltimore was fourth in the nation for highest expenditure per-pupil in their schools, and many projects were funded for the city. Yet, things appeared to be just getting worse in Baltimore, and the question asked was "Why?"
One political leader, aspiring to become President, said it was because we didn't spend enough money. So, what does that tell you??
Well, we all have ideas, and we all have opinions. And it is almost impossible for those opinions not to include direct reasons. Intellectually, we don't always want to say, "I don't know." Though that is often very honest, we do want to give answers to those who are looking to us for answers. But, often the answer involves dodging ...and often blaming.
We say that it is because of this or that ...and that's why things turned out the way they did. And often it's difficult to dispute because honestly we never know for sure how things would've happened if the circumstances had been different. And that usually includes helping them in some form or another.
I looked at one chart that showed the GPN of nations in the world, measuring this to list the wealthiest nations. Out of the top 5 wealthiest nations, the United States of America was on top, exceeding the combined totals of the other 4 nations. You could go back to what I quoted ...that I can't believe what I read, but still our US is inarguably a very wealthy nation. And it has been said that we could help out more than we do.
I'm certain God has heard this question too ...being all-powerful, and able to create anything. For those of you that know me, you've probably been wondering when I was going to mention God, as I usually do and usually much quicker than this. But, the questions of God's fairness and His love enter discussions every day. God knows, but we don't know ...that is a fact. Yet, that doesn't stop the accusations. We say much about what we know little about. And when we feel hurt or slighted, the misunderstandings flow more freely.
Yes, God knows ...and I believe He took care of much of the accusation aspect of that by deciding to create the angels first. In the aspect of what many aspire to be, God gave it to the angels in the form of much power and splendor. And how can we not see how that went. God knew it would go that way.
But He also knew how it would go if He created us humans first, with a much more lowly stature. We would be certain to complain and protest, and feel we had some footing. But, short of not reading (the Bible) or not believing in God ...those of us who do believe what we read in His Word, well, it's certainly not critical to see the angels coming first. Anyway, that's the way I see it, and I'm not claiming I have any special insight ...though I would like to present to you why I see it this way.
I've mention much about love and fairness. There are three other qualities that are unique to God that we often hear. God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere, seeing and hearing everything), and omnipotent (all-powerful).
Being all-knowing, some people may think of the Jeopardy champion ...but, with God, there is absolutely nothing He does not know. You can't pull one over on God.
Being everywhere isn't like the fun children's book, "Where's Waldo?" Though if you look for God, you will find He is there for you ...for every page of your life.
Being all-powerful should be a trait of God that we are comfortable with ...especially concerning a hope for the future. Yet, that depends on how we view God ...just like all-knowing can comfort someone with certainty that God knows how we feel, but on the other hand, it is perhaps the most disturbing to lots of people. It may seem intimidating if someone knows everything. When I worked in the prison, I wanted one of the prisoners to comply, to do something he was supposed to do ...but, that was a different sense of saying, "You don't know me!" And if a prisoner wanted to get away with something, he may get frustrated if the opportunity is thwarted, saying, "Every time, he's there to mess things up!". I know I frustrated more than a few prisoners this way. But, the 'powerful' aspect doesn't usually come into play unless intimidation or abuse is present. And power can both abuse, or prevent abuse.
When I think of powerful, it is often not to anyone's benefit other than their own. And Communist dictatorships come to mind, though sometimes people think of the United States in this negative way too. And usually this has to do with one's perspective of fairness. We know bad things happen, but what I mean is ...a chance for fairness, or the existence of some possible pathway where it could eventually be realized. An equal chance, and equal respect. No person should expect to be loved by everybody ...but, being disliked is hurtful. And being hated should be inexcusable.
Yes, it may feel uncomfortable that God knows all about us ...but, God does not judge us by our past. And when we mess up, it may feel uncomfortable knowing God witnessed it ...but, God doesn't expect us to be perfect, He just wants us to keep trying to make it right.
Most importantly though, it should not make us feel uncomfortable knowing how powerful God is ...as we should know that He set aside much of what we often fear when He sent His Son. Jesus died for us, and He is forgiving. Now, that's powerful ...and it should impact our lives in a powerful way!!
