Vulnerability & Negativity

I wonder if you can resonate with the transparency of Harold Kushner on page 131 of his commentary on the Twenty-Third Psalm. I’m a long ways from being a “nationally known author” but, re the reaction, I’ve “been there, done that!”

His admission and discovery goes like this…
“When I first became a nationally know author, in 1981, with the publication of When Bad Things happen to Good People, I began to receive letters by the carload from the readers. Ninety-five percent of them were complimentary, and I was deeply gratified by them. A few were efforts to convert me to the faith of the letter writer. And one or two a week would be critical, accusing me of blasphemy and of undermining people’s faith. To my distress, I found that one nasty letter bothered me more than fifty nice ones pleased me. I would brood about it for days. If some obscure newspaper ran a negative review of my book, I would be tempted to write an angry letter in response, refuting the criticism point by point. I didn’t enjoy feeling that way, and, on an intellectual level, I knew it was foolish of me to let one critical letter bother me that much, but the feelings continued. Finally I realized that instead of asking myself, What’s the matter with those people that they don’t appreciate me?, I would be better off asking, why am I so bothered by their criticism?”

Perhaps this is excellent counsel for either (both) the receiving or (and) giving of criticism.

One-another-ness

In his refreshing commentary on the 23rd Psalm (p. 150), Rabbi Harold Kushner relates this insightful result of an experiment by a psychology profesor at a major university. He was exploring "pain tolerance." So, he invited several dozen students to measure how long they could keep a bare foot in a bucket of ice water. One of the things he learned was that if there was someone else in the room, a person could keep his/her foot in the bucket nearly twice as long.

Kushner's conlcusion is that "the presence of another caring person doubles the amount of pain someone can endure. Guilt feels less deserved, pain is less painful, misfortune is less oppressive, when someone is there with you." Perhaps, the lesson is obvioous.

Kushner's claim-to-fame is usually associated with his previous book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Much of that book is brought forward in a refreshing way in this book, published in 2003. His caring insights are a potiential blessing to both care-giver and care-receiver.

Beyond that, for Bible students, it is delightful to get a glance of the Shepherd's Psalm from a Jewish perspective. But, be careful, he might just challenge some your perceptions re God's involvement in our world!

Make Poverty History

"Make Poverty History" -- sounds exciting! And very gratiifying. Most everyone would be delighted if that aspiration were realized. "Most"; not "everyone". Do we assume that the elimination of poverty is compatible with the retention of luxury?

And, dare we suppose that there exists some simplistic solution? Gifts are delightful and refreshing, but handouts are often debilitating, and loans are down right enslaving.

Again, let’s remember that it is a lengthy, dwindling journey from the coffers of government to the hovels of the homeless of the massive mega cities of third world countries.

Perhaps this task parallels that of deposing a dictating and supposing that peace will be the direct result. Liberty—maybe; peace—far from it. If you need a current example, consider Iraq or just about any country which has “gained” or been “granted” its independence in the last 50 years.

Perhaps this whole endeavour is related to the follower-ship call of Jesus. If you want to be my follower you must put something down (SELF) and then pick something up (CROSS) – the burdens and misfortunes of others (Mark 8:34).

As long as we have sumptuous-ness, poverty will remain. As long as greed and avariciousness abound, oppression and hopelessness is a surety.

Blame the (our) government? Perhaps. Reform our own lifestyles? Change our value systems? Ouch.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

My father-in-law, Walter Elvin McCutcheon (1912-1983) did not write many letters after his name but that did not mean that he was not well-read and well-spoken. He loved to cultivate both qualities. For several years he hosted a short radio program on CFRY (Portage la Prairie, MB) entitled "Things to Consider". Not a presumptuous title, but it does invite one to explore -- options, values, priorities, directions, relationships, destinations -- as we navigate our pilgrimage.Meditation is in short demand among evangelicals these days. Celebration is in; contemplation is out! Our recent Good Friday service (involving most evangelical denominations in Regina) was more of party-time than cross-examination. This quest for hype may well explain the scarcity of repentance and confession.So, that all sounds (no, is) negative. On the other hand after a lengthy winter, consider the greenness of spring--leaves bursting forth, dead grass coming joyfully to life. Consider Canada. I've been around this globe several times. Threaded my way through various immigration queues. No passport is more welcome the world over. I did not earn it or ask for it. I am a Canadian. Gratefully proud of it.And, consider Christ. And, much more!

More Sunshine than we need

My daughter, Heather, and I arrived in Yellowknife a week ago. Except for a few dim hours between midnight and about 2 AM, there is more sunshine than we can use... at least at my age! If only we could "freeze" some for releasing in December-January!
But that seems to be the way of our world. Too much or too little: energy, education, money, possessions, relationships ...