Eastertide
May 10, 2017
Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love. –Psalm 31:15-16
In 1964 Bob Dylan released the song, The Times They are a Changin*, and indeed they were. The final words of the song derive from scripture:
And the first one now will later be last
Cause the times they are a-changing
We find ourselves again on the precipice of change with people of faith having markedly opposing ideas regarding how our world should function. I wonder how God deals with pleas differing. What does it mean to pray My times are in your hands?
When we feel persecuted, it is important that we consider first, our worst enemy may be ourselves. Most humans do not like change and change has become a constant in our lives. We rarely know from where the attitudes and beliefs we tenaciously claim come. I was talking with a group recently about traditions related to who eats first at a dinner. I grew up on a farm where for my mother, sister, and I our mornings were spent in the garden and preparing food for my dad, brother, and other hands who would soon arrive from the fields at noon for our largest meal of the day. Our job was to feed them and get them back to work ASAP. We ate at a round table where there really was no first and last but there was reason for such ritual had we eaten buffet style. Functional realities sometimes morph into cultural norms that no one takes the time to analyze until and unless they become harmful. Some norms were harmful when they began.
Privilege comes with a long list of norms that those on the inside take for granted. Seeing ourselves through the eyes of Christ is illuminating. Sometimes he may use others to help our vision. We would be wise to listen and learn from them.
Prayer: God forgive me when the impact of the ignorance of my own behavior is hurtful to others. Help me to see my actions through your eyes. Amen
*See The Times They are a Changin lyrics at https://www.google.com/search?q=the+times+they+are+a+changin&rlz=1C1PQHB_enUS651US663&oq=the+times+they+&aqs=chrome.0.0l2j69i57j0l3.5971j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8