Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Rumble of Repetitive Sameness

Hear that? It comes this way! The rumble of repetitive sameness draws near and we are powerless to stop it. Is it that way though? Look at that hand knitted or crocheted scarf. Is it not beautiful in its repeating pattern? See the pattern in the carpet or tile, do we not take comfort in the stability of its repeated design? We may be of that type of person who fears the job on the production line where every piece is the same year after year. Even that sort of person can take comfort in the unchanging vista (at least to our limited view) of the mountain range to the west. Above all is it not a comfort to know of God's unchanging sameness in His holy perfection?

Much of what we judge right or wrong comes out of our viewpoint. We want to be able to say quite emphatically and without the least doubt that this thing is wrong or right or whatever. We may realize fully that our point of view is a slippery thing often dependent upon circumstance and how we feel on any given day. Yet, we still want the independence to decide right and wrong, good and evil, and declare the thing or action to be ever so. Open the Bible, see the Pharisees telling the Lord of all that He cannot do this thing. Read as the Pharisees set themselves as final arbiters of the Law to pronounce doom upon the Almighty for telling them who He is. We face the same temptation and we don't always resist the Tempter as we should.

To some the rumble of repetitive sameness may be in that very production line that others fear. To them the sound is a comfortable living with the ability to give the children a chance at college. The sound of the conveyor belt each day may be a repetitive sameness to you or me, but to those who take comfort from it the sound is one of progress toward a goal. I don't get to say that this person's means is a horrible thing from which he must be freed. We who follow Christ have but one thing we must do for him. We get to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Often, we will find that his contentment in life is due to Jesus being there before us. We can then share the good news with each other, loving our neighbor as our self.

Have a loving day as we journey toward the New Year!

Bucky

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