The Luxury of Despair
Today’s Word from Pastor Jim
The words of Jesus to his disciples, to those who would be going forward to change the world: “And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet.” Matthew 10:14
The songwriter David Roth wrote the beautiful song, “I stand for love.” The lyrics were written more than 14 years ago and they include the line, “You know the world is in great pain.” The more things change the more things stay the same. 415 years ago, William Shakespeare introduced the world to a play titled “The Tempest.” In that play is the very Shakespearian line, “What’s past is prologue.”
The world is a mess right now. News flash: the world has always been a mess! If you lived through the 1960’s in the United States of America you may remember a time when there was violence on the burning streets of our cities; the Army National guard patrolled our neighborhoods side by side with law enforcement. In the 1960’s we were at war in Southeast Asia, we were on high alert for nuclear war, our leaders were assassinated, and the struggle for civil rights left peaceful protesters dead or in jail. “You know the world is in great pain.” Yes, we know. We live with anxiety, and we say our prayers for our nation and the world.
Dust yourselves off, my friends! We are people of hope! We have been called to bring healing and hope to broken people in an always broken world. We do not have the luxury of despair! We cannot hide under the covers, it does no good to spend hours each day reading the gloomy headlines, immersing ourselves in a toxic news cycle, losing sleep, and losing hope. We are being unfaithful if we waste our most valuable commodity: the precious hours given to us by a loving God. We are on the clock; our runway gets shorter each day. We can make a difference. The world needs us. God needs us.
The power brokers of the world want you to be paralyzed by fear and despair. Jesus calls us to be people of hope. People of hope change the world. People of hope look to the future. People of hope inspire hope in others. People of hope plant trees and have children.
“You know the world is in great pain.” The world will always be in great pain, but we are not helpless. So, dust yourselves off and sing, wash feet, volunteer, write letters, care for a child, help your neighbor, work for justice, always remembering the oft repeated words from Jesus, “do not be afraid.” We do not have the luxury of despair. Dust yourself off and do what you can today. “What’s past is prologue.” We shall overcome.
One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. How is that for hope?
I am your
Pastor Jim
