The Good Shepherd and Good Shepherding
Conversation #3 - Perspective
Ministering to a world of grief while immersed in our own pain and loss.
RECOVERING OUR PERSPECTIVE (get a grip)
Augustine’s “City of God” was written some 1600 years ago. For me, it’s not an easy read. I’m going slowly through it in audio format. Sometimes, it helps me fall asleep for my nap. One thing that stands out so far is the section of short chapters that deal with martyrdom as a fact of life… how to face it… how to prepare for it… how to prepare our families for it. How do we leave a clear testimony for Christ until we draw our last breath? I haven’t seen very many How-To books dedicated to martyrdom for sale. Something like “10 steps to a successful death … Step 1: Be prepared - if you mess this one up, you won’t get a do-over; step 2…?”
We might need to rethink how we think about suffering. We are distinctly American, with an unjustifiable sense of entitlement, immersed in consumerism. If we get a handle on who the Lord is for us, we won’t get all OCD about “God, this hurts—make it go away.” Rock bottom? When we talk about rock bottom, much of the world only laughs. When we let ourselves see how and how much many millions of people are suffering… how can we not be thankful for whatever our lives are today? A recently translated poem:
THE SCREAM And when their children were murdered the Israelian Palestinian Iranian Armenian Syrian Ukranian … mother screamed the same scream cried the same tears the least we can do is to acknowledge their pain.
A recent emigré from Ukraine to the United States was asked, “What stands out as being different here from your home country?” Her answer? “The sky is quiet.” Maybe we need a season of rockets whistling overhead and exploding a split second later in our neighborhoods, destroying our homes, killing people we know, taking family members… to readjust how we think about what we are entitled to.
Whatever our present trial, remember: It’s normal. We’re not being singled out for some unusual tragedy. It’s the human experience. We’re part of it. Everyone faces harsh realities and losses sooner or later. A capricious, vindictive god is not picking on us.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13, ESV)
“And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”” (Job 1:21, ESV)
Why is it so hard to say what Job said… and mean it?… and live it?
Our initial reaction to the unthinkable can be: How is this possible? After we pull ourselves together, we return to: “Thank you, Lord. I don’t understand, but I trust you. Whatever my life is today, Lord, nothing compares to what awaits me on the other side with you forever.”
This sanctified perspective is only possible as we look up… and let the Lord help us know and feel how insignificant our present situation is compared to what’s next.
Required: a healthy dose of meekness.