MUSING
For some reason the past few days and weeks have been quite busy and involved. Could it be spring is about to be “sprung and grass is about to be riz, and we will be wondering where the flowers is”. Sorry for the unsophisticated syntax but the words set off by quotation marks is an aphorism my father-in-law liked to say about this time of the year and it seemed fitting. As any writer knows, sometimes it seems the words get stuck between the brain and the fingers and this is where I have found myself lately—and this time of the year has made it urgent to take care of some things outside but I promise to get back in the groove shortly. Meanwhile, I would like to share another friend of ours with my readers as he writes down some thoughts about “musing”.J. James Albert, or Jim to us, writes a regular epistle to some of his Christian brethren in a paper he calls the CALIFORNIA LETTER. Mostly he writes about specific portions of “religion” (or Christian living) as it affects the circle of friends on his mailing list and very poignantly reminds us that those things God wants us to do should not be regarded as a straightjacket of beliefs or some kind of “do this” or “don’t do that” list of moral precepts. Being a Christian is not some kind of awards keeping arrangement that we can show whoever meets us at the gates of Heaven as some kind of entrance requirements; being a Christian is a constant on-going way of life.
In the way of an introduction to our readers, I asked Jim to give me a short bio, which is as follows: “I taught 6th, 7th, 8th, and 12th grades in Ohio. I was a counselor for nine years, a vice principal for four, principal for two, and assistant superintendent for 15. All in Corcoran, California. Now I teach a psychology class each semester for the College of the Sequoias. Hope this helps.” With such data I believe Jim has had sufficient experience to qualify as an accurate observer of life and consequently able to share some observations about the subject of “musing.” Sit back; be prepared to ruminate about a similar exercise of musing.
THE WORDWRIGHT
MUSING
Prior to looking up the word "musing" in the dictionary I thought of it as casual or superficial thinking. My dictionary though defines the word as "meditation" or something "thoughtfully abstracted." The word "muse" is defined as "a state of deep thought." So there you have it. I didn't give myself credit for what I was doing. Ha! My detractors will say I'm delusional. Anyway, here is something I have been thinking about lately and I hope it provokes you to muse.
We live in what some people call the "Information Age." That's wonderful in many respects. We need to be informed. Nevertheless, don't you sometimes get tired of all the talk you hear; especially the political wrangling and the effort people make to appear to be "politically correct"? You can't process it all and frequently you don't know who's lying or telling the truth or who's right and who's wrong. Sometimes you get so you don't want to hear anymore or don't want to process anymore. Psychologically you just want to block it all out and isolate yourself or withdraw. I know people quit taking newspapers and won't watch news programs because they tired of it all.
An outgrowth or a spin-off of politics is more and new laws. At the beginning of this calendar year California had more than a thousand new laws go into effect. This confirms my opinion that we have too many laws. Let me give you a couple of examples of these laws. One is that you can't tie up your dog longer than three hours at a time. Locally, and this isn't included in the over a thousand statewide laws, you can't park your vehicle in your driveway for more than two weeks without moving it. Also, no longer are garbage trucks permitted to use the alleys, so you have to haul your garbage to the street in front of your house. Now places are passing laws to combat the unsightly appearance of the garbage containers left for days and longer on the street. It goes on and on.
The same thing is true in religion. In fact, religion is kin to politics in many ways. Incessantly you hear all kinds of talk relative to hundreds of issues. Everybody has an issue or a slant on something. There's a clamor to be "politically correct" and stay in the good graces of the denominational party or sects. Each thinks they exclusively represent God and are right, and in so many words assert to others: "Either do or see it my way or go to hell."
Then talk about laws and rules based upon inferences and interpretations! They abound. Amusingly, one rule is that we don't speak where the Bible is silent, but then proceed to enforce as law interpretations based upon the silence. Whole sermons are preached on how implications are binding. I could give you many examples from the frivolous to complex, but won't take your time now. The point is that all of this political wrangling and sectarian posturing is confusing and tiring, to say the least.
This is exactly the situation the rank-and-file Jewish people found themselves in when Jesus was here on earth. The Jewish religious leaders, particularly the scribes and Pharisees were bent on being "politically correct" and they had formulated hundreds of laws and rules for the people to follow. Not only couldn't you remember them all, some of them were ridiculous and silly. The leaders themselves were motivated to manipulate them to enhance themselves while still appearing to be "politically correct." Jesus called them blind and hypocrites and snakes.
I'm told their interpretations would make a book of over one hundred pages. What they did was make religion a burden. The people were tired. What did Jesus tell them? "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Jesus extends an invitation to those weighed down to the point of exhaustion, either by the awareness of personal sin, or likely in this context, by the sheer weight of law keeping as advocated by scribe and Pharisaic casuistry. In contrast the yoke Jesus offers is "easy" and the "burden is light." It is grounded in the unique quality of Jesus' character. He said, "I am gentle and lowly in heart." This seems to indicate that faithful following of Jesus is not to be found in the precision of law keeping, but in a relationship with one who is filled with compassion and devoted to the service of others. Such a course does not produce tiredness caused by confusion and insecurity, but results in inner well-being and tranquility grounded in the faithfulness of God. In other words, rest for the soul.
Jesus' yoke does not throw a person upon his own efforts or cause him to rely upon the fickleness of human performance in keeping a multitude of burdensome legalistic rules as prescribed by the scribes and Pharisees, both of olden times and modern-day. He charts a course based upon trust in God and love of your neighbor as he stated in Matthew 22:37-39. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
This contrast becomes readily apparent following Jesus' invitation as revealed by the events at the beginning of Matthew 12. Jesus and disciples were accused of violating the Sabbath by picking grain and eating it and healing on the Sabbath. Jesus said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" and indicated doing good takes precedence over "political correctness."
If our religion is a burden of meticulous rules and regulations which are all consuming, confusing, and dividing, and make our spirits tired and weary, then it is not the way of Jesus Christ. If our religion is contrary to common sense good doing as in the cases of the priest and Levite, and causes us to circumvent love of neighbor, especially brethren in Christ, it is not worship of God "in spirit and truth." There's something wrong if our spirituality is a burden that makes us psychologically disheartened, tired, and weary. Now you can muse.
J. James Albert a fellow wordwright
and Christian brother to THE WORDWRIGHT