Suffering. . .

The question of why people are suffering in situations that they have no control over has popped into my head on many an occasion.  A baby born with no arms or legs, a child diagnosed with cancer, or someone born into a society where they could be killed for doing right in some cases. . . I've heard different explanations as to why people would be allowed to be born into situations like this.  Some say it's because of the evil of their parents/ancestors, others say it's really our fault. . . sometimes He intervenes and sometimes He doesn't. 

I believe it's a little bit of both, but I think one key part of the puzzle is missing from those equations:  This life is a testing ground.  It's temporary.  Compare this to eternity and it's really not that serious.  It seems like it to us because it's all we know for certain, but the fact is, there's more after this and everything we encounter here is to make us ready for that.

That thought comforts me because I can see how someone born into that kind of suffering would understand, more than most, that things are not how they should be.  They'd also appreciate more than most what the Almighty has for them to look forward to, instead of what people have screwed up. 

From Adam and Eve, our story has been that of people thinking we know better than the Almighty.  If Adam and Even didn't think so they wouldn't have eaten the daggone fruit.  If we didn't now, we wouldn't have such a big problem with keeping commandments, resisting temptations, or being submissive.  The root of all of that is because somewhere in our head we think that we know better than the Almighty.  To us, giving into this temptation is what's going to make us happier.  It looks better to us at the time.  If we were confident that the Almighty knew best, then there would be no problem going along with His commands, right? 

What I'm getting at is that people who are born into suffering are more able to understand how much better the Almighty knows than we do, because all of the evils that are in the world are here by our hands.  The enemy may have put some ideas into motion, but we carried them out.  Animals, trees, aliens (no, I don't believe in aliens), etc. didn't cause the Greenhouse Effect, they didn't create AIDS, they haven't caused wars, or plagues. 

The way the Almighty had things set up was paradise.  He knows what's going to make us happiest.

I personally believe that the choice between Heaven and Hell is the choice between an existence where the Almighty is running things, or an existence where He isn't.  That's the choice that people make when they choose to do things considered to be sins.  If it's against His commands, then it's basically an affirmation that "we know better."  So we want things "our" way, when it's really the enemy's.  Because at the end of the day, he wants the opposite of whatever the Almighty wants, so we really have to choose one or the other.

Heaven is the choice to have things His way.  It's not a matter of being a good/bad person.  The people Christ was able to reach saw themselves as sinners after all, and I don't think the Almighty would be as liberal with forgiveness as He is if it was all about just letting the "good people" in heaven.  Not to mention all sins are the same in His eyes.  (Luke 13:1-5)  That said, it's definitely not about being a good person or not.  It's about who we want in charge:  The Almighty or us?  Do we want a world where it's how He wants things or do we know better?     

It sucks that people are under the pain that other people have caused, but we have to accept the responsibility that it is indeed pain that we've caused.  We could think of it as "Sure you've stopped this suffering and that suffering, but why haven't you stopped this?"  Or we could think of it as "You've stopped so much suffering, why did we even deserve that?" 

In summary, I really believe that tha'ts at least one of the reasons that the Almighty allows the suffering to exist:  the people who do are in a much better position to understand how much better the Almighty's kingdom will be than the one that humanity's messed up.  And they'll cherish it that much more when they get there.  He wanted obedient children, He's going to get obedient children, and He's going to have them in a world they can enjoy. 

It's just a testing ground.  It's just temporary.  It seems bad to us, but trouble don't last always

Peace,
Kep. 

P.S.:  Christ said that there were two commandments that summed up the law and the prophets (that's the entire bible before Christ.  All the Jews would've known by way of God's will before Christ came.)  Paraphrased, the commandments were to love the Almighty with all of your being and to love your neighbor as yourself.  (Matt 22:35-40) Don't let my "It's not about being good people" statment give you the wrong impression.  If you keep those two commandments, you don't have any choice but to turn into someone people consider to be a good person.  Just keep in mind, loving someone means getting to know them, their likes, dislikes, etc.; and doing everything in your power to stay away from those dislikes.  Food for thought.             

Luxury Cars

For example, I ran into my friend the other day at a gas station.  Now, to tell you something about this friend, he has to be the best dresser I’ve ever met.  I mean this guy embodies smoothness.  If you looked up the word “snazzy” in the dictionary, his Polaroid would be right there waiting for you.  And this is coming from someone who has little regard for fashion and lives in the richest black community on the Eastern Seaboard.  I’ve seen some good dressers, and I’m not inclined to take notice of fashion, particularly in males, because of my distaste for what it represents on multiple levels. . . Still, this brother can dress.

Anyway, when he came up to me I had to give him props on the outfit and general smoothacity that was eminating from him on this particular day.  I also commented on how nice his car looked in comparison to mine (which is more beat up than usual because of an accident this summer.)  I then proceeded to ask where he was working.  He responded with a profound statement:

“Oh I don’t have a job.  I just know how to not look like it.”

He proceeded to say, “Take my car for example.  It looks all nice and shiny on the outside, but when you get in you’ll notice the little buzzing sound when you accelerate, and you’ll hear some clinkity clacks when you get on the highway, and it doesn’t start up sometimes, but it looks nice!”

On the way home after that interaction, I couldn’t help but compare that to my status.  I dress like I’m homeless, but I have a fairly steady income and already had a game plan to earn more money.  My car’s front fendor may be jacked up, the turn signal may need to be clicked manually, and it may be in serious need of a car wash because of where I HAVE to park on my street (right under the birds’ favorite lunch tree), but I have no problem with how that car runs.  It starts quickly, has endured the years, and has high performance on the highway.  That’s why I call it Good ‘n’  Sturdy.  G.S. for short.

Then I got to thinking about my female friends and their infinite list of must haves in a man.  A lot of those things often have to do with appearance.  Experience has taught me that those appearances often take away from what’s on the inside.  It’s rare that people have both, and almost certain that those with less on the outside have more on the inside.

The metaphor continued today when my mother asked me to use my car.  Between she and her husband, they own four cars:  A pick-up truck Darryl uses for work, a BMW, a Voltswagon Station Wagon, and a mini-van. 

Because I have to pick up kids using the van today, Darryl’s using the truck for work, and the BMW and Voltswagon have had problems starting, she asked to use my car.  I have a ’94 Camry.  Ninety.  Four.  Both of the cars that don’t work look nicer, cost more, and are younger than my car. . . with less miles!  But that’s what happens isn’t it?  We go for all this flash, status, and excitement, but when it lets us down we end up turning to the old faithful, Good and Sturdy things in our lives to depend on.

Ladies, take a lesson in dating, because I know I am.  If you’re going to invest in a car, get one that’s going to last after its gained some mileage, because that shiny exterior won’t mean much if you can’t depend on it or it stops working all together. 

Peace,
Kep.

The Almighty Works. . . And So Does His Advice

"The wrath of man, does not bring about the righteousness of <the Almighty>" 

I'll look up where that is exactly later (my guess is somewhere in proverbs or in Paul's letters) but for now I've got to witness.  The Almighty works.

So humility and peacefulness really works wonders.  I was really agitated last night.  I went out of my way to be respectful and watch my words carefully and someone still got offended.  My thinking was that I was tired of people reading between the lines instead of what's on them, but it wasn't that simple.  I thought from the other person's perspective and saw how they could have thought what they thought.  So I addressed the miscommunication in all humility even though my initial reaction was to yell at them via email:  I GIVE UP!!!  WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THROUGH TO YOU PEOPLE???  READ WHAT I'M F$#%IN' SAYING!!!!

The "F$#%IN" was just for dramatic affect, by the way.

I was really heated though.  I could've responded in frustration, creeping back into that fortress of solitude that I've built up over the years, feeling like there's no place where I belong. . . which is partly true, I don't fit into any one category, but it doesn't necessarily mean I don't belong (That's another blog entry for another day). . . I could've gone there, but I didn't. 

Re-reading the email I sent, there was no animosity.  Despite my frustration, I was making an effort to be respectful and humble, and I believe that, even in my late night and frustrated stupor, the Almighty still got out of me what He knows my heart wanted to say.  I say that because normally, I would've just shot off at the mouth, which I felt like I was doing because of the lack of thinking that went into my response (it was just, "Address this, that, that, and send."  Very little revisioning.)  And what normally would've happened would be some very condescending sounding ramble that left people even more irritated than before.  It would've been me trying to rectify the situation, but not with the right mindset.   

But this time, I wasn't in a mindset of just defending my point.  I was in a humble mindset of "I really didn't mean to make you upset.  How can I fix that." As opposed to "Why don't you get it?" 

All I know is that after reading the emails I sent as a response, despite my temprament at the time, the words themselves did get across the point and tone that I wanted them to and my mentor that I'd ticked off slightly responded with peace.

When someone attacks and you respond with peace (not that they were attacking, generally speaking) it's a beautiful thing.  They don't know what to do with it and can't feel like a good person for continuing to abuse you.  That's true power.  Go Christ.

Peace,
Kep.

When to Witness. . .

I was originally going name this blog:  "I Give Up!"

I have ticked off the same people countless times via emails with a lack of forethought, a sense of self-righteousness, and other bad judgement calls.  For once, I finally try to use tact, forethought, humility. .. and I not only tick off the same people, but I added people to that number a mentor I never ticked off before!  The one who's always had my back!

Okay, now with her, I get it.  I think it was just a miscommunication. . . I think. . .

Anyway, the timing of that email was ironic.  I'd concluded a few days earlier that I should give some scripture to a friend of my who I really care about, platonically and romantically, warning her to stay out of clubs, not drink etc. because of the simple rule that putting yourself in the enemy's playing field is putting yourself in his hands.  My reasoning is that I really can't say I care about this person, watch them walking into a trap, and not say anything.  I'm not worried about being popular, I just want to plant the seed, because the image of something happening to them in that situation scares the crap out of me, especially if I don't say anything.

Now my mother has been getting on me about telling people things they already know without thinking about whether I really need to tell them or not.  Someone mentioned that in response to my people-ticking-off email as well.     

Combine this with the revelation that I don't always need to be the one who tells someone something; I could just be a seed planter, or someone else could just be better for the job. . . combine those two facts and I'm really starting to wonder:  when do I speak up?

I'd honestly rather not.  I hate. . . HATE. . . talking to most people about spirituality, particularly when it involves somehow challenging them to change their lifestyle.  (Maybe I do need to hang out with my Jehova's Witness friends and find out what the wises way to do that is.)  But there was never a painting of Christian's, the original ones, as popular folks. 

Yes, leading by example would be a very simple solution.  If I did it, though, it'd be more of a cop-out.  It would be ignoring the second greatest commandment:  love your neighbor as yourself.  If I was making a terrible mistake, I wouldn't want someone holding back the information for fear of me not responding well.  My thing is, at least try!  If you care about me, then the risk is worth it.  Your personal discomfort or my spiritual endangerment?  Hmmmmm. . .

Christ also taught not to cast pearls to swine.  Don't give something to people who don't want it.  How do you know if they want it or not?  Maybe that's the key.  Maybe I need to put more effort into seeing whether someone would be open to it or not. I don't know. 

But this email was kind of a wake up call to not be so quick to give this warning.  But silence is not so golden when someone's well being is on the line.

Scripturally speaking, how do you figure out if you're the one the Almighty will use ro plant a seed?

I'm starting to understand my mother's dillema  of always having to be "the heavy."

Peace,
Kep.  

Bible Study in a Blog Comment. . .