Living in world where things are messy
Today my moped was stolen from outside the church while I sat inside participating in a pastoral education session. I have little hope of the police finding it. How do I feel? Absolutely gutted. This evening I turned to the psalms. Evening, day four of the month - Psalm 22.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words
of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
There are several ironies in this theft. First, yesterday I accidentally left my keys in the bike all day and it was there when I left in the afternoon. Secondly today we we examining the subject of loss and grief. Yes, I am feeling some grief now. Third I was not charged for my coffee today when I bought lunch at a local cafe. Having realised this I paid for the while leaving the cafe. Perhaps the psalms will at least provide me with an understanding of a world in which things don’t always work out for those who do good. But how do I follow Christ into that kind of world? The reading this evening is from Isaiah 61:
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners.
but also:
For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Well it doesn’t really apply to my situation but I am comforted that the LORD hates theft; especially when I’m feeling so bruised by it.
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