Sixteen miles in the sultry, magnolia-fragrant breeze, with The Book Thief in my ears and smile on my face. A heavy little box turtle needed some help crossing the path, and a speedy garter snake insisted on doing it alone. Wild blackberries were worth the stop. I’ll bring something next time to carry them, and gloves. Drifting neon sparks tempted me to stop again in the shadows of dark leafy caverns, but I was enjoying the ride and the light was falling. I can hear my girls laughing upstairs. It’s good to be home.
Glittering empty boxes of nothing
On our way through West Virginia there was a conspicuous addition to the scenery: billboards for strip clubs and adult superstores. They have fancy words like “gentleman’s club” and “platinum” in an attempt to make them seem less sleazy.
The package may be gold foil with shiny ribbons, but get past the box and what is really inside? Nothing of substance. This business generates a lot of money peddling product that whets appetite and never satisfies.
A few scriptures come to mind:
Isaiah 29:8
It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.2 Nephi 9:51
Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.Alma 41:9-10
And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
Where does the pride come from?
This thought has been on my mind for a while. I know I am painting atheists with a broad brush, as I haven’t met all of them, but I have known a fair number. Those of my acquaintance have tended to be very proud of their lack of belief, and conversely, they considered anyone who didn’t share their lack of belief to be an idiot. It’s as though they declared themselves winners of a contest that they, for their lack of belief, should admit doesn’t matter. In trying to find an analogy, I imagine two men standing before a firing squad, arguing over who could beat the other in a foot race. A few minutes later they are dead and their pride is gone with them. If all flesh is grass, and soon to wither and die, what good does it do to boast? Perhaps pride is the security blanket of the unbelieving intellectual the way that religion is supposed to be the opiate of the masses.
It goes without saying that pride isn’t found only in atheists. I have often found it strange when intelligent people look down those are not as intelligent, or when those who are tall or physically strong make fun of those who are small and weak. So much of what we have is a gift, regardless of who or what we think the source is.
Being called sheep
When reading comments of political or religious discussions, I commonly see people referred to as “sheep” or “sheeple”. Sheeple don’t think for themselves. They blindly follow others, and they never discern the truth on their own. Well, at least that is what the label implies. If you cling too tightly to the beliefs of a party, or a faith or an ideal, and if you publicly declare it, you will likely find yourself labeled a sheep by someone. It is supposed to make you feel foolish for belonging to a group of like-minded individuals.
It is the nature of sheep to follow. It makes them easy to herd. George Orwell used them in Animal Farm to symbolize weak-minded followers who continually bleat mantras given them by the pigs. Yes, they have a reputation for being stupid. But, if we use Orwell’s novel to learn about sheep, we might assume that sheep will follow anyone and do anything they are told. Not so commonly known is their suspicious nature. Real sheep aren’t willing to follow just anyone. They follow trusted voices. Jesus knew the nature of sheep.
John 10:5, 14
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
My grandfather had sheep. As a child I would walk around his corrals and outbuildings, exploring the sights and sounds. The sheep would watch me with great curiosity from the other side of their fence, but they never let me get close enough to touch them. If I drew closer, they would back away, keeping a constant buffer of space between us. My grandfather was different. He was trusted. He could walk up to them and feed them from his hand. Real sheep may not be the brightest of the animals on the farm, but they don’t trust strangers. They trust the good shepherd.
There is a stigma attached to the label of “sheep”. And, if we look at sheep the way George Orwell did, there might be a reason for feeling shame. On the other hand, if we see sheep the way Jesus did, we should be glad to wear this label. If we know and trust the Good Shepherd, and if we are known of Him, where is the stigma in that?
Pushing 50 with the mind of a child
The flood of graduation announcements from the children of friends and relatives has had me reflecting on my own high school graduation and the thoughts I had back then. We thought we knew so much. We all talked about what we planned to do in the near future with college, and what we planned to accomplish after that. 30 years have passed, but the time seems much shorter.
I didn’t expect to be “old” so soon. I also thought I would feel older with age. My mental age lags far behind what my birth certificate tells me. I feel somewhere between 25 and 35, so the thought of turning 50 in a few years doesn’t compute.