Bus Stop

"Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness."*

A lot of the funny stories I hear and tell often revolve around something done not-so-wisely. I'm not sure how much bragging of our foolish acts is useful. In saying that, I am now going to tell a short tale of one of my foolish acts... my hour waiting at a bus stop.

I was sitting on a bus, going to an unknownn destination I had only seen the name of on a map. Thankfully buses in Germany have a screen that shows which bus stop is next. Alleviating me from having to explore everything through google street view! Or ask anyone for help and directions. On this particular occassion however, the name of the town was not the name the bus had for the stop, and so I stayed seated and said nothing. 

The only problem was, this was the last bus for the day. Once the bus has passed my suspected stop I finally I asked an elderly lady if I had indeed missed my stop. I had.

So there I was, at dusk, in a small village! It was either laugh or cry! Somehow I had managed 5 months in Europe without getting lost of missing a stop, and now, here, in the middle of 'no-where', I was stuck! It was extremely hard to make that call and try to explain to my host. They were very kind and willingly came and picked me up. My hour at that bus stop was a time to reflect on my pride.

There are a lot of words I would like to be able to take back. Wish out of peoples ears and back safely behind my lips. There are several things I wish I had never done. There are things I wish I had taken the time and care in doing, without the arrogance that I can do it alone.

Wise people think before they act. It's common knowledge, and yet, does not happen often, that one does 'look before you leap'**! The Apostle Paul warns against thinking we are wiser than we actually are. Something I am now in the process of learning to notice in myself. 'Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.'*** Ultimately, admitting we aren't wise is a really wise thing to do! I conclude with a Proverb, 'When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.'****

*Proverbs 13:16
**Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables Chap. 19
***1 Corinthians 3:18-21a
****Proverbs 11:2

something smells

'Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.'*

...enjoy a little Vivaldi as you read this post... 

 

**

 Spring is here! And all my senses are waking up! I am noticing things I didn't know were missing, including, ants (can't say I missed the flies!)! I can hear birds and water flowing. I can feel the warm sun on my skin and the grass under my feet. I didn't notice just how little I have been using my nose until spring arrived. And suddently I can smell dirt, flowers, manure, rain, pollen...

I have been enjoying living for the last 2 months near a river, I walk to it every couple of days. It thrills me to see everything change slowly from what appeared -at least to me- as dead, now blossoming with colours! Fresh. Fragrant. Full. The fragrance of spring brings hope to my heart that life and growth do exist -even in unlikely places-, and so I seek to emulate spring by sharing the joys of life in fellowship with God; the Creator of such a pretty season!!

How did God walk? Not litterally, how did he put one step in front of the other, but what is God's example? There are a few places in the Bible where God walks, the ultimate walk was Jesus' walk to the cross. As you read the four Gospel accounts one thing is clear, Jesus went willingly. He didn't put up a fight, or give reasons why it was all a mistake. Instead, he was silent and went without a fight. He didn't do it to save face and 'be brave until the end'. He walked in the way of love, willing to die so that God's anger could be satisfied, and we could be spared.

This good news is not something to be kept behind closed doors, but to be shared! The Acts of the Apostles recount of people going out and telling of this life changing information. Paul was very passionate about spreading the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.*** In the synagogue in Thessalonica he 'went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined'.**** Paul later, when writing to the church in Corinth, explains that:

 'Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.'***

I tell what I do because I believe it to be true, but also because I have been given the Spirit of love, self control and power*****. I share knowing that God has given me (and all Christians, for that matter) a task to do here on earth, to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour. We do this with Christ's authority. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.'******

And so I ask myself, am I smelling? How smelly am I? I'm not asking myself when I last had a shower, but rather how intentional I am living my life. Are you living intentionally? Are you smelling? How smelly are you?

*Ephesians 5:1-2
**Vivaldi The Four Seasons 'Spring' 
***2 Corinthians 2:14-17
****Acts 17:2-4a
*****2 Timothy 1:7 
*****Matthew 28:18-20b

sleep on it

'count the patience of our Lord as salvation'*

There are some things that really get on my nerves, make my teeth clench and my fists form. If pushed I can get into a blind rage, and seek the highest authority I can find nearby to put forth my complaint of injustice. And, worse still, if nothing seems to be happening the way I want it, I take it into my own hands and forge through on my own; sidestepping authority, ignoring advice, determined that I am right.

In the past few months I have been reading through the Psalms. Early on I came across this verse that was a bit uncomfortable. So I decided I needed to reflect on it a while, I wrote it in my journal and have tried to read it and act upon it:

"Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent."**

Be silent. I laugh when I think of that. Me, silent? I've tried fasting from talking a few times. It is amazingly challenging! But what is so overwhelming about this statement is, that I am advised to stay quiet precisely when I am burning to shout and say something!

At first I wanted to write a blog post about how sometimes it is ok, good even, to be angry and shout out against injustice. But the more I reflect on it, the more I think that's not really what it's about, bbecause the next line says:

'Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.'**

I have spoken a little in another post ('old snow') about some things God requires from our sacrifices. I will only add that our sacrifices comes hand in hand with our trust that God is who He says He is, and He has done what is written about Him in the Bible, and He will do what He has promised.

Yesterday, I was out riding my bike around town, and like in many situations, I was singing to myself. I enjoy listening to Christian music, and so it is often what comes to mind first. I found myself singing a line that struck a cord, it felt like another answer to my problem of anger...

 'Oh, if ten thousand years go by
We will wait
Let us tell of his great love
He will come
For his patience means salvation'***

God will return one day, but every day that He has not come, every night that He gives us to sleep out our anger, is another day to share His love. He is angry because he loves so deeply. He waits because he is patiently waiting for more people to repent of their selfish living and recognise Him as the Maker and Judge.

God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love****. Jesus taught that God is merciful, and in the same way we should be merciful to others. He talked about this in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant***** (I encourage you to read it for yourself). It shows how much God -the King- has forgiven me and how little in comparison I -the servant- should forgive others.

Jesus begins the Parable by saying that we should forgive a brother or sister who sins against us 'seventy seven times', meaning MANY times! We shouldn't count how many times we forgive, and at the 76th time say, this is your last chance! Rather, it is an example of the patience of God's continued forgiveness that we should continue to forgive no matter how many times.

I think this reaches further than just things that happen against us personally. I often get worked up about issues that weren't done personally against me, or affect me per se. Yet I think this 'slow to anger' still applies. To wait and sleep on it. Hopefully I will then have a better way of dealing or responding to things, than the initial passion and rage I feel like acting upon. And so now, as well as reflecting on not letting anger control me, I now remember God patience with me, which gives me the strength to do the first better.

p.s. I'm sure this 'slow to anger' is wise, as it is found numerous times in Proverbs, including 14:29, 15:18, 16:32 and 19:11!

*2 Peter 3:15 
**Psalm 4:4-5
***We Belong to the Day, by Michael Morrow (2006) 
****Psalm 86:15
*****Matthew 18:21-35