´e Tutto Buono... It's All Good: September 2018

"I dwell with a strangely aching heart." Robert Frost

About a year ago, I wrote a blog about being "Soul-Sore." It seemed at the time that quite a few people could relate to the subject-- this feeling of rawness, soreness of the soul. And, as I have been inundated (along with the rest of the world) with todays newsreels, I thought it might be a good time to look back and reflect on this Soul Sore feeling to examine what has changed (if anything).

In a lot of ways, things still feel somewhat topsy turvy in the world. My hope was (and to be honest it still is) that given some time, people would find a way to at least live with their differences of opinion in a way in which they can treat each other with some measure of respect, some measure of grace, and more than a full measure of love. If I only used social media, the news on T.V., or the written news, I might despair that this is not happening, that it will never happen. I might wonder if all sense of reason was forever lost in a deep love of turmoil and self-righteousness. And I will admit, on the days when I let those things be my only input-- I sometimes feel that way.

I have witnessed friends turn against each other over a difference of beliefs. I watch in horror people taking every opportunity to de-humanize each other-- not thinking about, nor caring, that they are destroying another human being emotionally and physically. I watch as the loss of life has become so common, so normal, that it goes unreported-- and even worse-- is viewed as not important. It even seems that we have now turned our wrath on those who might speak up about treating all people, regardless of belief, with dignity, love, and respect.

And it's not just in the U.S. where this is happening. If you pay attention at all to the world news, you will see that there are several countries in Europe that are dealing with this as well. In Germany there have been many violent protests around immigration and the refugee crisis that has hit European countries hard. This has long been a problem in the Middle East where differing religious sects have been waging battle for years. Africa, Indonesia, Asia, India-- there seems to be no end to this anger, this darkness of spirit.

And I have been hearing another theme weaving it's way through private and public conversations-- weariness. Deep, soul-soreness that is coming from hearts and souls that are feeling battered and beaten down by this seemingly never- ending battle. There seems to be no soft spot on which to land. The things that we used to use as a means to escape -- sports, movies, TV, social media, books, religion, etc... have become strangely embroiled in the battle as well. People are at once yearning for these safety zones and at the same time always staying geared up for battle because they never know when an attack might come.

We walk around soul-sore, suited up in our armor, with our sword hand ready to defend any perceived incoming attack on our being and we are finding ourselves exhausted, weary, disillusioned, and ready to give up.

And in the midst of this somewhat disheartening reflection... I have been repeatedly coming across these words...

"The best way out is always through." Robert Frost

"So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith." Galatians 6:9-10 (the message)

As you may or may not have guessed, I have been revisiting some of my favorite poems by Robert Frost, and so therefore you get to revisit some of his words with me. Lucky you (written with a sarcastic smile). And I am fully aware that Mr. Frost had his own shortcomings (hello, he was a human-- we all fall short), but I do not believe it takes away from the wisdom you can find in written words. And I feel like most of you are aware of the scripture from Galatians.

So the big question becomes, what do we do?

Everyone will say that the first step is to acknowledge that there is a problem. Duh. I think most of us are aware that there is a problem, even the news media has turned this "great divide" into a reportable story. But stating that the problem exists does nothing to solve it. In fact, focusing only on the problem allows the problem to continue to exist-- and it often makes the problem worse. Ever hear of the statement we are what we repeatedly do?

In order to properly address the situation, action is needed. So back to the question of what do we do? It's easy to throw our hands up. To throw in the towel. To say things like 'I can't control other people and their actions." But that only makes the problem grow-- and it adds to your feeling of soul-soreness, of helplessness. I don't know about you, but I always feel better when I can take some kind of action. Some movement forward.

Which leads me to the first word I put in Bold type-- the word through. The definition for the word through is this: moving in one side and out the other side, continuing in time toward the completion of a process or period. Sounds pretty straightforward right? But what is missing in that definition is that often way through is hard. The way through involves work, like slogging through deep mud. The way through requires action, forward movement. Through takes time, through takes perseverance. And I believe the the most important concept missing in this definition: The way through takes vision. You have to be able to envision the end, the way out... otherwise you are just randomly roaming around with no end in sight-- you won't be going through if you have no vision of the other side.

So my first challenge to myself, and to you is to get a picture in your mind of the other side. What does the other side look and feel like? What is the goal? Let's put this thought on pause for a moment, because I feel like in order for you to get a true vision of the other side, you need to understand the "how" part of the equation.

I feel like these scriptures in Galatians address the how part, the motions we need to take to get through to the other side. The first step in getting through involves gaining control of our emotions. It says to "not allow ourselves to get fatigued." What does this mean? Well, I can't answer that for you, because I think the answer may be different for everyone. I'll just simply tell you what I do for myself. I absolutely limit the amount of time I spend watching or reading the news. This doesn't mean that I totally block everything out-- because I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and in being informed. It just means that for me, I give it an appropriate level of importance in my day. I recognize that too much news or bad/hard information influences me in a negative way. For me, it effects how I view things-- it's like wearing a very dark pair of sunglasses and moaning about how dark everything is on the brightest, most sunny of days. All I would have to do to change my view is to take off my sunglasses. I have to make a deliberate choice, every day, to balance what I am allowing to influence me. This is absolutely within my realm of control. The other part of this is that I try to start my day focused on things that make me feel grateful, things that bring back good memories, things that make we look at this world with wonder. I am visual, and so part of my morning routine is revisiting and posting some of my favorite memories on social media in the form of photographs. It is a small, insignificant little way of (hopefully) sparking some of those feelings of wonder and gratitude about this world that God has given us in others. It's also my own little somewhat rebellious way of rebutting all the negative, soul-depressing stuff that goes out and takes place on social media daily.

The next step involves perseverance. It says "if we don't give up or quit" things will get better. And there is the tie in with vision-- This sentence describes perfectly the hardness of slogging through with the victory of the vision of the other side. I would encourage you to meditate on this sentence alone. Don't speed read it. Let it settle into your bones. Let it remind you that the hard work is worth it. Let your soul rise in the hope that the other side is possible. Let it remind you that we (you and I) play an important role-- that our struggle, that our strength, is needed and valuable and necessary in order for the other side to become a possibility. And find rest in the acknowledgement that this is hard work. No where in this sentence does it state that this is easy, that there should not be struggle. It doesn't deny nor minimize the pain and effort. It only states that it is worth it in the end. Be encouraged by this seemingly small, insignificant piece of scripture that is so rich and deep that it will take me another 50 years and beyond to appreciate all it's nuances. Be encouraged today. Don't loose sight of the other side!

The last step looks simple, but I believe it is the hardest one of all, "every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all." You see, what we lose sight of in this battle, in the great war of who is right and who is wrong, is that it doesn't matter. It's not about me. It's not about you. Sometimes I think we get way to focused on ourselves and forget God's true intention for us. You see, we get really wrapped up in the thought that Jesus died for me. Which is all true, and has it's place of importance. But the real scripture says "For God so loved the world..." Let me ask you this, what happens when you win the argument.. that your point or belief or view or ______ is proven to be right, and yet you leave behind soul-sore people? Is that really your purpose? Is it our purpose to control the thoughts and beliefs of others or is it to love them? Let's go back to the benefit of all piece...when all is said and done, do your actions benefit all? Or do they benefit only those who agree with you? Do your actions help people see Gods great love for them or do they leave them soul-sore?

Let's go even deeper, what does it mean when it says "every time we get the chance?" Are there limits to this? Does it really mean every time, or only during certain circumstances? And if I am going to poke the bear (which I am probably doing right about now with some of these questions) I might as well poke it with the sharp end of the stick... so here it goes. What if we don't feel "led" by our spirit, or by God, or by instinct or ____, to take the chance before us to work towards the benefit of all-- does that give us a free pass to bow out? Ouch. What if they deserve what is happening to them, am I required to work for their benefit? What if they hate me? Do I still need to work for their benefit? What if they are a criminal, an adulterer, a liar, a politician, an immigrant, a woman, a man, a muslim, a ______? Still, do I work for their good? What is the definition of the "all?" Who is included in the "all?" Does "all" really mean ALL? This is the heart of what we are all wrestling with.

We are wrestling with where to draw the lines, should there even be any lines, what is right, what is wrong etc... And we are losing sight of the goal, the other side, so to speak. Maybe, just maybe, the goal isn't to solve all the differences of opinion (which I personally think is an unattainable goal at best). Instead, what if our goal involves us being willing to slog through the mess with perseverance and hope, showing all those we come in contact with the all-encompassing love of God, and with caring and loving hands show them the vision of the other side.

I can't speak for you. I don't speak for anyone but myself. But what this past year has shown me and taught me about my own soul-soreness is that that it is most unbearable during the times that I allow myself to lose sight of the other side. When I allow myself to let go of hope and grip fear tightly in my hands. When I forget that the person that I deeply disagree with God gave his son to die for. When thoughts and ideas, and yes, even beliefs become more important than God's love for the people of this world. That is what really lies at the heart of my soul-soreness. And I would dare to venture a guess that I am not alone in this. I am still struggling in this, this figuring out the soul-soreness thing and what I am supposed to do with it. It's easy to get so caught up in the fray and become angry. It's also easy to throw my hands up in defeat and say I give up-- you all sort it out yourselves. It's hard to to stay in the "through." It's hard to not give up, to not allow myself to become weary, to slog through with determination, keeping my eyes focused on the other side. Some days I do really well, and some days I fail miserably.

I will leave you with these final words from a Robert Frost poem and a few nature photos. The poem brings to my mind the mornings when I wake up and it looks like it's going to be a drizzly, moist, miserable day. The fog is thick and I can see my breath. But then the sun begins to work behind the clouds, clearing away the mist and by the afternoon, it's warmth can be felt.

"The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." Robert Frost