Fret Not

If you watch CNN or the Weather Channel, you have seen and heard about some fretful matters in our world. A nurse in the Army Reserve talked to me about coming back from Iraq last March and of her upcoming deployment in January. After her four-month long tours, she returns to Baytown and her job at Methodist Hospital. Life back to normal, she didn’t appear to fret over her upcoming return to Iraq. We casually sat at a dining table with a third friend, laughing and talking. I was left to wonder why she wasn’t hiding in her house wringing her hands in the dark? When she told me that her hospital unit had been under attack five times, I asked if she was scared. She readily replied, “yes”. Even the calm soldier frets under the dangers of war in Iraq.

Hurricanes spin their way through warm waters blowing up a storm and disrupting life as it slides across land in its path. Threaten by Gustav; we watched the weather, prayed that Gustav would go away from us and spare poor New Orleans. Our prayers were answered and without even so much as a drop of rain, Gustav turned away. Then, as it made landfall to the east, we wondered how New Orleans could withstand another hit three years after Katrina devastated people’s homes and left others homeless. Our prayers again were heard as the storm slowed coming on land, lessening its hit to Louisiana. Thousands of evacuees exhaled in relief and journeyed back home, many with prayers of thanksgiving on their lips.
Wars and storms will leave us fretting if we allow it. We don’t need to fret if we believe God’s promises.

Psalm 37: 1 says:

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die.

Also, Matthew 24:6 tells us,
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.

Jesus calmed a storm when he …rebuked the wind and raging waters. (Matthew 24:6) Just as the disciples were afraid of drowning even with their Savior nearby, we also fret even though the Father is still nearby. Jesus asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?” Could Jesus be asking the same of us today when we worry and fret over storms out of our control?

When storms persist and wars continue, have faith. He won’t tell you to “buck up” or “get tough.” He’s been where you are. He knows how you feel. The Father is with us to still the storm and calm the soldier. Who’s to say he won’t do the same for you?
(Lucado, Max. Traveling Light, (W. Publishing Group: Dallas, TX, 2001) 101.

Department Store Hell

Have you ever shopped in what I call a "low end discount department store?" What I mean is one that is known for its low prices on name brand items. Sure, you can save a buck, but you have to wade through a lot of crap first. Those clothes may not be this season or even last season, but by golly, they are Name Brand!

Name brands mean nothing to me. I didn't go in that store to find a name brand top to wear under my much too revealing dress. Just about the only name brands I know are Sag Harbor and Bobbie Brooks; one of which is now sold in Wal-Mart. There were too many choices like type, colors, sizes, fabric, solids, floral or patterned, and the clearance items appeared to be mixed in with the regular priced items. It really resembled a garage sale.

Some clothes had fallen off the hangers and were flung across the hanging rack making it an annoyance for anyone moving hangers to see other clothing items. I can only assume that when the item of clothing fell off the hanger, a customer decided they were doing the store a favor by throwing it on top of the rack of clothes, instead of leaving it on the dirty floor. Furthermore, the whole bending, stooping, picking up, and flinging of the garment must have worn said costumer out so much because they didn't even put it back on the hanger. I mean...really. How hard can it be to hang it back on a hanger??

The thing that really disturbs me about walking through a "bargain basement" type of department store, is the people who shop there show no respect for the store, the merchandise or even themselves enough to handle the items with care. The shoe department looks like a war zone of dead shoes strewed up and down the isles and laid out on the shelves minus a mate. I just don't have the patience it would take to find a matching pair of shoes in all of that clutter.

After my dissatisfying trip to the fitting room, I emerged from the hot musty smelling dressing room imagining that this must be what Hell is like. Hot skanky smelling dressing rooms, ill-fitting clothes, messy floors and things of all sorts thrown around like confetti. I felt sleazy as I left the store.

It is amazing to me that places like that stay in business and that people continue to give in to their Siren cries of discounts. What was I thinking when I walked into that "Den of Disarray?" Yet, I must confess, this wasn't the first time I'd ever ventured into such a department store. Oh no, I am a shamed to admit I have attempted to find clothing there before and failed. So, why did I think it would be any different this time?

At least I didn't leave my money with those money changers. Like Satan, I must put that store behind me. I must pray never to be lured through its dank doors again. For now, I have escaped the disorganized, dirty, drab, dismal, Department Store Hell.

Today Has Enough Troubles

The other night, Kim and I had our small group from church in our home for a time of Bible study. Our text was Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

The question posed was, "What does righteousness mean?" Someone answered that it was "being right in the eyes of God." Another person questioned the meaning of the word, righteous. All agreed that the word is more of a religious word and not one used by people not familiar with what might be considered religious buzz words. So, how does one relay that message to hunger and thirst for righteousness to the un-churched, that is, one who isn't connected to any religious organization? What does the word righteous mean? Furthermore, why seek righteousness in the first place?

Righteous--1: acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

Hmm,...still a lot of religious words in divine or moral law. However, free from guilt or sin might speak to the common man a little better if it weren't for that word, sin.

To be guilt or sin free is not possible and being righteous is not as easy as it sounds, is it? Who was the only righteous One? Jesus Christ. Isn't being righteous like Jesus is righteous a pretty tall order? Fortunately, God has us covered. ( John 3:16)

Although, I would like to back up to the root word, right, for a better understanding of the meaning of righteousness.

Right--1: righteous, upright2: being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper <right conduct> (MWOD)

Surely, all would understand the word good. Every child has heard often to "be good." So, to be right in the simplest form is to be good. But, how does that work with the definition of righteous and having to do with divine and moral law? The word righteous is an adjective and describes someone or something. Jesus is divine, that is, 1. of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God. (MWOD) Therefore, to hunger and thirst for righteousness is to have a longing or desire to be righteous or divine like Jesus. Still easy for the Divine One, but what about Me? How is that possible? Why am I hungering for Christ-like righteousness?

Matthew 6:31-34 talks about our worries of what to eat, drink or wear. As I thought about that text, I could relate to my own anxieties now that I have retired, as to having enough money to pay bills, make needed repairs to the house, buy clothes, and food to eat. Our needs haven't changed much from Jesus' day. We still worry over where we'll get the means to acquire those things. In verse 32 of chapter 6, Jesus is telling us that the Father knows we need those things, but if we seek first his (Jesus) kingdom and his righteousness, all of those things we need will be given to us. That's why we seek righteousness. To be without worries and to trust in God. Think of it like having faith we will have air to breath all through the night as we sleep and into the morning as we wake up. Do we fret over having air? No, its there. We can't see it or hear it, but we know it will be there for us every day. So, why is it so hard to trust that God, who we can't see or hear, will also provide for our needs. If we trust and have any amount of food, clothing or money; it is because of God. First, however, we must seek (hunger/thirst) for his kingdom and his righteousness. When we do that, Jesus reasons in Matthew 6:34, there is no need to worry about tomorrow. Let that sink in, don't worry about tomorrow. That should bring a calm sense to your very soul. We do not need to worry. Furthermore, why should we? After all, each day has enough trouble, don't add to it with tomorrow's trouble too.

Finally, allow me to conclude with a song. As I thought about not worrying about tomorrow, I was reminded of a secular song by a 1970's group, Fleetwood Mac, called Don't Stop. The lyrics may appear to be opposite of Jesus' advice to not worry about tomorrow, but the song has the same message. "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow, it'll be here, better than before. Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone". For Christians, we can forget about today and look forward to a worry-free tomorrow because God has it covered for those who thirst for righteousness.

To hear a very righteous offering of Fleetwood Mac performing Don't Stop, click this YouTube video link. The Fleetwood Mac band, joined by a school band*, will bring a smile to your face and happiness to your heart. Be blessed, hunger for righteousness and don't worry about tomorrow.

*After some research, I learned the band in the Fleetwood Mac video is the University of Southern California Marching Trojan Band.