Skip to main content

The S-Word


Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)

           There’s that S-word again. Somehow, they should find a way to remove two letters, then it would be a perfect bit of foul language. In this case, there’s the slight amelioration that it’s not one group of people specifically being told to submit to another group of people. This isn’t wives, children, or slaves submitting, but everyone within the Christian community submitting to others of the same kind.
In this time of crisis, the government has called on us to submit by isolating ourselves. Effectively, we’re supposed to care for others by caring for ourselves – by staying home. I don’t know about you but I have things to do, places to go, people to see, and a book to promote (soon)! I don’t have time for this isolation stuff. I’ve heard and read of young folks particularly, who refuse to give up their “spring break” in Florida because of this disease. Submit? No way! Life is too short, and they’re young, so it won’t likely kill them, even if it kills their grandparents when the students go home and visit them.
            As the park where I live in Florida is emptying out, I’m struggling with the issue of submission. I’m starting to close things down to drive north. Am I being unsubmissive? Should I be staying here? When I get up north, what am I going to do? We’re in a crisis. I’ve shared calls for the Church to rise up and be the Church. We’re supposed to move into the crisis and help others. I’ve read the books and seen the movies. Heroes rise up in a time of crisis. But the problem is that the crisis isn’t here. It’s somewhere out there and keeping it from being here involves submitting to restrictions others advise or even submitting to restrictions that we place on ourselves. While heroism often involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of staying home so that I don’t endanger others just isn’t as romantic a gesture as I want to make, especially since I’m not in one of the more endangered categories.
           Since I’m winding down and starting to pack, but don’t plan to leave for a few days, I have time to finish a few projects and to do some thinking and goal setting. And one of the considerations for those goals is to find ways to turn this part of my journey into something beautiful while submitting to the restrictions society and I place on me. How can I be heroic while hunkering?
           One of the answers to this is that hunkering doesn’t mean sitting around watching TV. Submission doesn’t involve passiveness. It involves doing what you can within the restrictions you face. You may know what that means, but since I’m facing my semi-annual migration, there’s a whole life to rebuild up north. I’m walking by faith into yet another unknown. We all are, so how do we do it with hope? Part of that involves finding ways to work while submitting. Time to set some goals.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more