Life is not obvious - follow the instructions
So, dump the one’s you created for yourself and follow those provided.
By Steve Hall
This Saturday’s readings remind us that ‘directions for a successful outcome’ have been supplied. So, dump the one’s you created for yourself and follow those provided.
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 58:9B-14
Luke 5:27-32
Back in the day, when my boys were young, I would struggle just like every other father trying to assemble toys on Christmas Eve. That was a time when some things were still not made in China and when the Chinese were novices at writing directions in English. Some such directions were humorous while most were just frustrating.
In any case, following the instructions supplied with the product frequently lead to dead ends. But that’s not really our problem. Our problem is similar to the man who is lost while driving in a new town and who stubbornly refusing to stop and ask for directions.
This morning’s readings remind us that God did not assign the Chinese the task of writing for English speakers the instructions for living a holy, successful and meaningful life. Sure, those directions may have originally been in Aramaic or Hebrew or even Greek; but we don’t get to say ‘It’s all Greek to me.’
The translators were skilled and the results are clear. The consequence being that we’re not like young fathers or mothers from fifty years ago. We’re not trying to follow directions written in our language by someone who doesn’t speak it. Rather, we’re more like the one who looks at what he’s got and figures it’s obvious how to connect the pieces and so doesn’t bother to follow the supplied directions.
This morning’s readings remind us that ‘directions for a successful outcome’ have been supplied. So, dump the one’s you created for yourself and follow those provided.