Author: Suzanne

Up the road is a new building project. It’s hard to see quite what the workers are constructing behind the scaffolding and netting, but buildings are most definitely going up. The scaffolds are temporary. They’re in place to provide access for the workers. But they’re not the point of the project. 

Today I’ve been thinking about how, in life, we have our ‘main purpose(s)’, and we have ‘scaffolding.’ Scaffolding is necessary if the main purposes are to be achieved, but scaffolding supports the main project and does not become the main project. When projects are complete, scaffolding is removed and the finished product is put to good use. Nobody misses the scaffolding. It was only ever a means to an end. 

Perhaps this dichotomy (building versus scaffolding) is overly simplistic. However, the metaphor has been helpful to me these past few days since hearing, by chance, a comment in a radio music programme about musical scaffolding. Writing this blog post consolidates some of my flyaway thoughts. If anyone else reading along benefits, that’s nice. 

Life’s purpose(s)

What is our purpose in life? In the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”  

Within this broad purpose, however, Christians are given different gifts and called to different tasks in the church, at least. (See, for example, Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28, Ephesians 4:11-13 and 1 Peter 4:10-11.)

Now, of course we don’t ONLY do activities to which we are called. We need to manage the necessities of life, be that physical, spiritual and/or emotional. Even the greatest minds and most prolific of writers need to eat, sleep, exercise and engage in meaningful relationships. I suspect, however, that the most productive people have staff to take care of life’s mundane details. 

At the same time, if we lose focus of our purposes and unhelpfully emphasise the scaffolding of life—that which supports the main structure—then we run into problems.

Scaffolding is necessary, but secondary

Scaffolds are not in and of themselves the main object. They are merely temporary structures that exist for a time for the sake of the main object. 

Metaphorical scaffolds in life also include the myriad of tasks necessary to allow us to focus on our main purposes. We need to commit time to create and maintain environments in which we can flourish. Vacuuming the floor. Doing my tax return (how is it already October?!). Achieving an adequate daily step count. Preparing healthy meals. Correspondence. Community involvement. All these things are necessary and good, but without some degree of intentionality, they can take on a life of their own.

Metaphorical scaffolds in life also include self-care. For some friends, self-care may look like manicures. For me, it often entails sitting in nature with my phone-camera and clip-on macro-lens in hand. The purpose of such care is to help us thrive in the area to which we are called, and not an end in itself.

Differently shaped buildings require differently shaped scaffolds

While we have similar needs, the specific metaphorical scaffolds in our lives will vary according to our different purposes in life, as well as according to our different situations and personalities.

Focusing on health and fitness, for example, is important, but for me, my main focus in my life should not be health and fitness.  … it is only a means to an end. This is not the case for everyone, however. Elite athletes, for example, need to stay in top shape. For some, improving the health and well-being of people around them is a calling. I have often thought that it is appropriate for Christians to contribute to the physical and spiritual health of people in our communities through participation in, or establishing, health and fitness clubs. But that’s not my focus.

Be intentional

As a result of ruminating on the differences between metaphorical scaffolds and main projects in life, I have become more-than-usually determined to keep my focus on the important tasks and not over-emphasise the supporting structures.

For years, it has been my habit to make a task list for pretty much every day except Sunday (a rest day). This, in itself, is a helpful part of scaffolding for my life. Skimming through pages in this year’s diary, I see a plethora of scaffolding, but too often, the ‘main purpose’ of my life has been shortchanged. Today I repent of such un-intentionality. Tomorrow, I’ll likely need to repent of it too. And the next day……

May I prioritise cross-cultural ministry, research and writing even while I attend to the necessary, and often pleasurable, scaffolding that makes these priorities possible.

My heart sank.

As I cut back the overgrown, woody salvia, I found a rose bush. Or, to be precise, the remains of a rose bush. The wood was dry and brittle. It was long gone.

I love my roses. How had this happened?

Incremental growth

How did the salvia take over the space needed for the rose bush to flourish?

It happened incrementally. The salvia spread. I enjoyed its bright ‘hot lips’ blooms. I hated to cut it back and hence decapitate those gorgeous flowers. At some point, probably in winter when the rose bush had been cut right back, the salvia took over.

I didn’t notice.

And the rose bush died from lack of sunlight.

‘Good’ but not ‘best’

Salvia is good. It is hardy, which is necessary if plants are to flourish in my oft-neglected backyard. It is bright. It attracts the bees. It ticks all the boxes for a long-term place in my backyard.

But it needs to be kept in its place. I had let it spread and take over that section of the garden.

Roses are best. In my opinion, at least. I enjoy their bright blooms. They, too, are reasonably hardy, though need a little plant food at times and a hard prune in autumn. I can manage that.

A lesson from the backyard

Life is somewhat like a competition between salvia and rose bushes. Both have a place in my backyard. But if I am not careful, the ‘good’ takes up space and restricts sunlight needed for the ‘best’ to flourish.

My life is rich in relationships, and my days are filled with meaningful activities. However, I can easily lose focus of that which is ‘best’ and fill my days with that which is ‘good.’ That’s not to say that there is no place for the ‘good.’ Of course there is a place for it, but I must keep my focus on that which is ‘best.’

And now the rubber hits the road … or, I should say, the pruning shears hit the salvia. I sit at my desk surrounded by clutter. My task list on today’s page in the planner glares at me in an accusing manner. My Chinese textbook sits to the left of the computer. My journal (in which I brainstormed this post) sits on top of the text book. An outline of a devotion for a church diaconate meeting tonight is also in that journal. My iPad lights up, alerting me to news of major world events … events about which I care but which do not need my attention right now. (Or at all, really.) My phone flashes with a WeChat message. (WeChat is how I communicate with Chinese friends, while Australian friends often use WhatsApp or Signal … they are all on my phone.) Instructions from a physiotherapist sit against the edge of the desk to remind me to do certain exercises. A folder with my college project proposal and feedback report sit to the right of the computer. Not on the desk are items representing a myriad of other priorities in life.

A Fresh Start

Today, I planted a new rose bush in the garden. I cut back the salvia a few days ago and plan to keep it under control this time. I like the salvia, but want the rose to be the main feature in that part of the garden. The salvia can stay in the part of the garden bed that doesn’t get enough sunlight for roses to flourish.

In life, too, I don’t want the ‘good’ to crowd out the ‘best’ any more. Right now, the college work needs to take priority. That’s not to say that the other items which fill my days should be cut out. No, they are good and they have a place in my life. But sometimes … often, in fact … they need to be cut back. I need to be intentional about where I spend my time.

Writing this blog post is my way of processing what I believe God is asking of me. Tomorrow, I will meet with my academic supervisor to talk through the feedback from a panel of experts on my research proposal. Following that, I need to incorporate the feedback into the proposal and submit it to the next level of academic gatekeepers, before some planned travel next month. God, in his kindness, is reminding me through backyard shenanigans involving the demise of a rose bush that I need to keep my focus on ‘the main thing.’

Conclusion

I need to keep my focus clear, and ensure that the ‘good’ doesn’t crowd out the ‘best.’

In fact, that’s true for all of us, don’t you think?

P.S. Her Feline Highness wishes to remind one and all that SHE is ‘the best.’ Thankfully, she is happy for me to sit at the computer and prefers having me nearby rather than running off here and there, so it’s all good.

I usually have plenty to say.

Rarely am I lost for words. 

That’s partly because I don’t wait until my thoughts are complete before giving them voice. In fact, I process my thoughts through speaking and/or writing. 

My thoughts are often scattered. Words follow in a less-than-orderly form. It’s okay to be a verbal processor. But others need not wade through a wealth of words in order to grasp the main point.

“You need to tighten up your work,” academic advisors said yesterday. 

I know. And it is not only in academic writing that I am challenged. Blog posts should be short and sweet too. 

There is a place for wordiness. In writing, it’s called ‘a first draft’ or ‘a journal entry’. But it’s not what should appear on a blog post or even in an e-mail, let alone in an academic paper.  

A timely challenge

I have said many times throughout my life that I want to be a writer. And writers write. 

This would-be-writer, however, frequently becomes overwhelmed at the idea of pinning down thoughts that dart left, right, up, down, backwards and forwards. It’s difficult to consolidate them into coherent and concise forms. 

I know a writer who posts one blog entry each week. Two days ago, I responded to something she had written. In the process, we had an insightful discussion about blogging. I’m tempted to veer into a rabbit trail of the specifics of all we discussed. It was actually very interesting, but if I indulged in that tangent, I’d lose sight of the main point. 

What is the main point? It is that this writer disciplines herself to produce one short, to-the-point, blog post every week.

She explained that this discipline helps her to tighten up her writing. Through ‘having to’ produce regular posts, she also notices better, as well as thinks through what God is showing her. She becomes ‘light and salt’ on the internet. She, like me, naturally tends towards wordiness, but forces herself to be concise in her blog posts. 

Readers, including me, me are blessed. 

And I’m inspired. 

And so……

Sometimes a particular theme keep cropping up in life. This week, it is the theme of concise writing. 

First, there was the exchange with that writer-friend which began a couple of days ago. Then there was yesterday’s academic feedback about ‘tightening up’ a research proposal. Today there was a brief discussion in a break during an online academic writing session on deleting extraneous detail in our work.  

Is this challenge to write succinctly and communicate clearly something from God for my particular circumstances? Or is it just something that I’m noticing this week?

Does it have to be one or the other? God or ‘just me’? No. It can be both. It IS both. (And I’m verbally processing in written form … again.) 

It’s a discipline to communicate succinctly and in a way that is a pleasing to the eye. It’s a discipline to produce short, to-the-point, pieces of writing on a regular basis. It’s a discipline to wrangle all-over-the-place thoughts and force them into some sort of order. 

This blog is a good place to practise. If any of my family and friends benefit from reading along, good and well. 

Watch this space. 

Don’t worry. This is not a navel-gazing post. Writing it is a means of processing some information that is almost in my grasp but is not yet quite secure. If writing it is helpful for me, reading it just may be helpful for you?

As a ‘career cross-cultural worker,’ I’ve thought about, and even taught about, differences in worldviews. “It’s not necessarily wrong, but just different,” I tell potential cross-cultural workers. That’s especially relevant when it comes to ‘good manners,’ whether one ‘deserves’ respect because of one’s position or because of one’s achievements, and seeing people primarily as individuals or as members of communities.

However, I’ve only recently become aware of how deeply my own worldview has been impacted by the ‘Age of Enlightenment.’ This has come to light as I read one of those ‘must-read’ books to which I often refer to but hadn’t read from cover-to-cover (until now). In this book, South African missiologist and theologian David J. Bosch posits that, “… the entire modern missionary enterprise is, to a very real extent, a child of the Enlightenment.” (Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, Orbis Books, 1991, page 274.)

That got me thinking. If he is right, then to what degree am I a product of the Enlightenment? In fact, what IS the Enlightenment?

This could become a very long, very dense post, but fear not. I am determined to keep it to a manageable length. If all goes according to plan, I’ll continue to ‘think through writing’ on this topic over the coming weeks.

What is ‘the Enlightenment’?

“The Enlightenment” is collective term for a number of ‘intellectual movements’ marked by an emphasis on reason. These took place around the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe and North America. The Enlightenment didn’t start and finish on particular dates, but rather waxed and waned in different places and at different times. It encouraged questioning and inquiry. It discouraged accepting that things should be as they were just because they had always been that way. As a result, it was an age of revolution, including the American and French revolutions. It was also an age of tremendous scientific discoveries, including those that led to the production of vaccines (for smallpox) and batteries.

The diagram below shows the changes over time in the way people in Europe and North America, at least, understood their places in the world in the years preceding, then during, the Enlightenment period.

How did the Enlightenment impact our worldviews?

The following list of ways in which the Enlightenment has impacted our worldviews struck a chord in me. Actually, different sources emphasise different aspects, so accept these as my insights rather than ‘facts’ concerning the Enlightenment.

Cause-and-effect: For everything that can be observed, there is a natural ’cause’ and ‘effect’. This means that we can explain pretty much anything in ‘natural’ terms, leaving little room for the supernatural.

Progress: Our world is perceived as getting better and better as science and technology develops.

Individualism: We perceive ourselves to be individuals with rights. We are each unique.

Knowledge: Knowledge is understood as being there, just waiting to be discovered. It is value-free. All we have to do is put in the work.

Secularism: Life is broken into that which is ‘sacred’ and everything else, which is ‘secular.’ That which is considered ‘sacred’ is also considered ‘personal’ and usually irrelevant to society at large.

We’ve moved onto slightly different worldviews these days. ‘Modernism’ emerged in the West in the late 19th century and waned in the early 20th century. We then moved onto ‘post-modernism’ in the mid 20th century. Now, we are into ‘meta-modernism’ which vacillates between different worldviews. But these variations of ‘modernism’ are not the point of my current pondering.

What impact does the Enlightenment have on cross-cultural work?

If Bosch is correct in arguing that “… the entire modern missionary enterprise is … a child of the Enlightenment,” then I would do well to at least consider the matter.

I have spent a great many hours reading and thinking about this topic recently. Bosch’s book justifies the matter well, but I will not attempt to relay his many relevant points. Instead, I would like to focus on the example of one of those ‘heroes of the faith’ who was also a product of his time. This is the Italian Jesuit monk Matteo Ricci, who was born in the early days of Enlightenment Movements in Europe, though lived the latter half of his life in Asia.

Matteo Ricci’s life integrated his pursuit of science, literature, the arts and knowledge, as well as his faith in Jesus. He is known for bringing together ‘East’ and ‘West’ in ways which afforded him the respect and patronage of many of the Chinese elite and even the emperor of China himself. Although he was a prolific writer in both Latin and Chinese, as well as a translator in both directions, he is best known for his work on the 1602 world map which he made along with Chinese cartographers. It was the first Chinese map which showed the Americas. Australia, however, was portrayed as just part of a blob, along with other land presumed to be in the Southern Hemisphere but which had not yet been officially ‘discovered.’ If you’re interested, you can see the map here: https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll251:8823/p16022coll251:8816

Ricci’s commitment to minimise confusion caused simply by cultural differences is what impresses me most about him. In his early years in China, he dressed as a Buddhist monk but later, on the advice of trusted local friends, adopted the dress of a Chinese scholar. Throughout his adult life, however, he lived consistently as a Jesuit monk, regardless of his clothing. ‘The Rites Controversy’ is an issue that has divided missionary communities and the church in China over and over again throughout the centuries and which is beyond the scope of this blog post. Suffice to say that Ricci was a staunch proponent of incorporating Christian content into local customs, much to the disapproval of certain other parties. Such attempts at adaptation were a policy of his religious order at the time and not simply a personal conviction. Nevertheless, I admire him tremendously for how he embraced such efforts.

Ricci died in 1610 at the age of 57, the same age that I am as I write these words. It seems young from my perspective, but it was in the era before antibiotics and many other wonders of modern medicine. Local laws at the time required the body of any foreigner who died in China to be transported out of the country, but an exception was made for this esteemed scholar. His grave can be visited in Beijing today.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Venerable Matteo Ricci, check out this website: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matteo-Ricci

Pulling it all together

When I am tempted to despair at the way that my worldview is so tightly entwined with my cultural background, I think of Ricci. He willingly put aside the trappings of (at least some of) his culture, and took on local lifestyles, while remaining committed to his faith. Yet in other ways, Ricci was well and truly a product of his time. That included many ways which were well received, including his knowledge of and contribution to science, literature and cartography. It also included ways that, today, we would consider ‘flawed.’ I’m thinking now of his role in the slave trade. If you’re interested, you can read more here: https://thechinaproject.com/2020/08/05/matteo-ricci-and-the-slave-trade-that-connected-portugal-with-macao/

God uses people of specific places and times, but at the same time, there is no excuse for not taking a good, hard, critical look at our worldviews and adjusting our words and actions accordingly. Ricci modelled this well. Not perfectly, perhaps, but well. (I do wish he had taken a stand against slavery.) He was a man of his times, but he was also able to shape the message he both spoke and lived in ways that removed layers which were simply ‘cultural’. Instead, he clothed his message in Eastern culture, both literally and figuratively.

To what degree am I a product of the Enlightenment?

I’m not 100% a product of the Enlightenment, but, as I read and reflect, I realise that Enlightenment worldviews have impacted me significantly. However, I’m also influenced by modernism, post-modernism and even meta-modernism … though I have to keep looking up the definitions of these words to be sure.

As I draw these thoughts to a close, can I ask you to join me in sending up a quick prayer right now for any followers of Jesus you know who are working in cross-cultural settings. May they have wisdom and ability to recognise their own worldviews. May they not deny the influences that have made them who they are, but may they be able to communicate effectively without their message becoming confused and confusing due simply to differences in how people see the world. May they, like Matteo Ricci, find that sweet spot of both being authentically ‘themselves’ while also building deep relationships with people different to themselves.

Above all, may God be glorified.

A full moon hangs in the sky tonight.

This is not just any full moon.

Here in Thailand, it is the full moon of the third lunar month of the year 2568 BE (Buddhist Era). Thailand counts years beginning from the generally accepted date of the death of Gautama Buddha. In contrast, in Australia, we count years beginning from the generally accepted date of the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Today is a public holiday in Thailand. It is the Buddhist ‘Makha Bucha Day.’ This day commemorates a spontaneous meeting of the Buddha with 1,250 monks, all of whom were believed to have been ‘enlightened’. Under the light of the full moon of the third lunar month some 45 years before the Buddhist Era (BE) began, far off in North India, it is believed that Gautama Buddha gave an important teaching summarising the core principles of Buddhism.

These days, Makha Bucha Day is a nationwide holiday in Thailand. It is illegal to sell alcohol today, and those that do may be punished with up to six years imprisonment and/or a hefty fine. Buddhism condemns the use of intoxicants, including alcohol. Some tourists will not be happy, but this is not their country, so tough luck.

Today I wandered around the grounds of three temples. Well, strictly speaking, I wandered around the grounds of one, the carpark of another, and stood in the driveway of a third. Crowds of people did all they could to earn merit.

They made offerings of flowers and money. They purchased caged animals in order to set them free. They paid money to draw sticks and ascertain their fortune by correlating the numbers with explanatory information. They burnt candles. They followed chanting monks around holy sites. They even ‘mailed letters’ in the names of loved ones to earn merit for them.

Where are Christ’s people today? For there are followers of Jesus living here in Thailand. I do not expect them to be at the temples earning merit on this auspicious day. Instead, I imagine them in their homes and communities, reflecting the hope and confidence we have in Jesus to their family and friends.

Tonight I offer to God a prayer for my Thai sisters and brothers, wherever they may be. Perhaps you could join me as you look at the pictures of these people, whom God loves, striving to be ‘good enough’.

May Christ’s followers in Thailand share by word and example the certain hope they have for ultimate enlightenment through Jesus, the Light of the World.

May Christ’s followers in Thailand share the liberating truth that Jesus has dealt with suffering once and for all on the cross, earning ‘merit’ for us that we can never deserve.

May Christ’s followers in Thailand brightly reflect the light of Jesus to all around them, just like the full, round moon tonight is reflecting the light of the sun.

Lord Jesus, Light of the World, may your glory be reflected through your people in this beautiful nation.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen

When red roses feature in particular contexts, I imagine them to be God’s special touch. Today was no exception. 

It’s day one of my ‘study retreat’ week here in Thailand. Having a gloriously empty week between meetings, my plan is to work hard each day.

Not all day every day. Only half of each day. I am also looking forward to catching up with friends and soaking up the atmosphere of Chiang Mai. 

This morning, I plugged through college reading and note-taking. Then I went out for a haircut (a fraction of the cost of an Australian haircut), after which I intended to spend time in a favourite garden cafe to draft this blog post. 

Expectations foiled

Except that the garden gate was shut. It turns out that said favourite garden cafe is closed on Mondays. 

My brow furrowed, my lips pursed and my fists clenched. As I stomped down the winding alley, I confessed (yet again) to hanging on to my own expectations and plans. In this case, it was about something as senseless as time in a particular cafe. 

Surprise

Turning the corner, my attention was caught by a very cute little cafe FULL of red roses. Real roses decorated tables. Artificial roses hung from the ceiling. And what’s more, they had salty chips (crisps) on display on the front counter. I’m a sucker for salty chips. 

In I went, thanking God that his ways are higher than mine. Ha … such a lofty thought over something as mundane as roses, coffee and chips. As it turned out, the chips were for display only and not for sale. 

Sitting by a window, with the gentle chatter of young women enjoying a birthday celebration in the background, I enjoyed an iced coffee, sans chips.

And I penned the following thoughts about discipline. 

Academic discipline

Discipline is an admirable trait that I need to work on. 

In the early stages of the Doctor of Ministry course (which I’m almost halfway through), we had subjects to complete. They came with built-in deadlines, clear expectations, and I flourished. But now I am on my own. 

I need to ‘get over’ my bad habit of procrastinating. If I can’t, it will effectively mean the end to my dreams of contributing to God’s kingdom work through ‘thinking well’ and writing up said ‘good thoughts’. 

I could bow out at this point and the Australian University of Theology (which was a college until a few weeks ago!) would give me a Master of Professional Ministry in recognition of having completed all the coursework.

However, I don’t intend to do that. I most definitely will NOT do that. I am determined to succeed. But determination needs to be translated into action.

Help needed

So I paid a psychologist to help me.

She is a very good psychologist, and a devout Christian. I imagined that she would address my doubts and insecurities regarding my ability to succeed in academic ventures. Perhaps she would teach me ‘mindfulness’ techniques that would help. (She is the author of one of my favourite books: ‘Christ-Centred Mindfulness’.) 

Do you know what she advised me to practise? 

Discipline. 

Specifically, discipline regarding focus on my academic work for 20 hours a week, 48 weeks a year, for the duration of my study. And beyond if I am to continue making a contribution to the missions community in my area of interest. 

“Distraction is just an urge and it will pass if you don’t indulge it,” she explained. “Ride the urge.”  

Right. 

To be fair, she also helped me to think through whether this academic journey is important to me and why. And she gave me some good tips on overcoming procrastination, including its likely root cause of perfectionism.

Success in academia is important to me because I long to ‘make a difference’ in an area of Christian mission work that has been relatively ‘unfruitful’ up to this point. On top of that, I believe this academic journey to be a divine ‘call’. It is a call which is as real as the ‘call’ to cross-cultural work was when I was young.

I always thought that I would grow to be a little old lady in Asia, but was disappointed in that expectation for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, it appears that God has work for me to do yet, albeit from my passport country. I delight in that realisation.

Discipline

These past few days, the theme of ‘discipline’ keeps coming up. As I prepared for our weekly BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) class this week on Revelation 12, themes included that of living for Jesus and resisting temptation. At the international church I attended yesterday, a Ghanaian preacher encouraged us from Colossians 3 to put off our ‘fleshly ways’ and live for God.

Basically, I need to just practise discipline regarding my college work. That is the particular application of all God has been bringing to my attention these past few days. I need to focus on academic work for blocks of time today, and tomorrow, and the next day. I need to repeat the pattern over and over, including once I’m back home in the busyness of everyday life (excluding a weekly day of rest).

In thinking about these matters in the rose-y cafe, I decided to try an acrostic, like some of the Hebrew writers did in the Psalms. I wrote the word ‘Discipline’ in a vertical line on the paper, then wrote sentences starting with each successive letter of the word ‘discipline’.

An acrostic

Distractions, you are temporary … I will ‘ride the urge’

Inviolable are the blocks of time I have dedicated to study

Silence the internal critic

Creativity in academia is crammed within culturally specified structures with which I am becoming familiar

Immersion in the data generates useful insights and takes a lot of time

Practise a little each day, rather than panic periodically

Let go of high expectations and just start somewhere

I commit to this practice

No excuses – push on

Effort will be rewarded if I just persevere

Putting it into practice

Friends, it would be helpful if you could ask me from time to time how I am going regarding practising discipline in the area of academic pursuits. Ask me, please, if I am spending 20 hours a week on it. I’m easily distracted.

Today’s rose-y contemplations on day one of this study retreat encouraged me no end.

Thank you, Sovereign One, for ordering my steps in matters big and small. Help me, please, to live well for you.

The following thoughts may appear somewhat judgemental, but please realise that I write as an ‘insider’. I was convicted as I sat mindfully in a shopping centre cafe today with a cake and a coffee. I was waiting for my phone battery to be replaced. And while filling in time there, I also bought a new outfit which I don’t need, but very much like…….

There are two pathways in life, analysed an ancient philosopher,
The path of folly and the path of wisdom.

Choose well. 

Laughter and chatter surround us,
Three older women converse, one wearing a Fitbit. Does she, like me, intend to move?
Two young people gaze into one another’s eyes, fingers touching.
A balding man sits alone.
“May I have little more hot water in this teapot?” he asks.

When one focuses, the noise is deafening,
A regular beat pulsates, though no melody emanates from the muddle of music.
Fake foliage adorns supporting structures above, from which yellow lights hang,
Skylights allow in sunshine but the accompanying heat is combatted by powerful air-conditioning.
High sugar, high fat treats make us feel ‘special’.

A huge hanging sign advertises a lottery, then sales, then gift cards,
Finally declaring that “Our shopping centres practise sustainability.”
‘Smart water meters’ alert management to leaks, you see,
And we should install them too.
Yet all the while, they artificially regulate the environment and encourage conspicuous consumption.

Great Creator, how often do we miss out on your best,
Substituting man-made sustenance, shelter and so-called security
For your wholesome, healthy provisions?
Forgive us. 
Deliver us from distractions of consumerist cultures.

There are two pathways in life, analysed an ancient philosopher,
The path of folly and the path of wisdom.

Choose well.

“Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart,
and wait for the LORD.”

Psalm 27:14 NIV  

I don’t like waiting. 

When do I want it?  (Whatever ‘it’ may be.)
I want it NOW. 

Culture

In this culture of instant gratification, I usually get what I want right away. This is aided by such innovations as:

Microwavable rice
Coffee capsules 
Frozen chopped vegetables
Electronic books
Online music

Autonomy

Waiting is uncomfortable.

It does not respect my autonomy.

My heart-rate rises, my fists clench, my lips purse and my brow furrows.

Why is this taking so long? 

A Promise

God promises to be “my light and my salvation.” (Psalm 27:1 NIV)

But it doesn’t always look that way to me.

Life spins out of control,
One minor crisis upon another, interjected with major moments,
Frustrated by finitude … again.

The Problem

Waiting is a problem when I believe that I am in control,
When I imagine that the world revolves around me.

The Psalmist yearns to “dwell in the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV).

Only there, where the LORD is seated between the cherubim, above the ark beyond the altar,
Where the Psalmist acknowledges his small, dependent and peripheral position,
Only there is he secure. 

The Psalmist’s circumstances

Yet circumstances haven’t changed.

The Psalmist remains forsaken,
Enemies snapping at his heels,
Malicious accusations made by false witnesses. 

Still he waits, 
Secure. 

Our circumstances

In my modern, fast-paced world,
Inbox notifications chirp,
Phones beep,
Social media drags my focus into a bottomless black pit.

Even so, with the Psalmist, I wait,
Secure.

(Sometimes, anyhow. When my focus is clear.)

A Prayer

Teach me, oh timeless One, 
To dwell in you. 
Recognising that you are on the throne, my Saviour at your right hand.

Strengthen me, indwelling Spirit, 
To tune out the world’s falsely urgent calls,
And instead, to attune my ear to you. 

Help me, please, to wait.

And to wait well.

With the Psalmist of old, I declare,

I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living

Wait for the LORD:

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

P.S. You may wonder why there are photographs of raindrops interspersed throughout this meditation. The answer is simply that these are moments of beauty in the backyard which I witnessed today, just before a half-day retreat with a few sisters-in-Christ. As part of that retreat, we focused on Psalm 27. The link is simply the time and place in which these insights were gleaned. The pictures also break up the text. I hope you enjoy them.

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? “Raindrops keep falling on my head…” is one I often find myself humming these days.

That’s what happens in spring in Melbourne. We get a lot of raindrops.

A new book

I recently bought a book of Bible verses to send to a friend for her birthday. I also purchased a Kindle copy for myself. 

Buying a copy for myself was an impulse buy … I think. Or was it a Holy Spirit nudge? Where does ‘impulse’ end and ‘Holy Spirit nudge’ begin? These very questions reflect my Western worldview, and are irrelevant to this blog post. I bought it on impulse, and the Holy Spirit was likely behind it.  

The very first devotion captured my attention. It was based on Psalm 19:14. 

Hebrew terms for ‘meditation’

Pastor and writer Eugene Peterson has long influenced my understanding of the Biblical term ‘meditation’. In the classic, ‘Eat this book’, he explains the meaning of the Hebrew term ‘hagah ( הָגָה – Strongs 1897), often translated ‘meditation’ in the Bible. The word contains the sense of gnawing, chewing, and ingesting, Peterson said, just like his dog would gnaw on a bone for hours.

(Even though you may not have the book, you too can freely read Eugene Peterson’s excellent exposition on the topic here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2007/05/eat-this-book-eugene-peterson/ ) 

The original Hebrew word used in Psalm 19:14, however, is slightly different. ‘Higgayon’ ( הִגָּיוֹן -Strongs 1902) is also translated ‘meditation’ in English. From what I understand through the helpful resources provided by Biblehub (see https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1902.htm), this word is more like background music, or whispering and murmuring. 

I wonder if ‘higgayon’ has the idea of ‘the background music in your head’? Or recurring lines and themes from favourite TV shows? 

‘Raindrops keep falling on my head,’ for example?

The background noise in your head

Do you have background noise in your head? If I sit still and listen,  I hear a high-pitched ringing in my ears, a residue of some treatment nine years ago. It can be annoying if I let it.

Tinnitus is not what I’m talking about here. I’m thinking more of the songs that go around our mind; the plots from TV shows; the self-talk that aids or hinders our endeavours; and the resentments or joys, hopes or fears of our lives. 

Sometimes, late at night, I watch something silly as a way to wind down. Often I wake up the next morning with lines or music from those shows stuck in my head.

Is that really what I want to be meditating upon? 

This, I suggest, is what the Psalmist had in mind with this prayer: ‘May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord’ (Psalm 19:14). 

Changing the background noise

As for my ‘ringing in the ears’, a doctor once advised me to simply ‘change the background noise’.

“Keep the radio on but don’t tune it to a station. Just have static in the background, then you won’t notice the ringing in your ears,” he suggested. 

I often have the radio on in the background, but prefer it tuned to a station. I can live with the tinnitus.

What about the background noise in our heads that comes from repeated thoughts and mental chatter? Can we change the background noise? 

I am preaching to myself here with the following suggestions, but you are welcome to listen in.

1. Intentionality: May I notice the content of the ‘background noise’ in my mind.
2. Praying Scripture: A good place to start would be the prayer from Psalm 19:14, that the meditations of my heart may be acceptable in God’s sight
3. Follow the injunction of Philippians 4:8 to intentionally think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.  (The preceding verses about not worrying but praying with thanksgiving are helpful too.)

Easier said than done, perhaps? 

One thought at a time. 

‘Raindrops keep fallin’….’

In preparation for this blog post, I finally looked up the lyrics of the song, “Raindrops keep Fallin’ on my Head.” I also read about the 1969 movie for which it was written – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I learnt that it followed the true story of two American outlaws, ‘Butch Cassidy’ and ‘Sundance’. They lived at the turn of last century.

Composed by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David, “Raindrops” is the film’s breakout hit and its legacy song; an upbeat and indefatigable ode to feeling free. It remains an irresistible earworm….

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/09/raindrops-keep-fallin-on-my-head-history

Their story is perhaps not dissimilar to that of the swagman in Australia’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’. In both cases, the men, likeable characters but prone to take what was not theirs, valued freedom above anything else.

That is the point of the song. It is “an upbeat and indefatigable ode to feeling free.” 

And yes, it is most certainly “an irresistible earworm.” I have never even watched the movie and still I hum the song when raindrops fall. 

Free

The freedom enjoyed by the lead characters in the movie for which the song was written was temporary. Unable to live freely in the USA, they eventually fled to South America, where they were killed in a gunfight. A watery end awaited Australia’s poor old swagman about whom ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was written.

In contrast, ‘if the Son sets us free, then we are free indeed.’ (Paraphrased from John 8:36).

And ‘it is for freedom that Christ has set up free!’ (Paraphrased from Galatians 5:1)

Free indeed!

Raindrops and ruminations

As I admire the raindrops in my garden, I no longer have only the first line of that song stuck in my head. The last line is now bouncing about my brain too. 

Because I’m free
Nothing’s worrying me

Now that I have spent time writing this blog post, the ‘Raindrops’ song is lodged more firmly than ever in my head 🎶.

One thought at a time……