Just an hour or so ago I mused about my Advent word of the day: patience. And, now, here I am feeling so very frustrated, and also full of these emotions: I’m feeling scared, worried, disappointed, and sad.
Why?
I had a bit of a ‘back and forth’ going with a friend from my past, someone I have known casually for years, about our current political situation. Ok. I know – what was I thinking?? Right? I saw and read a post he forwarded/posted on Facebook, along with his personal opinion and I was floored by the language he used. He called someone a ‘skank’. Someone he does not know. A female government employee. Someone he then wrote he believes is a part of the ‘treasonous deep state’. He also said he felt that Trump’s language and meanness (which I asked him about – did it bother him?) was ‘plain speak.’ Well, that’s an interesting way to describe it! Ha.
Here’s the thing…. it’s Advent. It’s the time to prepare for the greatest gift God gave our world: Jesus – the greatest example of how to live, and how to respond to God’s love of us. And, here I am caught up in this crazy conversation about how our leader daily cuts down people, and uses nasty language, and tells obvious lies about them for his own betterment. The ‘rightous’ me wants to correct my friend about his opinions, and wants to ‘set him straight.’ I mean, WHY can he not see the truth???
Politics has always been mean-spirited. But the level of it now has reached new heights – or really, new lows. People I have considered ‘regular’ citizens and neighbors – and even friends – have dropped down right along with it.
So, yes… I’m scared, worried, disappointed, and very sad.
God’s world – and man’s world are different BUT they do mix. To follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in man’s world is hard to do, and at times it seems so defeating. Yet, here it is – Advent. it is the time to prepare for the coming of the baby Jesus. A time of expected joy!
Do I have the patience for this? Wow. It’s harder than waiting for my cold to pass, or for shoppers to be nice, or drivers to slow down. (See earlier post.) Being patient and finding good in everything isn’t easy. But, yet, it’s all I can do. And – I remind myself that a dear friend who is right now mourning the sudden loss of her husband this past weekend is planning his ‘celebration of life’ service. She is faithful and secure in God’s love. God is in our world every day.
So…. yes, I can be patient and prepare.
Marla’s Musings 