Blessed to Be a Blessing

The book of Judges ends with this verse, "And every man did what was right in his own eyes." The result was utter chaos.

I think the world could do with a little less of me. Now do not think that I do not see my own self value. I do. Sometimes it gets in the way. Okay, it probably gets in the way more than I want to admit. There are times when I do not see what God would have me see. There are times when I am not what God would want me to be. My own eyes can deceive me. Now before you laugh or judge me harshly, look in the mirror. This seems to be more common than we want to admit.

It is critical for me when this happens to get a larger view of the world. It is at this point that my "rights" become null and void for the sake of the common good of the Lord. It seems to me that our culture could use a daily dose of "common good" provided by the Lord.

There was a time when our country was served by statesmen and stateswomen. Their wisdom for the way in which their decisions were made was shaped by this view of common good. It was not about what was good for my constituency or my own little world. There was a vision and urgency about common good. When the gentle beast of common good was fed, the world was a better place for all.

There was a time when wealth was a blessing to be a blessing. When clothes were too small, they were given to those around us who needed them. There was no need for a garage sale or rummage sale to make a few bucks. Contentment was found in having what one had and sharing the blessings of life. Earning more and more seemed to be in balance with giving. Ordinary people did not present themselves as poor. The world was a place of abundance instead of scarcity.

It seems to me that lines in our culture have become blurred. When did we move from thinking that military weaponry and garb was the "rights" of everyday people? When did we move from the idea that "my world" trumped the common good? When did we lose sight of sharing for common goodness rather than making a quarter to sell our stuff? When the lines of common good become blurred we wake up finding ourselves in need of a compass than points north all the time.

When lines and boundaries get blurred, financial woes are prevalent. Blurred lines and boundaries confuse love and lust. Blurred lines and boundaries do not care about how dangerous or insecure our children are. Leadership is not welcome because the call is for sacrifice and self -denial---for the common good.

One theologian has said the demise of the American culture was the air conditioner. (Tex Sample) There was a time when all sat on their front porch and visited. When neighbors walked by, they sat down and talked. The front porch was always open and welcoming—filled with people. When the air conditioner came into our world, we closed the doors and stayed inside. Our comfort became more of a focus. There may be more truth to this than we know!

Maybe this is the year that we do what Israel did. For a better understanding of God's vision, the Israelites accepted a prophet. The prophet was the one who pointed towards true north—what God intended for the world to be. The prophet was the one that spoke words not about the rights of the individual but the call of the community. When the lines were blurred, the prophet would shout out, "Thus says the Lord…." Maybe this is the year that we gain clarity about boundaries and our vision becomes clear. Our mantra as individuals and as a community can be changed to what is God calling us to become? Could this be the year of contentment with what we have rather than the rat race for more?

Now here is the interesting thing that we forget. When we become what God invites us to become, all of us get better. We are better neighbors. We are better individuals. Our world is better.

Pray for me as I pray for you.