Check-points are hard to accept. Nobody likes to fully comprehend what he or she cannot believe or hope to be true. Politicians deny the accuracy of polls yet fervently read the latest analysis to the ultimate degree. Sports figures say that they do not care about what others think of them and then proceed to read the sports pages to see what others things of everyone in the game including themselves!
Can I deal with reality around me?
Can I hold onto hope while evil appears to be winning at every corner?
Can I take the actions I know are true when the immediate screams otherwise?
Am I willing or able to see the details of life in full colors, textures, and shapes?
Will I survive with my values and priorities intact if I truly see?
Until the reality of life bites I don’t think you can really know how you will respond. There is nothing pretty about this, it is truly ugly. There is nothing beautiful or glorious; this is the garbage of life, and everything stinks of evil. Justice overwhelms mercy. Arrogance and greed rip transparency to shreds. Lying and cheating kill honesty. Everywhere you look; each rock turned over, uncovers and reveals evil.
Yet check-points are crucial to life’s real success. Joel demands that the people tell the story that horrifies a nation. The message contains graphic details of total devastation. “What the chewing locust left, the gobbling locust ate; what the gobbling locust left, the munching locust ate; what the munching locust left, the chomping locust ate.” (Joel 1.4)
Reality is crucial, for all of us, for simple reasons.
First, Good and Evil are at war. Good has one but we still have to choose our side.
Second, we are partners with Divinity. We have the opportunity to be God’s agents. The process includes a mantle of real responsibility.
Third, unless we see the “truth”, the whole and complete, good and the bad, how will we ever know “God” is real?
Check reality. Check God. See reality. See and experience real Hope.
