Everyone has her or his perspective on life. We differ in our understanding and the potential meaning, and the urgency of response. As I look on the scene it is clear we “see” through glasses! Some see isolated events as a trigger to war. Local politics are causes for jubilation or an extended period of modern day “sack cloth and ashes” for others. Business signals drive some into panic selling while others begin a period a calculated buying. On parent frets while the other flows with the new developments.
I look at the span of the reactions and wonder. Is everyone on the same planet? It is easy to recognize that we can have different views on certain things, corporate and economic outlooks for example, but on core issues that touch us all how can we be that different? The only viable conclusion that one can come to is that one or both sides are not looking at real reality, that they are living in a fantasy world of imagination.
I realize this is a harsh judgment, yet given the life impact of what is at risk somebody needs to sound the warning flag! The challenge of grabbling with reality isn’t new; Joel had the same problem in the world that he knew. To friends and others around him, his words were direct, blunt, and stark. “Sober up, you drunks! Get in touch with reality—and weep! Your supply of booze is cut off. You're on the wagon, like it or not.” (Joel 1.5)
You and I urgently need to stop, reflect, and see what is actually going on around us. Our ignorance extracts a terrible price from the lives around us and our own. In addition, we continue to put our souls at risk. I know the difficulty and challenge of accepting harsh reality but I also know the beauty and hope that comes with seeing God in this process. Divinity’s work is stunning, especially given reality. Divinity’s Presence brings unlimited amounts of hope, in this reality. Ignore reality at the risk of your life!
