Sabbath Reflections - Pondering and Perspective

These are challenging and tutorial times! Amid the commotion and noise; whether in the real estate and financial markets, the devastating storms in the gulf coast, the travails in the personal lives of family and friends, the political and global uncertainties, or in the "seeming routineness" of everyday living, the tugs and pulls of the world become ever so real and at times daunting and overwhelming. Our prayerful nights and mornings have become extended as we seek efficacy in the intervening and atoning love of the Master for those whose trials and tribulations weigh heavy in their hearts. These truly are tumultuous times! Even so, it is amid the tumult and commotion, or in our defining midnight moments that we are either strengthened in our faith, resolve and steadfastness to what truly matters, or, diminished, frustrated and compromised in our capacity to endure well.

What marks the difference in our enduring well?

Although not an expert in trial and tribulation, we have had our share over the years, and I suspect there is more to come in the future. When I contracted lymphoma years ago, a question was offered by a loving friend; why you? My response was simple, why not me? What would possess me to think that I, of all people, would be exempt from the trials of the world. Surely, our Savior and Friend, perfect in every way suffered such that He bled from every pore. If He being perfect suffered more than any, and as the only one who could take upon Him what He did, why is it that any of us should be exempt, for we are far from perfect and have much to learn from our tutorial trials in life. It is His suffering for us that has enabled His perfect empathy, such that He can and does succor us in our trials, rendering the needed tender mercies and sweet comfort that eases our pains and burdens. Notwithstanding, how often are we so consumed and distracted by our trials in life that we fail to be tutored, fail to be comforted and fail to embrace His tender mercies? Our elective submission is the necessary qualifier, to let go and trust Him implicitly and explicitly. It is all that He asks, and the only thing we can give; simply allowing our heart and will to be swallowed up in His.

Our capacity to endure well, to be tutored, comforted and recipients of His tender mercy reside in our quiet ponderings, in our reflective and meditative moments, where we seek for greater understanding and heartfelt tutoring and comfort. It is in our midnight moments, with meekness and humility, that we draw strength and capacity to endure well, from He that endured all things well. Be it in our prayerful moments, or in the simple stillness of quiet solitude wherein we ponder that which truly matters, our petitions are heard and rest and comfort are obtained. It is that we should "Be Still and Know that He is [I am] God." (Psalm 46:10) A further counseled in Matthew, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls. For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light." Can we ever doubt His love and capacity to comfort? The irony rests in our letting go and trusting, when our natural man state would tell us otherwise. It is in our Pondering that we gain Perspective, recognizing that which matters and on whom we should rely.

Additionally as written so eloquently in scripture: "If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?...Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

Amid the tumult and commotion of all things, may we each pause to ponder and quietly reflect and meditate on that precious gift given to each of us so long ago; drawing strength, comfort and capacity, such that His tender mercies may enable us in our enduring well. It is in these tutoring moments that we draw from the well of perspective, whereby we are enabled to chart our course through the boisterous winds and troubled seas.