That Lonesome Valley...
We have a neighbor who is forever trying to share her religious views with me. She would love for me to come to "Bible Study" with her and her friends. It seems that nearly every other word out of her mouth is either "Jesus" or "pray". Now, don't get me wrong, I don't doubt her sincerity for one second--she seems absolutely devout. Quite frankly, I probably believe many of the same things she believes. But my own limited knowledge of the "word of God" seems to be telling me to be cautious. It seems to actually warn me against allowing others to interpret the real message for me. It tells me to seek. It tells me be careful to pray to God--and not for the benefit of human ears.
I told her the story of my Grandfather. He lived well into his 90's--a very active life right up till the end. I had the great fortune to live near him as a child, and spent a great deal of time around him. I was already grown, married, and raising a family of my own when he neared the end of his life. Of course, I was around him much less by then (given the demands of making a living). But, during the time I did get to spend with him, he started making references to Jesus. They weren't pushy references--telling me how I should believe. Rather, they were small inclusions in his conversations--like speaking occasionally of an old friend.
We had always enjoyed such a close relationship, that I felt comfortable in asking him about it. "Paw", I said "why is it that I've been around you all my life, but never heard you speak of Jesus or religion? Now that you're nearing the end of your life, you speak more of Jesus and Mary? Why now, and not then?" His reply was pure Paw. "Mr Cherry, (he had always called me Mr Cherry, just to pick at me) "did you ever know me to steal anything?" "No", I replied, taken off guard by his question. He continued, "Did you ever hear me swear?" Again, I answered "no". "Did you ever know me to mistreat my children?" Once again, I simply answered an honest "no". "Did you ever know me to say anything that wasn't true?" Again, "no". He summed it all up with this statement: "I always thought it was more important to act like a Christian than to go around professing to be one".
That conversation has stayed with me for more than 30 years now. I'm encouraged by neighbors to come to their churches and listen to their pastors' interpretation of the word of God. Some of my relatives have "found their way" recently, and they all offer their churches' version of what it means to be Christian. I tell them that the Bible is a powerful book, but it still was interpreted by men (with their own sets of feelings, flaws, and prejudices) and therefore possibly not quite said exactly the way that God meant to say it. At that, they shudder and think I'm being blasphemous. I can see them mentally backing away, and looking up for the lightning bolts.
We eventually hit the point where they are quoting different scriptures in support of what they are telling me--you know, where God took his handy quill and wrote it all down for us. When my neighbor started that, I asked her if she totally believed and followed every word of the Bible. Her answer was, of course, yes! She is a young, very outgoing, vocal woman, so I simply asked her if she'd read the part where Paul tells one of the churches (my knowledge is not nearly as great as hers, so I can't even remember which church it was) that women were not to talk in church. To that she replied that yes she had read it, but that wasn't what Paul really meant--that it was a matter of interpretation. My point exactly--different people, different pastors, and different denominations had provided their own interpretations all along.
Believe me, I wasn't trying to tell her that as a woman she should "be quiet". What I was trying to convey was that I believe that a relationship between a human and God is very private. No matter how much one attends church. No matter how much one gives to the church. No matter how much one tries to sell the views of their particular church. It is still a very private matter, and in the end, God judges on what He knows. And, I happen to believe He knows it all.
It seems extremely arrogant and presumptuous of me to say, without a doubt, "I know God's mind--I know exactly what he told me in the Bible". I think, instead, that God does want me to seek His true message. And, quite frankly, for a mere human mind, that is an extremely difficult endeavor. The messages of the Bible often seem very conflicted to me. So, the very first thing I pray for is the wisdom to interpret His message as He wants me to know it. And as far as I can tell, it is just like the old Kingston Trio song says: "You gotta walk that lonesome valley--you gotta walk it by yourself--nobody else can walk it for you--you gotta walk it by yourself".
Run toward the light!
We have a neighbor who is forever trying to share her religious views with me. She would love for me to come to "Bible Study" with her and her friends. It seems that nearly every other word out of her mouth is either "Jesus" or "pray". Now, don't get me wrong, I don't doubt her sincerity for one second--she seems absolutely devout. Quite frankly, I probably believe many of the same things she believes. But my own limited knowledge of the "word of God" seems to be telling me to be cautious. It seems to actually warn me against allowing others to interpret the real message for me. It tells me to seek. It tells me be careful to pray to God--and not for the benefit of human ears.
I told her the story of my Grandfather. He lived well into his 90's--a very active life right up till the end. I had the great fortune to live near him as a child, and spent a great deal of time around him. I was already grown, married, and raising a family of my own when he neared the end of his life. Of course, I was around him much less by then (given the demands of making a living). But, during the time I did get to spend with him, he started making references to Jesus. They weren't pushy references--telling me how I should believe. Rather, they were small inclusions in his conversations--like speaking occasionally of an old friend.
We had always enjoyed such a close relationship, that I felt comfortable in asking him about it. "Paw", I said "why is it that I've been around you all my life, but never heard you speak of Jesus or religion? Now that you're nearing the end of your life, you speak more of Jesus and Mary? Why now, and not then?" His reply was pure Paw. "Mr Cherry, (he had always called me Mr Cherry, just to pick at me) "did you ever know me to steal anything?" "No", I replied, taken off guard by his question. He continued, "Did you ever hear me swear?" Again, I answered "no". "Did you ever know me to mistreat my children?" Once again, I simply answered an honest "no". "Did you ever know me to say anything that wasn't true?" Again, "no". He summed it all up with this statement: "I always thought it was more important to act like a Christian than to go around professing to be one".
That conversation has stayed with me for more than 30 years now. I'm encouraged by neighbors to come to their churches and listen to their pastors' interpretation of the word of God. Some of my relatives have "found their way" recently, and they all offer their churches' version of what it means to be Christian. I tell them that the Bible is a powerful book, but it still was interpreted by men (with their own sets of feelings, flaws, and prejudices) and therefore possibly not quite said exactly the way that God meant to say it. At that, they shudder and think I'm being blasphemous. I can see them mentally backing away, and looking up for the lightning bolts.
We eventually hit the point where they are quoting different scriptures in support of what they are telling me--you know, where God took his handy quill and wrote it all down for us. When my neighbor started that, I asked her if she totally believed and followed every word of the Bible. Her answer was, of course, yes! She is a young, very outgoing, vocal woman, so I simply asked her if she'd read the part where Paul tells one of the churches (my knowledge is not nearly as great as hers, so I can't even remember which church it was) that women were not to talk in church. To that she replied that yes she had read it, but that wasn't what Paul really meant--that it was a matter of interpretation. My point exactly--different people, different pastors, and different denominations had provided their own interpretations all along.
Believe me, I wasn't trying to tell her that as a woman she should "be quiet". What I was trying to convey was that I believe that a relationship between a human and God is very private. No matter how much one attends church. No matter how much one gives to the church. No matter how much one tries to sell the views of their particular church. It is still a very private matter, and in the end, God judges on what He knows. And, I happen to believe He knows it all.
It seems extremely arrogant and presumptuous of me to say, without a doubt, "I know God's mind--I know exactly what he told me in the Bible". I think, instead, that God does want me to seek His true message. And, quite frankly, for a mere human mind, that is an extremely difficult endeavor. The messages of the Bible often seem very conflicted to me. So, the very first thing I pray for is the wisdom to interpret His message as He wants me to know it. And as far as I can tell, it is just like the old Kingston Trio song says: "You gotta walk that lonesome valley--you gotta walk it by yourself--nobody else can walk it for you--you gotta walk it by yourself".
Run toward the light!
posted by Busted Boomer | Thursday, December 23, 2004
1 Comments:
youre neighbor would do anything to have u in er bed... r u aware?
Post a Comment
<< Home