Published by JPLand on 11 Mar 2010
More Contemplation
Sometimes, one post isn’t enough to clear my brain. Mind if I ramble on a bit more? No? Thanks, I knew you’d listen. After all, I am a shallow thinker, so it takes me a bit longer to figure things out.
While I am a slow learner, I do understand that pain and heartaches are nothing new. Sometimes we just notice it more than other times. But all around, people are constantly looking to find the calm in the midst of their storms. The most typical response that I have seen is that we just grow calloused to the sadness around us and we trudge on with our lives.
Mr. Jones lost his wife. She was always so sweet to me. I have a meeting in an hour.
The Robinsons are getting a divorce. I hate it for their kids. I wonder what we’ll do for supper tonight.
Jennifer seems really upset about something. I hope someone talks with her. Ah, I’m already running behind.
Cold and callous? Sure, but it’s the way we run. After all, we don’t have the time to sit and listen to every little detail of all these peoples’ lives. And heck, even if we did, wouldn’t it be depressing to have to struggle through these things with every single person that was having a bad day?
The only true response that I have seen work is love. Compassion. It’s the kind of compassion that has you just sit in silence while someone cries on your shoulder. The love that sends you out in the wee hours of the morning after someone has made a mistake. Again. It’s the deep friendship where two people embrace during an emotional storm and they both know that they have a companion through the trials.
As much as the politicians try, government can’t comfort all who are weary. As much as the congregations gather, the church isn’t comforting those who are heavy-hearted. There are many who still struggle and long to find some rest.
I don’t even pretend to think that there is anything that I could do to solve the global needs for comfort, compassion, peace, or love. This void existed before I arrived and will continue long after I am gone. However, I am reminded of a quote from a guy that loved the teachings of Jesus, but didn’t care much for the actions of his modern-day followers. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The solution that I long to see in my world can only come from one place. Me.
But how?
On the way home this past Friday, I heard a tune that sounded familiar. As I listened, I noticed that I even knew some of the the words. Eventually, my brain worked through some of the filing cabinets and recognized the song as one of Ray Stevens’ hits from years gone by. But the display on my radio was wrong. It said “Cledus T. Judd.” What? Judd does these stupid parody songs that force me to search the dial for an infomercial just to have an upgrade. I listened a bit more to the song and couldn’t figure out which voice was singing, but it just didn’t sound right. On my way to work this morning, it happened again. A diferent Stevens hit being attributed to “Cledus T. Judd.” This time, I could tell that the voice wasn’t right. What in the heck is going on?




























































