Nan’s Nuggets: Challenges and Abundance
Posted by Jackie Halstead | September 17, 2018
“Why do people in this neighborhood get upset about putting up more houses? That lot there could have 8 more houses if they tore down that one”, my 40 something friend said as we walked down the street shaded with mighty oaks and maples and ash trees. “People my age don’t care about trees and grass and houses. Why should we?”
As we walked today the question came up, “Why do people have children? They are so much trouble. In the old days people had them to help with work, but that is not the case now, so why have them? A lot of people are not having children now and a lot are not getting married. Why should they?”
Isn’t it good to have friends who challenge you? I must say that this is a mom who gives 100% to all she does, but like the rest of us recognizes the challenges with life in all of its stages.
On the other hand, John Lachs, in a book entitled In Love With Life, that I picked up in a “little library” box in our neighborhood says, “Up and down the street, throughout the city , everywhere in the world, people delight in their activities. They talk and swim, build houses and see the sunsets from them, make music and make love. They hug their children, argue about politics, and move to the beat that comes from passing cars with self-forgetful interests. They plan and play and eat and work and even reminisce with fire in their souls. Their energy cannot be contained. Their spirit animates everything they think and touch. Humans live at white heat, aflame with love. “
We would do well to look at Scriptures to get a Biblical perspective on this as it warns about an inordinate love of the things of the world, about a man’s life not consisting of the abundance of things, about the abundant life Jesus came to give. I think we would have a beautiful picture of the life the Giver of life came to give. In 1 Peter 3:10, Peter quote the psalmist David (Psalm 34:12); “He that would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil (let him depart from evil) and do good; seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to his prayer.” Good advice from any viewpoint.
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