The Pain is in the Spin

Long, long ago an ancient Persian king fell prey to spin. He heard it from the best; he heard it from one all consumed with keeping power for himself. It sounded like the perfect plan, just make a law to kill the people who threaten you by their presence in your land. They are a bit peculiar too, and not like us, the reigning few. "I'll pay the cost," the king was promised, it all seemed too good to be true; "just leave the matter in my hand." And so he sat and drank, while chaos spread around. The pain is in the spin . . .

Even now there is so much spin that's spun. I hear it on the TV commercial, that "actors tell us lies so that we can see the truth." The daily news has so much commentary and political bias, it's almost impossible to decipher what is fact. Even our conversations with one another can be clouded with the spin that excuses our behaviors or blames others for our own foolish folly. And the end result of all this spin is pain. The pain is hurt, injustice, wars, personal loss, including financial and emotional ruin. Sadly even death will come to some who weave the spin or are caught up into its web . . .

Lord, today I ask that you will keep me from the spin. Keep me from falling for it and from telling it, for the pain is in the spin. . .

Comments

Easter Production

Driving down the freeway, the large billboard caught my eye. "Join us for our Easter Production," it beckoned with splashy brown and orange colors. It made me think, yes, that's what the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been reduced to. . . a man made production. Even this very day we celebrate, the headlines are all about the celebrities that attract the biggest Easter crowd. E.G. "Tim Tebow draws thousands to Texas Easter service." Once again, I had to think . . . who is Easter really about? What happened to "Jesus draws a crowd?" I have grown tired of celebrity worship. Yet, it seems in America that is what most Christians are interested in. We flock to mega churches, we drink in videos and studies all geared to keep us simple minded and complacent. No longer is theology a priority to be taught. No, it's better to read through the Bible in a year by reading only 5 minutes a day. Never mind, contemplating or discuss...

Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind

" Put yourself in the path that God will work." (Pastor Martin Smith, 1/2024) On a crisp, clear Saturday morning, I started up the hill with Gypsy Rose eagerly leading the way. I was more caught up in the fresh air feeling that was invigorating, than paying attention to the few cars that passed us by. But there up ahead, a small red truck had slowed to the curb to flag me down. "Could I help him find his son's house?" He was an older gentleman with his phone in hand. He couldn't reach his son because the calls only went to voicemail, and he didn't have his address, only that it was somewhere here in Rancho. I googled his son for him, but unfortunately, it only brought up an older address which was the current address now for this man. There was no updated address for Rancho Cucamonga. I told him the bad news, but he was so very gracious. He did everything to show me that he was for real, pulling out his driver lice...

Awe

The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise. The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window. I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets. Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky. But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me. The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme. I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear. Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect. It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....

Mary's Heartbeats

Search This Blog