Sticking our heads in the sand will not make problems disappear!

Hello and welcome to Friday, the 2nd day of January 2009. Part of my routine each day is to look online at the front pages of the top ten newspapers across our country. Most of them now have a section that lists the news stories that are the most frequently read. In looking at one of the New York City papers I was struck by the number of sports stories represented in the top ten. The first six were all related to the New York Jets team. This was on a day when horrific tragedy, trouble, and trauma were prominently in view both at home and abroad. This reminded me of how we so often would rather not even think about the reality of anything negative or depressing. This can easily extend over to dealing with issues in our own personal life as we end up like the child who believes since they can’t see the parent, the parent cannot see them.

I know this tendency all too well. Maybe if we don’t think about it, hear about it, or even admit it exists, perhaps it will go away. Typically this is not how it works. In fact, God would have us to live life as people who face the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth every day as we make our way on our journey to our permanent home. This should not lead us to be pessimistic about the troubles that surround our existence in this world. No, it should make us aware that our Savior has already told us it will always be this way in our fallen world but He offers victory to us as we seek His strength to deal with the “all things” we face. Today folks like to divide people into categories (positive/negative, optimistic/pessimistic, full/half-empty) but being a genuine realist about the truths that surround us each and every day and dealing with them by trusting in our God more clearly reflects what I believe the Bible to teach.

I well remember a leader I once knew who made a determined effort to eradicate anything at all said or done that would give even a notion of negativity. He insisted that everyone around him follow that pattern. Unfortunately, we live in a world where issues abound, problems are prominent, and results and consequences are inevitable. Coming up with new words and twisting it all around to make it sound like something it isn’t will not change the truth. God will always have us to deal with the reality of the situation at hand, recognizing it for what it is, and seeking His help to change us or give us what we need to see His will accomplished. Sticking our heads in the sand may offer some temporary escape but when we do come up for air, guess what? The reality of life, the good, the bad, and even the ugly, will be there and so will be the faithfulness of our God along with His promises that we can depend upon, embrace, and apprehend as we make our way home. Have a great Saturday, and Lord’s Day, first day of the week, Sunday! Amen. …..More later.