MONDAY MORNING BLOG

Chapter 18

The unnamed Servant

The character of Abraham’s Unnamed Servant is mentioned in Genesis 24 of the Bible. In this chapter, Abraham, who is advanced in age, tasks his servant with finding a wife for his son, Isaac.

Let’s continue with the story.
Upon arriving at his master’s ancestral city, Abraham’s servant first had a practical concern, to water his camels. He then had a spiritual concern, asking for God’s guidance through providential circumstances. Is this a lesson of how to pray. Furthermore, the fact that God uses an unnamed servant instead of Abraham, Sarah, or even Isaac to teach this demonstrates why God says things like, “The first will be last”.

Is this is a lesson here?
God often acts in countercultural and counterintuitive ways.

Upon arriving at his master’s ancestral city, Abraham’s servant first had a practical concern, to water his camels. He then had a spiritual concern, asking for God’s guidance through providential circumstances. Is this a lesson of how to pray.

Another lesson is prayer?
The servant’s prayers were divided into three categories: prayers for self, prayers for others, and prayers to thank and glorify God.

The servant then took ten of his master’s camels and departed, as all his master’s goods were in his hand. He arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. He made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. Then he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please grant me success this day and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.”
Before he had finished speaking, Isaiah 65:24 provides an example of a gracious answer to prayer:

It will be demonstrated that, before the supplicant has even uttered a word, an answer will be forthcoming; and, before the supplicant has finished speaking, an answer will be given.

In the rabbinic literature, Eliezer of Damascus is the prototypical loyal servant, who embodied the ethical values he learned from his master, the patriarch
Abraham. Eliezer was the servant whom the then childless Abraham complained to God would inherit Abraham’s estate (Gen 15 : 2). The rabbis identify him as well as the unnamed servant Abraham later sent to find a wife for Isaac. Importantly, the rabbis say that, in carrying out this assignment, Eliezer acted against his own interests, since he himself had a daughter whom he hoped Isaac would marry. Eliezer thus modeled the highest level of loyalty and virtue, carrying out his master’s will even against his own personal interests. As a reward for finding a wife for Isaac, Eliezer is said to have been awarded the kingdom
of Bashan, which he ruled under the name Og. The rabbis read the designation “Damascus”
(Dammasek) as deriving from the Hebrew words Doleh we-Mashkeh (“drew and passed on”). Thus they hold that Eliezer drew from his master Abraham and passed his teachings on to others. Rabbinic texts assert that Eliezer even looked like Abraham and that, because of his loyalty, the curse that applied to all other Canaanites was lifted from him.

As I was writing, I realised that I had come to a different conclusion than I started out with. I thought I would land at an usual topic of mine: the unnamed, the weak. This unnamed individual was not weak; he was influential, important to a whole family, knew his role, was loyal and stuck to his task! I like this example.

This story is about the unnamed servants and invisible forces that may cross our paths. They could have a significant impact on our lives.

Wishing you a wonderful day and start to this week!

Philemon

Chapter 17

Good Monday Morning to this week 17 of 2024

I recently interviewed and received a spontaneous application by email. Interviewing is like navigating without a map, sometimes there’s a surprise at every turn. Recruitment requires speed and precision. Recruiters look for synergy between talent and organisational needs. Asking the right questions is an art, revealing hesitations and unspoken truths. Some candidates exaggerate their skills, others downplay them, seeking a balance between confidence and humility. It can also be a series of contrasts – between spontaneity and strategy, openness and caution. Yet amidst challenges lies the promise of discovery – the unearthing of hidden treasures awaiting opportunity; one needs guidance to find diamonds in the rough.

A recruiter said to a candidate
“In this job, we need someone who is responsible”.
The job applicant replies,
“I’m the one you want. In my last job, every time anything went wrong
they always said I was responsible”.

Nehemiah’s “job interview,” so to speak, is recounted in the Bible in the book of Nehemiah, specifically in chapters 1 and 2.

Nehemiah served as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia. He receives news about the dire state of Jerusalem—the walls of the city lie in ruins, and its inhabitants are in distress. This news deeply troubles Nehemiah, and he mourns, fasts, and prays to God for guidance and favor in addressing the situation.

Nehemiah seeks an opportunity to address the king directly when he is serving wine to the king. The king notices Nehemiah’s saddened demeanor and asks him about it. Nehemiah, after a quick prayer to God, shares his concerns about Jerusalem with the king, requesting permission to go and rebuild the city.

The king, moved by Nehemiah’s sincerity and trustworthiness, grants his request, providing him with letters of safe passage and resources for the project. Ultimately, Nehemiah’s successful interaction with the king leads to his appointment as the governor of Judah and his subsequent leadership in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, demonstrating the importance of faith, preparation, and seizing opportunities in achieving one’s goals.

Nehemiah’s “job interview” with the king unfolds in an instant – let’s call it divine timing. At a critical moment, Nehemiah turns to prayer for divine guidance and courage, then reverently and humbly presents his case to the king, articulating his concern for Jerusalem’s welfare and desire to lead the effort to rebuild its walls. His words are marked by a clear vision of the task at hand.

A guy goes to Ikea for a job interview… (In the Ikea Customers are responsible for assembling furniture themselves using included instructions and basic tools.)
Recruiter: Welcome sir, nice to have you. Please assemble that chair over there and take a seat.

And perhaps, like Nehemiah, you too find yourself called to rebuild walls, whether metaphorical or literal, with courage, conviction, diving timing and a steadfast trust in the guiding hand of God!

Wishing you a good start to this new week!
Philemon

Chapter 16

Good Monday Morning to this new week 16 of 2024!

In Chapter 16 of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, “Still Knitting”, set in the lead-up to the French Revolution, the scene is set in Saint Antoine, Paris, a district bubbling with revolutionary fervor. The chapter focuses on Madame Defarge, a key figure in the revolution, and her husband, Monsieur Defarge, who run a wine shop frequented by revolutionaries. Madame Defarge, characterised by her incessant knitting, which symbolises the inexorable march of the Revolution, engages in conversations in which she expresses her grievances against the aristocracy. The knitting is a metaphor for her role in compiling a list of enemies. Through Madame Defarge’s conversations and actions, Dickens foreshadows the brewing conflict and violence that will erupt in the Revolution.

In Chapter 16 of “Around the World in 80 Days, by Jules Verne, Detective Fix remains suspicious of Fogg’s true intentions but becomes increasingly perplexed by his behavior. Despite his doubts, Fix continues to travel with Fogg and his companions aboard the steamer Mongolia. As the journey progresses, Fix tries to gather more evidence against Fogg but finds himself questioning his own judgment. This chapter sets the stage for further intrigue and suspense as the characters race against time to complete their journey around the world.

And now for the most read book in history? No, it’s not “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx, and chapter 16, entitled “Bourgeois and Proletarians”, outlines the historical development of capitalism …

Genesis 16: Hagar flees from Sarai, her mistress, but is met by an angel who tells her to return and submit to Sarai.

Exodus 16: The Israelites complain about hunger in the wilderness, and God provides them with manna and quail to eat.

Leviticus 16: Instructions for the Day of Atonement, including the role of the high priest in making sacrifices for the sins of the people.

Numbers 16: The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron’s leadership, resulting in their punishment by God.

Judges 16: The story of Samson and Delilah, where Delilah betrays Samson to the Philistines, leading to his capture.

1 Samuel 16: The anointing of David as king of Israel by the prophet Samuel, after God rejects Saul as king.

Jeremiah 16: Jeremiah’s instruction from God not to marry or have children, due to the impending judgment on Judah.

Ezekiel 16: Allegory of Jerusalem as an unfaithful wife, illustrating God’s relationship with Israel and their idolatry.

Matthew 16: Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, followed by Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection.

Mark 16: The resurrection of Jesus and his appearances to his disciples, along with his commission to preach the gospel.

Luke 16: The parable of the dishonest manager and the rich man and Lazarus, illustrating principles of stewardship and warning about the dangers of wealth.

John 16: Jesus predicts his departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit, and he assures his disciples of his victory over the world.

Hebrews 16: Exhortations to show hospitality, remember prisoners, honor marriage, and avoid covetousness, along with a call to remember and imitate faithful leaders.

James 16: Warning against boasting about the future and encouragement to pray in times of suffering and to confess sins to one another.

Revelation 16 portrays the climax of God’s judgment with the 7 bowls upon the earth, signaling the culmination of human history and the imminent return of Jesus.

Let’s conclude with Psalm 16 that begins with “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” or in Latin Conserva me Domine. Psalm 16 is also mentioned in Acts and in those cases both Peter and Paul applied Psalm 16 to Jesus’ resurrection and not to David’s life.

Let’s wrap it up here … kind of hard, so many topics at once, from encouragement to many themes of faith. Since this is a blog post, I’m going to cut it down to a short thesis;

Preserve me (us) oh God, that we may not lose faith but are found by you – still knitting!

Philemon

Chapter 15

After the great flood, humanity began to multiply and spread across the earth. As they migrated eastward, they settled in the land of Shinar. The people of Shinar decided to build a city with a tower that would reach the heavens, symbolizing their unity and power. They yearned to ascend to the heavens, to bridge the chasm between mortal and divine. With each brick, they endeavored to log into the celestial realm, to access the divine beyond.

Reading from Genesis 11:1-9

But their ambitions knew no bounds, they sought to erect a monument that would pierce the very veil of the heavens. With relentless determination, they labored to fashion a tower that soared ever higher, reaching towards the celestial sphere with each brick laid and each stone placed.

Have you ever experienced this issue with one of your accounts?! I know I’m taking a far reach from the important story of Babel in history to a failed login attempt on an email or other account, but bear with me!

The tried to log in;

Your login attempt failed. Your password must include a capital letter, a lowercase letter, a number and a special character.

Your login attempt failed. Your password must include a letter, a number and a Chinese character.

Your login attempt failed. Your password must include an uppercase letter, a Chinese character and a Disney character.

Your login attempt failed. Your password must include a capital letter, a number and a hieroglyph from the dynasty of Amenhotep IV.

Your login attempt failed. Please retype a previous password in Sanskrit.

Your login attempt failed. We’ve sent a recovery code to the first hotmail address you created in the fall of 1996. You can access it through your MySpace account.

Your login attempt failed. We have sent a 16-digit login code to your mother’s email address. To ensure your security, the email also has the last 300 pictures taken with your cell phone.

Your login attempt failed. Please fill out this Captcha to access your account. Click all of the pictures that show despair.

Your login attempt failed. Because you enacted dual verification, we are contacting your former spouse and previous employers to verify your hair color in selfies recovered from your deleted photos. (smile, sometimes it really feels like this! )

In our quest to bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine, we often encounter hurdles that challenge our resolve. Just as the people of Shinar faced obstacles in their quest to reach the heavens, so too do we encounter login failures and setbacks on our spiritual journey.

The frustration of failed login attempts mirrors the trials and tribulations we face in our quest to connect with the Divine. Whether it’s navigating the intricacies of password requirements or grappling with the complexities of faith, the journey is not always straightforward.

The people of Babel were punished for their arrogance, but they were also enriched by diversity, including languages and cultural variety! While not every failed login attempt leads to confusion, it can lead to the enrichment of language, tribes, groups, and a sense of God reaching out to us. Just as many of our daily login attempts fail, reminding us that we cannot reach high enough to get to Him.

Therefore, take heart! Although the path may have obstacles, remember that even a failed login attempt can be an opportunity for growth! As we navigate spirituality, may we find comfort in knowing we are not alone – despite failed login attempts, God reaches out to us!

Philemon

Chapter 14

Good day to this new week, despite it already being Thursday.

I am currently reading a book about quitting. “Quit” by Annie Duke makes the case for an undervalued and important skill that can lead to success: knowing when to quit. The power of knowing when to quit, to walk away, adds nuance to the old-school advice that only grit and perseverance are necessary to achieve goals.

But that’s not why I didn’t write this on Monday. First I wasn’t in the mood, I lacked inspiration, I was tired, then the week started with a rush of all the unattended to-do’s of the week. So no, I’m not going quietly!

Here is a nice little story from the book. The ants go marching … mostly

Have you ever watched ants walking in a single line toward a common destination? The ants go marching one by one, hurrah! That’s how we imagine them. And forager ants really do march that way.

Mostly.

When you look closer, what you’ll see is that while most of the ants are marching in line to and from the food source, there is always a certain percentage of the foragers that seem to be wandering around aimlessly. They aren’t following the program. They look suspiciously like freeloaders, shirking their responsibility to bring food back to the nest. Are they ants with an attitude? Are they rebels? Lazy malingerers? Ant anarchists? Anti-establishments ants? It turns out these ants serve a crucial purpose and that purpose has a lot to do with quitting.

When ants enter new territory, all the foragers are wandering around scattered across the area, the opposite of that classic marching-in-line that we expect to see. That’s because there is no established food source yet and that ants are searching for one. When an ant finds food, it brings it back to the nest. Along the way, it lays down a chemical scent called pheromone train, which is faint when it comes from just one ant. Any other ant that picks up that scent will follow the same trail. And if the food source is high enough in quality, they too will find food on the same path. As the chemical scent gets stronger, other ants begin to follow the trail, soon the traffic is greater which makes the trail stronger and stronger and you end up with the ants marching in one line.

But what about the others, the puzzle of the wandering ants? The answer is that these ants are continuing to explore the territory. This serves a vital purpose for the colony. First, some will be forced to quit the food source which can be unstable or disappear. Second, if the food source remains stable it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a better food source available than the one they’re currently exploiting. If all remain in the march in lockstep, they’ll never discover a better food source, because none of them will be looking for it.

Here is a lesson for us. Quitting might not be quitting at all, but a resistance to stop exploring.

The story of the wandering ants teaches us a valuable lesson about the importance of knowing when to stop and when to persevere. In our quest for growth and fulfilment, just as these tiny creatures explore new territories in search of nourishment, we too can be willing to venture beyond the familiar. Rather than being an act of weakness, abandonment (quitting the line) can sometimes be an act of wisdom and judgement, allowing for the redirection of our efforts towards more fruitful pursuits.

As we navigate our way through life’s complexities, we are reminded of the words of Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the will of God, His good, pleasing and perfect will. “

By renewing our minds and aligning ourselves with His purpose, we gain the clarity and discernment we need to navigate the twists and turns of our journey, the journey of others and the big picture of the journey of God and his people. So let us have the wisdom to know when to stop (quit the line) and when to persevere, trusting in God’s guidance every step of the way.

Have a good rest of the week.

Philemon

Chapter 13

Late last night I listened to a beautiful version of George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord performed by Billy Preston. To see an older Billy Preston playing a favourite Harrison song was most emotional. Not to mention Clapton and Harrison’s son on guitar with Paul and Ringo. Hard to describe the emotions this video made me feel, wonderful performance, well worth seeing and listening to!

At this point, I would like to express my deep appreciation to my dear friend Sandro. Every Monday, like clockwork, I send him the Monday Morning Blog full of thoughts and reflections. Shortly afterwards I am so often greeted/surprised with a perfectly fitting song, expertly chosen by Sandro. His deep understanding of music spans genres, including gospel, Negro spirituals and a host of other melodies. It’s truly remarkable!

Should we ever embark on the journey of co-authoring a book, we already have a treasure trove of songs to complement various themes and occasions. Imagine starting our book readings with a harmonious blend of prose and melody – a truly enchanting experience awaits us!

A few examples
In the rhythms of ’41, echoes the divine truth, God Told Nicodemus by Vocal Union

God told Nicodemus, God told Nicodemus
God, oh yes He did, He told Nicodemus
a man he must-a be born again

Well there was a man among the Pharisees
By the name of Nicodemus who did not believe
Same Nicodemus came to God by night
Talkin’ ’bout religion from the human sight
He brought along his silver, diamonds, and gold
Wanted to buy his way to Heaven and save his soul

Or to the Chapter 01 of 2024. Right time, right place, harmony of time and faith:
I received the fitting song by Dr. John – Right place wrong time.

I been in the right place
But it must have been the wrong time
I’d have said the right thing
But must have used the wrong line

Talking about Social Justice, Israel and such topics since October 7th 2023
we of course came past the song;

Go Down Moses by Louis Armstrong 

Go down Moses
Way down in Egypt land
Tell old Pharaoh
To let my people go!

Another; “Down by the Riverside”

Gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside (3×)
Gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside

What about the song about overcoming and longing for deliverance;
We Shall Overcome descended from “I’ll Overcome Some Day,” a hymn by Charles Albert Tindley.

We shall overcome, We shall overcome, We shall overcome, someday
Oh, deep in my heart, I know that I do believe, We shall overcome, someday.

Let us conclude with an old hymn by Fanny Crosby in 1873. “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine” Fanny J. Crosby, an American missionary, poet, lyricist and composer, was a prolific hymn writer who wrote more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs. Crosby was known as the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers”.

At six weeks old, Crosby caught a cold and developed an eye infection. Mustard poultices were applied, which Crosby said damaged her optic nerves and left her blind. At the age of eight, Crosby wrote her first poem describing her condition. She later said: “It seems to have been intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I should not accept it. According to her biographer Annie Willis, “Had it not been for her affliction, she might not have had so good an education or so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a memory.

While visiting a friend in 1873 she heard Feeby playing some music and asked Fanny what it made her think of… the words came pouring out of her mouth.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Hebrews 10.22
So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water.

As we draw closer to God with sincere hearts and unwavering faith, may we find solace and inspiration in the timeless melodies that accompany us on this journey of life.

Philemon

Chapter 12

There is a teen on TikTok who translates Bible stories into Gen-Z lingo. I’m not fluent in Gen-Z speak, so let’s have a look at it by Kyle Chastain and ChatGpt.

If you’re feeling prophetic, here’s some verses from Isaiah you may recognize.

Isaiah 9:6–7
Check it out: We’re getting a baby boy, a son’s coming our way, and he’s gonna carry the whole squad on his shoulders. They’re gonna call him Awesome Advisor, Super Strong God, Forever Dad, CEO of Chill. His rule and peace game? Straight-up endless. He’ll rule from David’s throne, bossing his kingdom, keeping it legit and righteous from here to eternity. And it’s all gonna go down ’cause the Lord Almighty’s got mad passion to make it happen.

Now, how about a few beatitudes from Jesus?

Matthew 5: 3–10
Big ups to those who are low-key, they’re gonna own heaven.
Shoutout to the ones grieving, they’ll get all the comfort.
Props to the chill peeps, they’ll score the Earth.
Big respect to those craving to do right, they’ll be totally satisfied.
Hats off to the kind-hearted, they’ll get kindness back.
Yay for the straight-up folks, they’ll def see God.
Cheers to the peace-creators, they’re gonna be known as God’s fam.
Huge respect to those getting heat for being righteous, Heaven’s all theirs.

Here’s an all-time favorite with a twist.

Psalm 23
God’s got my back, I’m all good.
He’s like, “Chill in these awesome fields, take a break by these calm waters.”
Totally rejuvenates my vibe. Keeps me on point for the right reasons.
Even when things get sus I’m not stressing, ’cause You’re right here with me. Your guidance and support? They’re my comfort zone.
You set me up with a feast, right in front of the haters. You’re treating me VIP style; my life’s just overflowing with blessings.
Count on Your kindness and love chasing me every single day, and I’m hanging in God’s crib for the long haul, forever.”

Okay, one more. This time with Jesus again.

Mark 9:35–37
Jesus gathered his crew and was like, “If you wanna be CEO, you’ve gotta be the ultimate helper, serving everyone else”. Then he brought over a kiddo, gave them a hug, and was like, “If you’re cool with little ones like this on my behalf, you’re cool with me. And being cool with me? That’s like being cool with the One who sent me.”

Yo, wishing you a lit Monday morning to kick off this fresh week!

Phil

Chapter 11

Dbmaj7 – Eb – Db – Cm – Fm – Eb -Db – Cm – Fm -Eb – Dbmaj7

A progression of chords, not unusual, yet unique as each piece of muisic, put together by Moayad Aljabal, an Arabic self-taught pianist and composer. With his pieces he write tales of beauty with music, as this one called Le Rêve .

Embedded between rolling hills and whispering pines, lived a soul. It’s days were painted with the shades of a unique chord progression, like that of a daydream Dbmaj7 – Eb – Db – Cm – Fm echoing in a melody that echoed along the pine trees, the wind brushing through the rivers and reverberating on the riverbanks. As the evening dusk was bathed in a golden glow, the progression of the strings embraced the soul, bringing back memories of childhood laughter, sunlit afternoons as the mind wandered past familiar faces in the towns and villages where time was spent. The narrative took a turn with the Fm, with rustling leaves, contemplative moments, shadows of nostalgia, a silent witness to a long journey. In the midst of this near melancholy, a burst of optimism emerges on a hilltop, returning to Dbmaj7, bringing a look to the horizon. A sense of clarity and resilience with Eb standing tall, looking to the horizon. Le Rêve is not just a place; it is a state of mind, an embodiment of dreams of life’s unexpected twists and turns. Alive with much exploration, guided by curiosity, the symphony plunges into depths and heights, always with that extra peak of the 7 to the D-major. Sometimes it’s more of an opening, or it’s the closing of an evening air, with a stern sense of resolution, drifting into the pleasurable calm of a night’s sleep. Le Rêve unfolds with harmonies of joy, introspection, hope, resolution, bringing elements of timelessness.

I wonder if King Solomon had this tune playing in the background as he was in his contemplateive mode writing Ecclesiastes 3:1-8?

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Le Rêve – a time and new season for you this week!

Philemon

Chapter 10

Shortly before the passing of a preacher, he had a dream, revealing an athlete in a coffin, gripping a baton tightly. The symbolism, profound and enigmatic, beckons us to ponder its significance. The customary phrase “passing the baton” takes a nuanced turn in my preference – a notion of “passing the baton around.” It evokes the cyclical nature of life, a relay of generations where we collectively traverse the track.

The dream’s imagery, however, introduces a somber note. The athlete, once vibrant, now rests in a coffin with the baton still held firm. What interpretation lies within this scene? Could it be that the preacher failed to pass the baton on, hesitating in the relay of life? Or did he, perhaps, withdraw from the race altogether, bringing it to an unexpected halt?

As we reflect on the dream, it prompts us to consider our roles in the generational relay. Do we embrace the baton, passing it around with intention and continuity, or do we, at times, find ourselves on the sidelines, not ready to take the baton again? The dream shares a message, urging us to run together, ensuring the baton’s journey persists, and the race endures beyond our individual strides and waiting to the baton to come again and again as we journey together.

Hebrews 12:1 b – Therefore, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

In the grand stadium of an relay race, life unfolds,
A generational run, a tale to be told.
A track where all generations partake,
Some sprint ahead, some at a slower pace they make.

The baton of time, passed hand to hand,
An interwoven run, generations understand.
Some have run the course for years untold,
While others take their first steps, bold.

Cheers echo for the swift, the ones who lead,
Yet each runner, no matter their speed,
Contributes to the relay, this dance of faith,
Weaving a narrative, generation by generation, innate.

Some race with vigor, a fire in their stride,
While others with caution, in shadows they bide.
Yet life is a relay, not a solo affair,
We depend on each other, our burdens to share.

The track bears witness to stories untold,
Of triumphs, struggles, and moments so bold.
For every swift sprinter, there’s a steady pace,
A testament to the diversity, faith and grace.

The baton is passed, from youth to the old,
and again from old to youth not to get cold.
A relay of stories, more valuable than gold.
And as we run, our turn will soon arrive,
To carry the baton, to keep the flame alive.

So let us run with purpose, together as one,
In this generational race, until the race is done.
Cheering for each other, regardless of the speed,
For in unity, we fulfill the relay’s profound creed.

Wishing a good start to this new week!
Philemon

Chapter 9

Luke 24:38 “He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?'” See,” he seems to say, “I give you my peace: why are ye troubled? why do you allow perplexing, harassing thoughts to arise in your hearts? The past is forgiven and forgotten.” “I come not, as a wrathful Judge to reckon with you for your unbelief and unfaithfulness. I bring to you something very different”.

Doubt from Cambridge Dictionary: (a feeling of) not being certain about something, especially about how good or true it is.

Why is doubt so appealing, even trendy, in today’s society? Why do some religious figures suggest that doubt signifies spiritual growth? Is doubt truly the companion of faith, or is it something else entirely? What does it say about our theological understanding when doubt is elevated as a virtue?

Brad East, Associate Professor of Theology at Abilene Christian University, has written about the basics of faith for the spiritually hungry and shares his thoughts in an essay. I’ll summarise some of the key points.

There are several pitfalls in embracing doubt. First, proponents tend to universalise a particular experience, presenting doubt as a pervasive challenge for all Christians, which may not be true in different historical and cultural contexts. Second, they elevate doubt as a necessary aspect of a mature faith, ignoring the diversity of experience and background among believers. Third, they exalt doubt as a virtue when its role in the spiritual journey is ambiguous. Finally, they fail to recognise doubt as a tool rather than an endpoint, akin to lingering on a ladder rather than reaching a destination.

At best, doubt is a ladder to climb. But ladders aren’t ends in themselves. We use them to get somewhere, to complete some job. Dwelling forever in perpetual doubt is like making one’s home on a ladder—technically possible but far from ideal.

Questions are not the same as doubts. Thomas Aquinas asked thousands of questions in his short life. Augustine’s Confessions alone contains more than 700 of them. But there’s the rub. Doubt begins with a loss of trust or credibility; questions do not. My children ask me questions every day, not because they doubt me, but because they trust me.

For this reason, saints and mystics adore questions, including questions that cannot be answered in this life. Questions arise from and foster our trust in God. Questions grow faith.

Doubt often entails questions, questions do not always entail doubt.

Faith, on the other hand, is not this desperate maintenance of inner certainty. It is just as accurately translated as faithfulness. To have faith is to keep faith, to remain faithful to God, to trust Him and to become trustworthy in return.

Doubt can be part of that struggle. The struggle is real, lifelong and common to us all. But the struggle is not the point. The point is where we are going. The point is who we follow. We are not condemned to struggle and suffer and wonder forever. Doubt may have been, is now, a ladder, but it’s not a home!

Wishing a good start to this new week.
Philemon