Heavy Hearted?

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains. Proverbs14:13NLT

How do you conceal your heavy heart? Solomon suggests that laughter can do it. Others hide their heaviness in different ways, eg immerse yourself in family, study, sport, hobby, and the list could go on. In other words, we hide from the pain of our heavy heart and don’t face up to it. But why would we want to do that?

Before we jump to any conclusions, there will always be good reasons for hiding away from the source of the heaviness. The only reason you might not agree or see it, is because you haven’t had to face that particular heartache. I would also suggest that the root of the heaviness may not be a ‘thing’, but a person. It’s true that the one most likely to hurt, is the one that’s closest. Relationships from friendships to spouse testify to that truth.

Once we recognise the source of our emotional distress, for that is what it is, what then? What do we do? If I use my head, the answer is clear. Face the situation or person directly and have the difficult conversation to try to clear the air. Even then the end result might not be good. But then, if we approach this kind of issue from our heart, that hurts too, after all it is called heartache for good reason. The heart does not want that risky confrontation because you may be the catalyst or instrument to make things worse instead of better. Whatever we decide to do, we can’t win, so it remains a heartache, and we continue to be heavy hearted because the needed source of change can’t see it, or is not interested, because they don’t see the distress they are responsible for. In fact, sometimes their ‘answer’ will be uttered or voiced before the question is asked, or aired.

To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. Proverbs18:13NIV

The Mighty Fallen

How the mighty have fallen! ‘Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. 2Samuel1:19,20NIV

All state schools in Scotland will be supported to teach LGBTI equality and inclusion across different age groups and subjects, according to the Scottish government. This includes an understanding of LGBTI terminology and identities and recognising and understanding homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. BBC News 10 Nov 2018

At one time, not so very long ago, Scotland was known as a country of the Bible. A Bible believing nation built and sustained by the precepts as laid down in the Holy Scriptures. Of course there were exceptions, but in general, the church held the people to a high standard as understood by the Bible. Now, some decades later the words of 2nd Samuel ring so true. “How the mighty have fallen” says it so well, and I believe we are in the death throes to extinction and oblivion. Strong words you think? Tell me how.

Just as it was in the Old Testament, so it is today. The prophet didn’t want the neighbouring districts of Gath and Ashkelon to know how far Israel had fallen, why? Because they were embarrassed at the depth of the fall. It was true then, and it is true again today. Read the BBC report and quietly weep.

Scotland has pulled off a first, because no other country in the world does this, or has gone so far to appease the Stonewall gay community. Your children and grandchildren in Primary School will be introduced in word and graphic image of the LGBTI life and lifestyle. This is to make it easier for your 6 to 11 year olds to decide if they really are a boy or a girl, or indeed anything else in between. Instead of playing games in the park or street, or running around with your pals, these young minds and bodies will instead be grappling with the insane and unnatural world of homosexuality, and whether or not their birth certificate has the correct gender recorded.

This once proud Scot is now ashamed of the nation of his birth, and just like the days of old, instead of Gath and Ashkelon, I don’t want my neighbouring nations to know what our own government has done. Sadly, it may be more true to say that we, the people, are responsible for not standing up against it when we saw it coming. Our grandchildren will not thank us, and they will rightly wonder why we did nothing. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a good answer for that question. Lord, help me, and my nation!

Shame

It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. Ephesians 5:12

This world is full of double minded people who say one thing but do the opposite. I know Christians get that thrown at them all the time, but those who do not claim that particular ‘high ground’ are much worse and probably even bigger hypocrites.

There are two very different worldviews being shown and presented on our media, especially the TV and movie industries. In one instance, our eyes and ears are filled with stories of the sordid lives of the rich celebrities who have an openly hedonistic lifestyle, where practically nothing is off limit. We watch as their lives are exposed to the scrutiny of the camera wielding movie maker, and tut as we shake our head. That’s a terrible way to live, we mutter under our breath, but it doesn’t stop us from checking out what they are up to in their next movie or TV soap. At the other end of the scale, in the real world we have reports of sexual abuses against the most vulnerable in society, even some who are under age. Once again, we tut and shake our head while continuing to watch and follow the very things that we claim horrify us.

While these reports are normal viewing, and we feign our horror, we are happy to watch the ongoing soaps and movies of ungodly lives who represent a lifestyle we appear to secretly like enough to follow. We like the action we say.

The other worldview is of openly Godly and wholesome living. We call these programs and movies ‘soppy’ or only for the soft headed women. However, they usually carry a strong moral message, or a clear portrayal of good values that triumph over bad. Why then do we avoid owning up to preferring this worldview? If we profess to be a Christian we don’t need to worry about what the ungodly are doing in secret. Or are we afraid that our worldly pals will think we are going soft?

The Fallen Mighty

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 2 Samuel 1:19,20

Perhaps like me, you watched the bitter and acrimonious exchanges between the best candidates for the highest post in the world, the presidency of the United States of America. As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of the Scripture verse quoted because the situation is just the same. The Bible also warns us that “The heart is deceitful above all things” Jeremiah 17:9, and this is another fine example of deceit at its best (or maybe that should be ‘worst’).

I have witnessed playground disagreements carried out in a better way, and not by trading insult upon insult, which reduces a 90 minute debate to a 20 minute display of questionable factual information. For my part, I can only hope and pray that the ‘Commander in Chief’ of the USA is not Donald Trump. I have never seen anyone at such a high level behave so badly, where everything he has done and said is denied, even in the face of clear evidence.

Please do not misunderstand me, all political candidates will avoid the whole truth, and only give you the part that shows them up in a good light, but I was struck by the petty, repetitive, childish, inconsiderate, misleading rhetoric pushed on an audience who deserve better. I will go one step further, if the electorate vote for Trump as President, they deserve each other and the world will watch with fear. In our verse, David was embarrassed and lamented over Saul and Jonathan. He didn’t want his nation’s enemies to gloat over this great fall and failing. How much more should America mourn the passing of their greatness in the eyes of God and their friends!