God Does Not Make Garbage

I had reached the point in my retirement where I had become a little bored and was open to try something new and different.  I still am not ready for a tattoo or a nose piercing.  I don’t understand either.  I have always been a clean freak.  Why would I want something on my skin that I could not wash off?  And as for body piercing, the older I get the more I have to be pierced by hypodermic needles for medical appointments.  I have discovered that the only time I really want stainless steel touching my skin is when I grab a fork.  Anyway, there often does come a time for some retired folks when one gets restless and while not ready to go back to the work of their former career one is open to try something new.  Be careful when that mood arrives. 

A friend who directs a school was looking for a person to teach a small class of 7^th graders just one day a week and she asked if I would be interested in teaching that class.  The subjects sounded like they were in my wheelhouse, well except for one.  I would be teaching classes in Bible.  Hey, I do have a Doctorate and 40 years of studying, teaching and preaching the Bible.  I should be able to handle 7^th grade Bible class without much preparation.  I would also teach Writing and Grammar.  I spent 40 years speaking and writing so I should be OK here as well.  However, the fourth class I would be teaching was Science.  In all my years of formal education; elementary, middle & high school, college, Masters & Doctorate level classes my lowest grade was a D…in 7^th grade science!  Where are the red warning lights to signal trouble when you need them?  Sometimes we just race past them like the guy who jumped from the 50 story building.  As he zoomed past a window on the 30^th floor he was heard to say, “So far everything is fine!”

Anyway I jumped.  How much trouble could it be?  It was 7^th grade and only one day a week.  It wasn’t long before I hit the pavement.  Wow, I had to spend the entire week preparing for that one day of teaching.  While I could and often did feign my way through some of the Bible, Writing and Grammar classes (Sorry I must confess); Science was not something I could fake.  It is very humbling when a 7^th grade girl catches you making a mistake in your teaching and politely corrects you in front of the class!  Why do I keep having flashbacks to being intimidated and traumatized by smart girls in middle school?  However, as I began to study things I had not learned well when I was that age, I started to see theology in science that I had missed in my own 7^th grade classes.  Perhaps that was why I lost interest and made a D.  Hey, that excuse is as good as any!

I realize, as a product of the Mississippi public school system, that I may be a little slow on the uptake but I began to more fully realize a Godly purpose in decay.  Microorganisms, insects and animals are born and are nourished by the death and decay of other created matter.  Nothing created by God goes to waste.  All the garbage on the planet has been created by man.  As I finished the water I was drinking while studying I looked at the plastic bottle and thought, "Look how much useless trash and garbage is created by man".  Even when recycled much of what man makes winds up causing more trouble in the long run.  However, nothing created by God is trash and nothing created by God goes to waste.  Everything created by God serves a useful purpose in the ongoing miracle of His handiwork. 

That may not seem so profound to you, remember I went to school in Mississippi, but that realization opened my eyes to see that everything in my life that comes me or from mankind may not be useful, in fact often it will cause more trouble that it is worth, and it will leave residue that may take a long time to overcome.  However, everything in my life that is from God will eventually work out for His perfect purpose that will last forever and be reborn into another living miracle. 

Every living thing created by God will die.  However, every living thing created by God dies giving life and birth to a new living thing.  Everything living thing, and person, created by God serves a useful purpose.  No thing or no one created by God is wasteful or worthless.  So do not despair or be overcome with grief when something created by God is perishing, prepare to rejoice and embrace the birth of something new! 

I was a Cub Scout

I was a Cub Scout.  Now for those unaware of what that means, Cub Scouting is part of the Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America, available to boys and girls from kindergarten through fifth grade, or 5 to 10 years of age and their families.  Now if asked that question of the game-show, Jeopardy, you will be prepared.  There were seven of us in Den # 4, Pack # 3 (Gosh, how is it that I can still remember that and can’t find my car keys?).  The Boy Scout motto is, ‘Be Prepared’.  The Cub Scout motto is, ‘Do Your Best’.  Both serve as good advice. 

I recently returned from a couple of weeks away and…I hate to admit it, but I have arrived at the age where I will check obituaries occasionally.  I always scoffed at the old joke; “If you read the obituaries and your name is not there, it’s a good day.”  Since I had been away I wanted to check the news to see if anything worthwhile had happened while I was traveling.  I used to keep up with the news on a regular basis but I stopped for several reasons; it is not news anymore as much as opinions with an agenda, it rarely changes (politicians are still loony and people are always going to do stupid things), and it is really not that helpful to my daily life.  Actually the situation in the world has not really improved since God placed Adam & Eve in paradise with a few simple basics and said, “Enjoy the great set-up.” (This is from the Drees translation).  Then as soon as they were left to their own ideas, they looked around and said, “I know what He said and things are greater than we could ever imagine but let’s try this…” (Again, this is from the Drees translation). 

Anyway, back to the original point, I checked the news to catch up on events while I was away and discovered that one of my former classmates and Cub Scout Den members died.  There are now four of the original seven who are still here.  Sonny, Ricky and now Phil are gone.  Jimmy, Bobby, Buddy and I remain.  Although most of us scattered to different regions and lost close touch over some 60 years that have passed since then, it can always get one’s attention when childhood and school friends pass away. 

The older I get the more I am impressed with how fragile and fleeting life can be.  I am amazed at how quickly 67 years have passed.  As a pastor who sat at the bedside with family and friends when some took their last breath and presided over funerals for people who lived over one hundred years and for some who lived less than one, I am continually reminded how fragile life on this planet can be.  Throughout my life and career I believed, studied and taught about life after death as a matter of faith.  However, in reality, it really does not matter how strong one’s faith may be or what one believes; the only thing we really know for certain is what we are experiencing at this very moment.  All else is either a matter of faith or uncertainty.  And often it seems that in this sin-scarred world the only thing that is certain is uncertainty.  So where does that leave us?

Well, I can’t be certain that the politicians are going to make helpful decisions or laws.  I can’t be certain that the car speeding my way is going to stay in their lane.  I can’t be certain that my heart will continue to beat for the next five minutes.  I really can’t be certain that I will even finish writing this note (I am fairly certain that a select few are wondering if I will ever get to the point…yes, I know who you are!).  But, I can be certain about one thing in my life and that is my attitude and actions for this very moment. 

I can choose to get involved in the petty political arguments or workplace/church/family drama of the moment and share an angry or foul mood…that may be my last moment of life on this planet.  Or I can choose to be as happy, forgiving, loving and kind to everyone around me no matter what the situation or circumstances may be…and if this is my last moment or not, it is the only moment I have at the time…then it was and is as good as I could make it for me and those around me! 

While life is filled with dramatic and memorable events, both joyous and sad; most of life is made up of the small everyday moments.  Therefore, we would do well not to waste any moments on the worries and difficulties of this imperfect world but make the best of every fleeting and fragile moment of life with every breath being filled with gratitude, kindness and love.  

Again, no matter what one believes about the afterlife, this is the only shot you get at this world.  When it is over you will be dead a long time so it just makes sense to make the most of every moment.  I remember once reading about a minister who was visiting a member of his church whom both knew was probably nearing the end of a long full life.  In my experience I have learned that it is often helpful in those situations to make certain that there are no lingering regrets so a good pastor tries to lovingly approach a way to eliminate those feelings, if possible.  In their talk he asked, “You have been truly blessed with your life but is there anything you would do differently if you could go back?"  She immediately cocked her head with a smile and looked him square in the eyes and said, “I would eat more ice cream and less beans!”  I love that answer.  It also serves as a reminder to spend more time having fun and enjoying the journey.  While beans are healthy and good for you, life goes better when you try to have more fun as well.  Add her outlook to the following motto and scripture and you have a pretty good formula to enjoy the rest of your journey;

“Do Your Best”

Boy Scout Motto

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18