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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on July 21, 2002, at 19:52:57
I have trouble sometimes seeing God's grace at work in my life. Not that I don't have an almost embarassing amount of things in my life to be thankful for, but I have trouble seeing God's hand in that since it somehow implies that God is responsible for the lack of marvelous things in the lives of others. And that doesn't fit in well with my concept of God.
But one area where I have consistently seen evidence of God's grace in my life is the weekly sermon, or sometimes the Sunday School lesson. Many times, certainly more often than can be accounted for by circumstance, the sermon is exactly what I needed to hear at exactly that time in my life.
Now Beardy, I can guess that you are thinking I am once again believing myself to be the center of the universe. But no, I do not believe that God guides the pastor in preparing a sermon that will apply to me. :) But I do strongly suspect that God prepares me to hear the sermon. That certain events or things I have heard during the week stick in my mind through the grace of God and pop up in my mind during the sermon in a way that ties what is in the sermon to what is in my life. And no, I don't think events in my life happen so that I will listen to the sermon either. What I am saying is that God's grace allows me to tie the two things together. Oh, I'm not explaining this well.
So getting back to the story, and away from the twists and turns of my thinking process, yesterday you said the following to me:
"I'm not trying to make you mad. I just want you to realize that you can't make peace without walking into the conflict and that, rather than becoming a casualty, you are becoming a veteran."
Now I must confess that I was irritated by that statement. I may feel compelled to enter the fray by a strong sense of right and wrong, but I do feel victimized by the need to do so. I know that I cry and shake over the keyboard sometimes, not wanting to type a single word. And I have experienced sitting in my therapist's office after one of these all out board battles, shuddering, sobbing, rocking, and hugging myself (and on one memorable occasion a baby doll).
But your words stuck in my mind nevertheless, even if it was only in a sense of irritation. And today's sermon was about seeds and growth, and the overriding message was that the most worthwhile things in life are the most difficult. And that only by doing things that are difficult do we grow. I'm not as good at this as my pastor is. :) But it made me think of your statement. And it made me at least consider whether there was truth in what you said. That I am becoming a veteran, that I am not a victim. I haven't decided quite yet (grin) but I am considering it at least. After the sermon, I thanked my pastor. And it seems only fitting that I thank you as well.
Thank you Beardy.
Posted by beardedlady on July 22, 2002, at 5:51:34
In reply to Re: A Thanks to Bearded Lady , posted by Dinah on July 21, 2002, at 19:52:57
Dinah:
I was thinking about that statement too, but how was thinking how it came out even better than I'd meant it! No, really, I had no idea I was about to make a military analogy when I chose veteran. It was a total fluke. "...[Y]ou can't make peace without walking into the conflict...rather than becoming a casualty, you are becoming a veteran."
It's funny that you would be irritated by that statement. It's so positive--almost optimistic! And it's the very definition of support. It's why women call themselves "breast cancer survivors," rather than victims.
In that little word war, you are not dying. You are not even losing anything. You are gaining experience and battle scars and strength.
> But your words stuck in my mind nevertheless, even if it was only in a sense of irritation. And today's sermon was about seeds and growth, and the overriding message was that the most worthwhile things in life are the most difficult. And that only by doing things that are difficult do we grow. I'm not as good at this as my pastor is. :) But it made me think of your statement. And it made me at least consider whether there was truth in what you said. That I am becoming a veteran, that I am not a victim. I haven't decided quite yet (grin) but I am considering it at least. After the sermon, I thanked my pastor. And it seems only fitting that I thank you as well.
You're welcome. But how about them pesos?
beardy
Posted by beardedlady on July 22, 2002, at 6:07:11
In reply to Re: A Thanks to Bearded Lady , posted by Dinah on July 21, 2002, at 19:52:57
>I do strongly suspect that God prepares me to hear the sermon. That certain events or things I have heard during the week stick in my mind through the grace of God and pop up in my mind during the sermon in a way that ties what is in the sermon to what is in my life. And no, I don't think events in my life happen so that I will listen to the sermon either. What I am saying is that God's grace allows me to tie the two things together. Oh, I'm not explaining this well.
Yes you are. It's a very cool phenomenon described in a scene from "Repo Man." I believe it's Miller who gives a little monologue about shrimp--you see the word plate, you see the word shrimp, and then you see a plate of shrimp. It's a lot more interesting and funny than that, but it's a concept called synchronicity (the Police wrote a song about it, remember?).
I teach a few books each semester, and it seems that no matter what book we're reading, all the sit-coms and news items that week are related to it. We do a technology book, and all the shows that week are about technology goof-ups, and the news reports include computer-related scandals. Or we do a gun control book, and everything in the news is about new gun laws.
It SEEMS like that's what's happening, doesn't it? What is probably REALLY happening, though, is that you are now keenly aware of the things you're reading about, so you pay closer attention to the things that relate to it.
In your case, it certainly seems like God is posting certain obstacles in your way or having you deal with various challenges, preparing you for a sermon related to all you've experienced.
But so much happens to us each week. A different sermon might have hit the mark and unified several other things that happened to you. What separates the really good learners from the average ones is our ability to apply lessons to our own lives--to find that synchronicity. Making that connection is what understanding is all about.
Whether God has a hand in synchronicity is a matter of personal belief. Synchronicity could look like coincidence touched by God--it's something just a bit more connected than a coincidence.
What's funny is that your post made me think about a poem I wrote a few weeks ago for my parents. When I read it to my husband, he thought the "you" in it was him. I realized it could be my parents, so I wrote it in dedication to them for their birthdays. But the "you" was originally meant to be the reader of the poem! And now I realize that, if I believed in God the way you do, the "you" could be God.
I'll post it, and you'll see!
beardy
Posted by Dinah on July 22, 2002, at 7:57:48
In reply to Synchronicity » Dinah, posted by beardedlady on July 22, 2002, at 6:07:11
>
> Whether God has a hand in synchronicity is a matter of personal belief. Synchronicity could look like coincidence touched by God--it's something just a bit more connected than a coincidence.
>Well, thank you for that paragraph, Beardy. :) I find a great deal of comfort in seeing God's grace at work in my life in that not so small way, and would like to continue to believe.... And WILL continue to believe.
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