2024-01-26 A Meditation on Decisions

“21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Co 12:21-31 ESV)

A sense of “this and not that” is what divvies up life experience: decisions matter. Where we position ourselves, how we spend our days: these things involve compromises and playing favorite to some utilization of our time over another utilization of our time. Some modality becomes germane. Some inspiration encourages, chips away at a mountainous world of ideas and problems and amidst all this, we no time to delay Called to have drive and good labors unto an effort unappreciated by the masses, unappreciated by those near and dear to us at times: the effort unto stark incisive decision-making. This haunts us this decision even made this day: is it respectful of what Calling and Duty has alighted upon our fortunate, or rather, occupied souls? For what does Man wish for but to set himself, herself, to task: “18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” (Eccl 5:18).

The joyous allotment, then, is rightly to labor and serve, to fuss over nothing but rather to rise up equipped and responsible. Shell-shocked, not quite, rather not jaded but pinched and duty-bound: it delights our soul to Recognize in a peer and fellow soldier some joy in believing, some joy in each day, a joy that the day itself does not deserve, so wicked and usurping are so many things thrown at the Christian. The Christian has made peace with a life that is toil and strife. The Christian has their ambient On, the gladness come day’s end and the patience with each and every Cause dedicated to.

It is no reason for apology, this Discovery of a cause and a rambunctious or rather sparked and ignited rawness, to delight in a friend so long absent but This Day our life a consequence of the love others have doled out our way. We go long without forgetting. We are peace and prosperity, even as near and dear souls lose faith or accuse or prescribe “remedies”. We need no remedy, our life is lived fully and without apology either for the lack of ease or for the lack of so many things germane, yes, needful, yes, hoped for. Let us this day hope not for socializing beyond the wide avenues in which it already takes place; let us not this day hope for occupation beyond what crazy mind flights and soaring plans do inspire. Let us simply enjoy and know ourselves to be kosher and to Belong. To help up the doubting and to serve gladly and knowing there to be no need to burden ourselves with invented projects. Our project is Peace and is Fellowship and is simple love for the hours of each day, hours so preciously shared in times past and today virtually shared, as unto the Purpose of satisfaction with decisions made, no regrets, no tears, but absolute readiness. To know at times the caretaker’s job is easy, comes with the ease of the morning sunlight, and we forget how much we are custodial unto. We forget, but laugh it all away as unto hobbies so divine, impatient perhaps we can be, but also Patient with always baby steps made. Some things measure us, and other things we own and are duty-bound unto: never let anyone else’s hard labors mock or disturb the soldier’s Consecration, their Responsible shouldering of burdens that enemies make invisible, that enemies doubt or seek to discredit. Apologize not, for those who have some aged knowledge and sapience of all that life gets up to, to broker the peace and curate the knowledge and rhyme the creeds and liturgies and wake-up calls.