Just One Rose

So, how do we live in a difficult and dysfunctional world?

Some people hate mixing Christianity with political issues and for them my last blog would have plummeted like a lead balloon. The thing is, from my very beginning journey with Jesus, the values I have always yearned and searched for are authenticity and application. At the end of every teaching or opinion I have asked, “So what? How do I experience that? How is Jesus real today, here and now?” I have no desire to be religious, perfection is unattainable, and making a good impression by pretending, is not my style. Is there hope for people like me, the odd fit, the politically incorrect, the shit disturber (by default), the one who is always is asking why? – and being misunderstood as a rebel, or difficult?

Throughout my life I have heard God’s kind affirmation to those questions while having plenty of opportunity to face doors closed by the establishment. When injustice is apparent I’m afraid I don’t know how to shut up, which is why there is no apology for speaking of the injustices and cruelty meted out by the three foolish and corrupt men trashing the globe at present.

In the midst of it all, we can still be counter-cultural, salt, and light.

I remember years ago, a short slide show at youth group. An elderly woman sat on the edge of her bed in a tiny room facing an empty table. The door opened and an arm stretched out and placed a beautiful red rose on the table. The woman stared at the rose for ages, then shuffled over to a shelf and filled a glass with water. She placed the glass on the table to hold the rose. Another long pause. Then she removed the rose, washed the glass and replaced it. The beauty of the rose revealed the grubby glass and so the impact moved out. She cleaned her tablecloth, swept the floor, dusted the shelves, and eventually washed and changed into fresh clothes.

Goodness, kindness, and beauty will always overpower dirt, grime, and unkindness. We don’t need permission. No government on earth can prevent love radiating out from good deeds, empathic words, and a gently firm refusal to copycat that which is despicable. It is quite okay for people to disagree, we don’t have to walk in lockstep. However, our opinions should never cause others harm, and our actions should be the same as how we would most want to be treated, respected, and supported.

I didn’t want the contents of the last blog to be the final word.

Instead, it seems far more appropriate to declare God’s goodness in one of the most beloved songs of all time. There’s a reason for that. Have a listen, and hopefully it reminds, and restores our hearts to committing to better ways; on earth as in heaven.