I receive a “Daily Dig” every morning. Today my inbox held the following quote from my favorite artist.
Change for the Better
Vincent van Gogh
Many people seem to think it foolish, even superstitious, to believe that the world could still change for the better. And it is true that in winter it is sometimes so bitingly cold that one is tempted to say, â??What do I care if there is a summer; its warmth is no help to me now.â? Yes, evil often seems to surpass good by far. But then, in spite of us, and without our permission, there comes at last an end to the bitter frosts. One morning the wind turns, and there is a thaw. And so I still have hope.
We live most often in the winter. I read yesterday (1.13.04) where we might face some additional economic scandals from Wall Street. The news carried a story of a double-homicide-suicide. Another station reported the capture of alleged bank robbers. This doe snot scratch the international scene where there is still a great deal of concern about SARS and continued insurgencies in Iraq.
Some view the end of the world as our only hope. What if we understood our call to action as followers of Christ? What if our actions as followers of Christ brought an end to the world as we know it? What if we represented the hands, feet and compassion of Christ? Could we be the wind that turns and by God’s mercy begins the thaw that exposes his grace. Maybe the world will then have hope.
Why don’t we understand our call to action as followers of Christ? So many say they are the Body yet fail intentionally in order to serve themselves. It doesn’t seem to be convenient to them or necessary unless they reap benefits. Immediate benefits.
Change for the better…yes, there is hope. But it lies one person at a time. It never fails that someone is trying to ride the “hope” coattails of another by not doing.
We do tend to live in the winter don’t we? Sometimes we get lost in the blizzards. Just like you said. I understand the need for winter. I understand the cycle of life, but I long for the spring with the renewal of life and the “greening” of plants. A reminder of God everywhere. Winter has its beauty but I adore the spring and summer, even as hot as it gets.