Of Floods and Folly

Today I kind of feel like ranting about a couple of things that have been bugging me this week. This doesn't happen very often, but today just happens to be the day.

First of all, I can't stand the global warming theory. Whoever believes it needs to come to Minnesota. Right now it's 19 degrees outside. Five days from now (April 1) our forecast high temperature is 31. This year we can use that day to celebrate the foolishness of the global warming crowd together. The crazy thing is the way the media has spun the Fargo/Moorhead flooding, as if it is all being caused by the warming earth. That's funny, because I was up there a couple of days ago and didn't see a single person in a swimsuit or flip flops. In fact, it's been snowing there almost all week. Also, a big reason for the high river levels in North Dakota is that there are ice jams in the rivers. Global warming indeed. They might have convinced me, but for all that pesky ice and snow.

Before my next topic, I will take a moment and point the finger at myself first. I'm altogether imperfect. I screw up all the time. My only saving grace is from God, who is working on me constantly. That said, I truly wish that excellence was something that I saw more people pursuing these days. It grates me when something gets done halfway and then left alone because it's "good enough." This attitude is what ends up destroying the drive to do anything well. I realize that not everyone is capable of doing everything like a prodigy, or at least not at first. But that in no way excuses us from desiring to do what we do excellently. If you are capable of doing better at something, then you should.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men... Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. -the apostle Paul (Colossians 3:23, 2 Timothy 2:15)

Never settle for "good enough."

Till We Have Faces

I just finished reading C.S. Lewis' epic retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. Though it usually takes me awhile to make it through his books, I finished this one in three nights' time (albeit late nights, but three nonetheless). The story, written in a first person perspective, is set in a barbaric world occupied by humans and mythical gods. It largely revolves around the mystery surrounding the main character's life, which finally unfolds in the last chapter or so. I won't give anything away, but the last paragraph makes a profound statement which I would like to include here:

I ended my first book with the words no answer. I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? (p. 308, Till We Have Faces)

One of the main points of the book is that we must approach one another and God with unveiled faces. To be honest; to mean what we say. To voice our concerns and cries instead of keeping them inside, because holding them in will make us bitter and rob us of answers. Let us remove our veils of offense and pride, and honestly approach the One who himself is the answer; meet him face-to-face.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. -Hebrews 4:16