Yes, but is it a natural or a special problem?

There is that old saying that a recession is when your neighbor loses his job; a depression is when you lose yours.

Let’s apply that to relational problems. Other people have relational problems because, well, everybody is quirky so what do you expect? People have tiffs; feathers will be ruffled. Relational problems are natural things.

But when it’s a problem you have with somebody, well, then that is a special problem. You need special counsel. You need a special word from God. You need all of the understanding available on heaven and on earth. Somebody rubbed you the wrong way and it’s a special problem.

But heaven seems silent. The morning dawns as scheduled. The air is fresh. Gravity still works: there you are, the usual bump on a log, as heavy as ever. The usual sheep …

… (A word lesson: “sheep” is the same singular or plural. Lesson: what’s true for me is true for you; when it comes to the stupidity of sheep, we all look alike)…

The morning dawns as scheduled. The air is fresh. The Word of God still sits on your desk. It says the same old stuff: love one another, forbear with one another, cast out the log in your own eye before you take out the mote in others’ eyes.

What, no special delivery from heaven in the mailbox for you? Boohoo. What are you going to do?

I just drove through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California in three days. Saw a lot of Southwest landscape baking in the sun. The cactus standing firm in the heat. Why not complain for lack of water? A highway carved and blasted through the mountains. Yet the rocks loom dignified over us. The winds howling and gusting. Why don’t the shrubs run for cover instead of just rooting themselves there, forlornly, buffeted by sand and grit?

We pass through and are gone. Yet the great expanse endures.

And the enormity of God’s word holding it all together.

Logos2Go

Hebrews 1.2-3 … in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

John 13.34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Romans 12.10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another …

Ephesians 4.2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Matthew 7.5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.