Decisions, Decisions

As a parent, we can only do so much to influence our children's decision making. We rear them as best we can. Communicate with them as best we can. Expose them to things. And so on. Ultimately they're on their own. And will have choices to make. For better or worse.

If one of my boys is having some decision-making time, there are a few ways they'd respond:

1. I am gonna ask Dad about that and follow through accordingly
2. I am gonna ask Dad about that, then make my own decision
3. I know what Dad would say and I'll do that
4. I know what Dad would say and I won't do as he'd want

And as they get older, I'd imagine its:

1. I believe that it is fine to do that
2. I know I shouldn't do that

In Matthew 8 we hear the story of the Centurion who describes himself as "a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it."

My kids are under authority. Mine (or my wife's), their own, or that of their choosing. I don't have a lot of control over it. I pray. And I trust God. He made them after all. And His desires for them are far better than mine.

But who's authority do I choose to be under? All too often an incorrect authority - my own, or one of my choosing (hope that's not the case with my kids).

There is a fine line of life under authority, and "the way is narrow that leads to life". It takes, discipline, effort, and a willingness to live under authority - wherever that authority leads. If I choose to live under God's authority, I need to be in communion with Him. And sensitive to the pulse of the Spirit. I cannot do it on my own.

Who Occupies Your Street?

So there's all of these "Occupy Wall Street" protests going on now. And its amazing at all of the storylines. Fox News will tell you one thing MSNBC will tell another. And we each have our own takes based on what we believe and know.

I am one of those folks who may not know a lot, but I believe a lot*. I am not a financial or business guru. Never have been, never will be. Additionally, I am not blind. Clearly there is financial disparity in our country. In our world. And clearly there are the selfish and there are the givers.

The protestors are definitely having impact in that they are causing folks to think and react. Perhaps that is a chief goal of theirs. Perhaps not. Perhaps its more institutional change. Our governing change. Frankly its probably a lot of the above dependent upon the person.

And that's the thing. While these folks are occupying streets and parks, they cannot occupy the individual. Influence yes. Occupy no. So, who occupies your street?

I'm not sure we'll ever live in a land of equality. There will always be differing opinions, religions, races, and rearing. But what we do with our own street is where we have impact. Or what impacts us. We can't control with our street, we can only influence. Put ourselves out there. Share. Serve. Give. Take. Withhold. Spend. It is my street and I allow its occupants. It could be myself, others, systems of beliefs, etc.

We see these protestors on the television. We form opinions. We point fingers. Yeah, we are so darn good at pointing fingers. Them too.

This may be a no win situation. You cannot legislate morality, mercy or compassion.

Jesus was a street occupier. Still is. Back in the day, He constantly challenged governing authorities. Especially the church. Questioned it to look at itself. And in turn, us to examine ourselves. Jesus causes us to look at our "own street". And examine what we're doing with it. Or who is occupying it. He steered to compassion and mercy. Pointed his finger. All the way to the cross. He knew what His street was about.

In all honesty, I am a finger pointer. A judger. I allow so much to occupy my street. Sometimes a lot less. Sometimes a lot more.

Jesus called us to compassion and mercy. But not to point fingers or judge. We don't know what is truly going on with each individual's street. We can look at an aggregate and form an opinion. Perhaps rightly so. But we can't lump all individual's streets together.

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

Paul calls us to "examine ourselves". And Jesus to remove our own "planks" before commenting on splinters of others. Who's occupying your street today? This moment? Each moment?





*You could argue that believing is knowing, dependent upon the degree or reality of beliefs or experience from believing. A topic for another discussion.