Brenda’s Blog – December 15, 2020
“Mom, this was a good day to be a good day, wasn’t it?”
My friend’s son summed up their family time at the lake as he went to bed. In his child’s way he expressed a profound truth.
We are completing a year when the definition of a good day has changed. Ordinarily it could easily be considered a successful in person business meeting, a large family gathering, a rousing dinner around a favorite restaurant’s round table. But new measures are now required. A productive ZOOM call, a facetime phone call, an almost hot carry out meal, or certainly a home delivery of groceries substitute for the personal interactions.
But shouldn’t we shift with the circumstances? Howard Hendricks, beloved and eminent professor at Dallas Theological Seminary was famous for his sharp, witty retorts. During one class a student attempted to explain away his poor performance, “But Prof, this was the best I could do under the circumstances.” Without batting an eye, Dr. Hendricks responded, “Sir, what are you doing under there?”
My generation prides itself on adaptability. We carry cell phones; we spend hours on social media (even if it is not the most current platform); we adapt to the newest “hacks” (which will always be known as shortcuts to me). We refuse to think of ourselves as old even though 80 is way closer than 70.
But the pandemic has made us climb under the circumstances. We talk about wanting life to go back to normal. We post nostalgic memes expressing the desire for life to be like it was in the 50s or 60s. The quickest way to get old is to step into cultural concrete.
David the Psalmist asked the Lord to allow him years to teach the next generation of His power, might, and goodness. What better way for us to show the reality of our faith than to exercise it fully during these not so good days? We have a sterling opportunity to speak loudly in words and actions for the adequacy of the Lord God. Let’s wake up to the privilege of telling those coming behind that today is a good day for a good day.