Every so often it just becomes such a tip that it needs tidying up.
You only tolerate it for so long, but as it gets worse there’s a growing realisation that something needs to happen. Sometimes it takes an event to trigger off action that is needed because of just how bad the situation is. After much hand-wringing and soul searching and debates and discussion a clean up action is called for.
With sombre tones and indications of sweeping reform action is promised and seen to be done. Often glimpses of progress are witnessed and used to suggest that lessons have been learned and we have changed. Regular reminders of how bad things are used as warnings to ensure things like that never happen again.
Over time congratulation over work done leads to complacency. Little attention is given to the fact that the roots of the problem have never been addressed. Nor could they for that would call for a significant awareness of our incapacity for true realisation and repentance. It’s far too costly and calls for far too much work, not just money, but time and deep self awareness. It should also come across the inevitable need for outside help.
So rather than acknowledge such a need, we rumble on from crisis to tragedy and riot to protest. We cry, we resolve, we act superficially, we talk seriously, we commiserate, we commemorate, we celebrate then we fall into the same trap again and wonder why.
That is why I fall helpless before the Holy God. I know this cycle cannot be broken through education, medication, rehabilitation or legislation. I know at best my efforts are shallow and are like a plaster over a gaping deep wound. I need the help. In the gospel that help is given – not just on the personal level, but on a corporate level. Not just for my salvation but for universal redemption. Not just as a temporary measure, but the expression of an eternal narrative where the Kingdom of righteousness from eternity past rests in eternity present for evermore.
In the meantime I work to express this Kingdom of righteousness in the acts I do and the words I say. in the knowledge that there is no social or political solution to a fundamentally human problem. Only in the gospel will answers begin to be found.
(Photo by pan xiaozhen on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
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