Spring Allergies...

 

 

“Isn’t beautiful outside?”  I said.  “I love springtime – seeing all the flowers blooming now is wonderful.”

The man sitting across from me looked offended.  “For allergy sufferers it’s pretty terrible,” he told me.  “I feel like every sinus in my head is about ready to explode.  It must be nice to be able to enjoy spring, but some of us just can’t.”

I probably looked startled.  “I guess I just like seeing everything in bloom.  I have a peach tree right now that is covered in blossoms,” I said, as way of explanation.

“It’s too early,” my patient told me flatly.  “You won’t get no peaches with it warming up this early.  Mr. Frost will get every one of your peaches!”

I took a deep breath.  Clearly this was not a man with whom to discuss the weather.  We moved on to other topics, but across the board he was negative.  If something bad hadn’t happened yet, he was bound and determined that it would happen and there was no sense getting his hopes up about a world that was headed for disaster.

There are some people who realized long ago that there is no silver lining that doesn’t have a dark cloud attached to it.  When they see smoke, they do not ask themselves whether it is produced by a fire, but rather how many people died in the conflagration.

I have spoke with many of these individuals and some, at least, claim that they are “happier” because they never suffer disappointment.  If you expect the worst, then every surprise is a happy one.

When I talk with them, I don’t sense much happiness.

There is much discussion of joy in Scripture.  The Bible doesn’t tell us that was have to look at life through rose colored glasses or only focus on the silver linings if we are following Jesus, but it might help. 

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (Romans 12:12)

The Apostle Paul wasn’t saying that we wouldn’t have troubles , but rather that we needed to rejoice because even in that trouble we have confident hope.

It is hard to live Eeyore’s existence, pessimistically expecting floods, wars, and pestilence and all the while feeling vaguely irritated by the clueless, happy imbeciles who surround us.  Maybe they are closer to the truth.

For, joy comes, even for allergy sufferers from seeing the beauty around us, even when our nasal passages are filled to overflowing.

Leftover Cookies

 

“I took snack to orchestra tonight,” Elaine told me.  “I imagine there will be some chips and cookies left over for school lunches.”

“You never know,” I said.  “The appetites of young viola and cello players is phenomenal, or so I’ve heard.”

Not too long after this brief conversation, our two sons entered the house.  “I brought home the box of chips,” Elliot said.  “About the only ones left were Cheetos.”

Elaine looked at the box in his hands.  “Where are the cookies?”  She asked him.  “Weren’t there any left?”

“The cookies?”  Elliot said.  “Yes, there were plenty left.  I gave them away to one of the girls.  She said she had three sisters, and they love cookies.”

“You have three sisters too,” I said.  It didn’t seem a particular reason to give away all of the cookies.  “I think Mom was planning to have them in lunches.”

Elliot looked askance.  “Well,” he said.  “They were mostly oatmeal cookies left and I don’t like oatmeal cookies.  Anyway, I would have thought you would be glad that I was generous.”

“I like oatmeal cookies,” Anna put in.  “I would have been glad to eat them.”

At this point, the conversation meandered in other directions, but I was struck by the concept of sacrifice and generosity.  It isn't hard to sacrifice things that you didn’t pay for, it is easy to be generous with cookies that you don’t like.

The prophet Malachi brought a warning to the people that their sacrifices to God were contemptible.  “But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table.  You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.” (Malachi 1:13,14)

I am afraid that most of us give from our surplus, we are generous as long as we feel comfortable.  After we have covered all of our expenses and most of our desires, we are willing to drop a few nickels and dimes in the coffers of the Salvation Army.

I did a little research and found that on average, American Christians give about 2 percent of their income to charity.  More than that, wealthier Americans are less likely than poorer ones to give a high percentage of their income to charity.  It seems that the more money you have, the less you have to spare to give to those in need.

Of course, if only the billionaires would give their share, the rest of wouldn't have to give much at all.  Maybe that's true, but perhaps, we receive a great benefit when we are willing to give sacrificially.  

I know that many aid organizations around the world are struggling to make ends meet.  Regardless of the reasons for this, the people of God could do a better job of stepping into the gap.

I have heard the expression that we should give till it hurts.  I would say rather that we should give until it stops hurting.  We are called to share with those who are in need.  We would do well to give more than a few leftover oatmeal raisin cookies.