WHY I DIDN'T VOTE

Yesterday, along with others that I know of and numerous more that I don't, I chose to exercise my right not to participate in the South African elections.

This choice attracted fervent criticism from some, and a number of accusations were levelled against me. Now, as much as I don't owe anyone an explanation for the choice that I made, a choice which for all of us is an inherently personal one, I have no desire to fend off countless interrogations in the days or weeks to come. So, herewith follows a brief summary of my feelings on the matter, in response to criticisms directed towards me.

HEARTACHE HAPPENS

I feel sad today. It's more complex than my ability to express or fathom. I suppose it's the result of a sober awareness that this life is often not as it was intended to be, and in many respects not as I expected or hoped it would be. Some things lost. Some things never found. Other things found and subsequently lost. Still other things found that would have been better left lost. For now at least, I'm just going to allow myself the space to be sad...the license to mourn. I hope that's OK with you. Besides, I question the legitimacy of any claimed joy that refuses to acknowledge the reality and validity of occasional heartache. So, I thought I'd take a few moments to share some quotes on the subject of sadness that have given me pause for thought. Here they are...

CRUISING THE FREELANCE FREEWAY

 

Good day boys and girls. I hope everyone is fine and dandy this gorgeous Cape Town day, or wherever and whenever it is in the world as you are reading this. I'd like to direct your attention to a freshly published article of mine. If you've ever been curious about trying your hand at a freelance career of some kind, you may find the following read useful:

Cruising The Freelance Freeway

TRUTH OR TALES?

So, I found myself thinking tonight...how much honesty do people want to hear? How much can they handle? Do they even care? I have a bit of a choice to make. This little space of mine here, albeit erratically updated, may potentially be visited by anyone. Friends, family, potential employers, total strangers. So...especially in the face of life's disappointments and heartaches, do I put on the game face, click my heels together and think and share happy thoughts? Or, do I wear my heart on my sleeve and spill my digital guts here for the world to see?

Like all of us to one degree or another, I probably will opt to adopt at least some measure of restraint. However, putting on the game face has never been something that's come naturally to me. I can do it when I need to, but heck, this is MY blog, and no-one made you click here, so I guess you're just gonna have to put up with MY rants. :) It's my party, and...well, you know. Besides, if people can't handle or understand a little honest human experience, for good or bad, then I probably wouldn't enjoy their company anyway, or they mine for that matter. Yep...me thinks the guts will go on spilling.

SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN...

Day by day,
Dear Lord God these three things I pray:
To see Thee more clearly,
To love Thee more dearly,
To follow Thee more nearly,
Day by day.
Amen.

Who among us can honestly and fervently pray the words from this little children's prayer, and in having it answered not greatly please and warm the heart of God? Simplicity over eloquence. Passion over professionalism. Honest pursuits of Truth over dogma. May each of us as God's little children cling yet again to innocence and guilessness. May it be said of me: "Let this little one come to me, and do not hinder him, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." May it be said of us all. (Mark 10:13-14)

TRIALS IN A TENT...

The scene is the movie, "Matrix: Reloaded". Seraph has just attacked Neo and gestures with his hand to stop the fight:

Seraph: Good. The Oracle has many enemies. I had to be sure.
Neo: Of what?
Seraph: That you are The One.
Neo: Could've just asked.
Seraph: No. You do not truly know someone, until you fight them.

Every meaningful, genuine relationship will at some point be tested by the fire of conflict. I believe this is true of friendships, family, lovers...even a human being's relationship with the Creator of all things. In the latter, the wrestling takes place as a result of our inability or unwillingness to understand and embrace the work of God in our lives. There comes a time in all of the relationships we define as precious where strife or friction makes the thought of walking out on our commitment to the other seem very attractive. It is in having every opportunity and even desire (albeit selfish and ignorant at the time) to walk out on our relationship with Jesus, that we often discover the magnitude and weight of the communion we share with Him. In the time of testing we consider and remember the history we have with Him. We recall the moments when His loving embrace touched the deepest reaches of our hearts and left it's imprint on us as permanently as a tattoo on our souls.

Then we discover, in the midst of our pain and confusion, that while we've always had the freedom to renig on our friendship with God and turn our back on Him in rebellion, somewhere along the line that choice ceased to be an option. We have been touched too deeply...loved too completely...and we are no more able to walk out on His kindness than we are able to escape our own skin. We begin to understand that a sometimes hard road in the hands of a sovereign Savior is infinitely better than an often comfortable one in the hand of the world. Our devotion to Him is matured in the furnace of hardship. Sooner or later, every believer will find themselves like Jacob, in a tent with God wrestling until dawn (Genesis 32:22-28). The intensity and length of the night may vary from person to person, but the experience itself is universal to all earnest pursuits of faith. If we remain honest and persevere we'll walk away from it blessed all the more, cherishing it as an encounter with God...a place where we caught a fresh glimpse of His face, and walked (or limped) away forever changed by His grace.