HUMPTY DUMPTY DEPOT

 Reading: Matthew 18:3

"Jake asked today if we were going to Humpty Dumpty Depot. Henceforth, Home Depot is officially re-christened and shall be so-named." - Message from my daughter Christi on FACEBOOK

I love Jake.  It's not that he's my first grandson (well, that, too) but he has a way of defining his world in personally meaningful ways. And once he defines it,he moves quite comfortably through his daily existence.

Jake also has a way of drawing others into his definitions that give them a fresh perspective on their lives (or at least a very good chuckle).  The aftermath of such Jake definitions (or pronouncements) often lead a fresh round of reflection on our previously held assumptions and some of us have even been known to embrace Jake's new way of looking at things.

Apologetics is the art of explaining or defending the faith - answering questions people have about our faith with a new clarity. Ravi Zacharias has said that apologetic is not about "getting people to agree with you, but simply to open their minds" so that they might honestly consider them claims of Jesus Christ.

Not everyone in Jake and Christi's circle have renamed Home Depot "Humpty Dumpty Depot;" but I suspect quite a few have thought of the implications of there actually being such an enterprise - and those thoughts have taken them in some new directions regarding home improvement supplies.

For many people - accepting a faith or defending a faith - is limited by our complicated assumptions about life that never seem to get down to the simplicity of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  That really was what Jesus was saying to his disciples when he declared, "Except you become like a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3

Perhaps we need to learn a lesson from Jake.

ANGER MANAGEMENT

"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.": - Hosea 11:8

I've spent a lot of time on the road lately ... traveling interstates during holiday weekends ... navigating narrow, congested city streets during rush hour.  My wife would prefer not to ride with me because I have a tendency to grow impassioned about the "inconsiderateness" of other drivers.  I mean, I think a car is a car, not a phone booth.  When the light turns green, you ought to step on the accelerator--sooner than later.  You should know where you're going instead of slowing down to read every street sign you pass.  And more than one car ought to be able to make it through a traffic light.

Since she has to ride with me, Dianne has taken to shaming me.  "Did you ever think of what's going on in that driver's life at the moment?"  Or she tries to encourage reason, "Frustration doesn't get you there any sooner."

Dianne has only been moderately successful in defanging my fierce anger.

Unfortunately when you someone wrongs us -- not only do we feel angry, but the more we dwell on it, the angrier we get.  And let the offender repeat, we might simply explode as that anger grows more and more fierce.

This passage always fascinates me.  People like to the characterize the God of the Old Testament as an angry God.; but as I read the text--his fierce compassion cries out and grips him.  His love is so great that even when he sees us rebelling against him, it is the desire of his heart to show mercy.

Because he is God, not man--the Holy One in our midst.  Maybe we would be able to manage our anger better if we were more like the Holy One in our midst.

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn