DE PONDERINGS
Our two-year-old (going on 12) granddaughter, Kessa, enjoys watching videos when she comes to Grammy and Papa's house. One in particular that she likes is the movie Beethoven, a family film about a big St. Bernard dog. Kessa calls it the "big dog" movie. This past weekend while Kessa was visiting, we watched one of the five "big dog" movies (there are actually 5 Beethoven movies, believe it not). At one point in the movie, two people were shouting back and forth at each other to shut up. At the conclusion of that scene, Kessa, with a big grin on her face, looked at the adults in the room and loudly said, as you might have guessed already, "Shut up!" Some family film, huh?
Well, we quickly worked with Kessa informing her that telling others to shut up was not appropriate. We shared with her that saying "please be quiet" was a much nicer way to get across the same message. I'm not convinced Kessa completely understood what we were telling her as she would say "be quiet" and then very softly say "shut up." I think she thought we just wanted her to say "shut up" in a quieter voice.
This little incident that happened in our living room caused me to wonder what God thinks about our responses to the real life drama that we view on a regular basis. Do we, like a child, without thinking, sometimes blurt out what is on our minds? Do our responses immediately bring admonishment from those who hear our responses? And what do we do upon receiving admonishment? Do we continue sharing our original response, but in a quieter, softer tone?
I ask these questions not judgmentally, but simply for us to pause and consider that our responses matter. What we say can either stir things up or enhance unity. My intuitive reaction is that we would rather enhance unity. Therefore, being patient in forming an appropriate response has greater potential for unity.
An interesting little story tucked away in Donald Durnbaugh's book, Fruit of the Vine, is helpful in understanding that a patient response is beneficial and unifying. The story takes place after 1762 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A young Brethren woman, Catherine Hummer, daughter of Peter Hummer, a minister in the White Oak congregation, was having what she called heaven-sent visions. Her father supported these visions as divine in nature. Reports were being sent to Europe that Catherine had seen "many hundred persons baptizing in eternity," that is, according to Durnbaugh, in paradise.
These visions caused quite a stir and the Yearly Meeting in 1763 discussed the difficulties associated with Catherine's experiences. A very quick and rash decision, one with negative results, could have been made. Interestingly, this isn't what happened. Cooler heads prevailed. A decision was made but it was one which didn't deal with the issue of the visions as much as dealing with how to remain in community in the midst of a difficult, likely controversial, problem.
Members of the church were asked to be tolerant of others with conflicting opinions in order to keep unity. A statement was developed which urged members to comply:
We do not herewith have a formula for resting on our laurels and doing nothing. But we do have an admonition to listen for the "Lord's coming" in the midst of our conversations that involve difficult and controversial issues, no matter how long it takes.
Never think that God's delays are God's denials.
Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patient is genius.
-Comte de Buffon (1707-1788)
There are times when God asks nothing of his children except silence, patience, and tears.
-C .S. Robinson
Well, we quickly worked with Kessa informing her that telling others to shut up was not appropriate. We shared with her that saying "please be quiet" was a much nicer way to get across the same message. I'm not convinced Kessa completely understood what we were telling her as she would say "be quiet" and then very softly say "shut up." I think she thought we just wanted her to say "shut up" in a quieter voice.
This little incident that happened in our living room caused me to wonder what God thinks about our responses to the real life drama that we view on a regular basis. Do we, like a child, without thinking, sometimes blurt out what is on our minds? Do our responses immediately bring admonishment from those who hear our responses? And what do we do upon receiving admonishment? Do we continue sharing our original response, but in a quieter, softer tone?
I ask these questions not judgmentally, but simply for us to pause and consider that our responses matter. What we say can either stir things up or enhance unity. My intuitive reaction is that we would rather enhance unity. Therefore, being patient in forming an appropriate response has greater potential for unity.
An interesting little story tucked away in Donald Durnbaugh's book, Fruit of the Vine, is helpful in understanding that a patient response is beneficial and unifying. The story takes place after 1762 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A young Brethren woman, Catherine Hummer, daughter of Peter Hummer, a minister in the White Oak congregation, was having what she called heaven-sent visions. Her father supported these visions as divine in nature. Reports were being sent to Europe that Catherine had seen "many hundred persons baptizing in eternity," that is, according to Durnbaugh, in paradise.
These visions caused quite a stir and the Yearly Meeting in 1763 discussed the difficulties associated with Catherine's experiences. A very quick and rash decision, one with negative results, could have been made. Interestingly, this isn't what happened. Cooler heads prevailed. A decision was made but it was one which didn't deal with the issue of the visions as much as dealing with how to remain in community in the midst of a difficult, likely controversial, problem.
Members of the church were asked to be tolerant of others with conflicting opinions in order to keep unity. A statement was developed which urged members to comply:
Now, if one or the other thinks that we have not sufficiently judged the occurrence, let him consider that we cannot in the least give cause for a separation for conscience' sake. Therefore we felt constrained not to criticize or judge this strange happening but rather urge everyone to a God-like impartiality and patience, lest someone judge before the time when the Lord comes, who will also reveal the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsel of the heart.The second sentence of the statement has the key to being tolerant in difficult or controversial issues: patience. If and when we respond quickly to the drama of life out of a sense of confidence that we are right, could it be we simply do not practice patience? And how patient should we be? The folks in 1763 considered being patient enough to wait until the Lord comes.
We do not herewith have a formula for resting on our laurels and doing nothing. But we do have an admonition to listen for the "Lord's coming" in the midst of our conversations that involve difficult and controversial issues, no matter how long it takes.
Never think that God's delays are God's denials.
Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patient is genius.
-Comte de Buffon (1707-1788)
There are times when God asks nothing of his children except silence, patience, and tears.
-C .S. Robinson
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