Tuesday, February 23: "Immediate Gratification"
Scripture for the day: Genesis 15:15-16
New Revised Standard Version: As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
The Message (Version): You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
I sing a silly song with my best friend’s little girl. We call it the “Want Song.” It goes (with no real tune), “I want, I want… I really, really want. Break it down (dance time)!”
All of us live in a world where we always want something (a new computer, a new phone, a new dishwasher). We find ourselves in line at the grocery wanting a candy bar that five minutes before, did not seem important.
Abraham wanted from God promises of a good future for his family. God, being a good parent, provided that “Promised Land.” The only problem? Abraham never got to be a part of this land in the way that he wanted. His son never got to be a part. In fact, it wasn’t until 400 years later that this want was fulfilled.
W. Dennis Tucker says, “This text reminds us all that being shaped into a faithful life is not about immediate gratification or even our own benefit, but instead, living a faithful life is about leaning forward into the vision of God for the world even when the horizon extends far beyond our own lives.”
Question: Even though we are in a time where we only have to prepare ourselves for 40 days, what would you want if you were to prepare the future 400 years from now? What would your “land of milk and honey” be like?
I would have more time to spend friviously with my family. There would be more music and dancing. I would have more compassion and an open heart. I would have greater understanding of fear, and use it less. I would have knowledge and answers to my many questions. I would like to say that I did my best.
I carry concern that in 400 years, the land of milk and honey can easily turn into a land of dust and downpour. I’m on this little personal kick to be better to the planet that has given me such great experiences of the earth and so many experiences of God’s creation. I am working harder to do, and to invite others to do, things like picking up 3 pieces of trash every day to clean up our world. To notice little things I can do, and *do* them right then and there for the good of that one square inch of the world I’m on. And I am trying to live and share peace (which is not equivalent to the absence of war!), and love, becz that’s the only way that humankind will make it to 400 years from now.
I wonder… is there hope for a better world. Or are we all just waiting for the inevitable destruction? I hope for the best… a better world.
I think we’re doing a good job about being better stewards to our world. Despite the fact that the world population has gone up from just over 4 Billion to now just under 7 Billion between 1980 and today, the planet isn’t even 30% more trashed.