From Where I Sit...
We’re getting to that season.
A friend sent me a cartoon. It’s a guy in robes (probably Jesus) saying to a woman on her knees and tugging at Jesus’ robe (I’m guessing she was the woman who needed to be healed or maybe Mary or Martha). The contemporary caption to the picture is, “I already told you. I’m not turning your water into pumpkin spice latte!”
So, go ahead and have your spiced latte. Shucks, use it for breakfast in July if you want. Have it on ice in the middle of the winter. Or even use it for communion (gasp!) It’s okay. You will have to make it for yourself, because the cartoon says Jesus won’t. (Maybe.) And that’s okay, too.
Starting with the Garden and moving to Moses and his 613 commandments and then the alterations that Paul put into his own understanding and then the directives that have been passed down through more than two millennia, we have rules. Yet Jesus said that all of those rules can be summed up by two: love God and love each other. (Matthew 7:12) (Interestingly, Paul said the same thing.) All the rest is explanation.
I have nothing against pumpkins or the sporadic, seasonal obsession with pumpkin spice anything. Or against latte, for that matter. It’s just not one of my top ten flavors. (Now, put some apple in my doughnut instead of pumpkin spice and I’m calling that a winner!) It’s my bias, I’ll admit that - and I’m okay with that. I’d rather watch baseball than any other sport and, blood thinners notwithstanding, I’d rather the temperature be 25 rather than 95. Quick, tell me your favorite rock and roll band - and that will lead to some spirited discussions!
Sly and the Family Stone once sang, “Different strokes for different folks and so on and so on and shoo bee doo bee dooby” (I put that last bit in just to give you something to sing all day.) What a great idea! You do you and I’ll do me and we’ll get along just fine! Up to a point, though. My mom used to tell me, “Your rights end at the beginning of my nose.” I don’t think I need to explain that.
Let’s get theological for a moment.
As long as you love God and each other.
With prayers for peace and HOPE,
Rev. Wally
