Now What?

Where's a hymn when I needed one? Suddenly, instead of a hymn, I found myself signing,"We've got trouble right here in River City" from The Music Man. Partly because I love music, and played the trumpet and French Horn, I really like The Music Man. I close my eyes and see my young self, tooting my horn, proudly marching down the street in Dekalb, Illinois. Years later, after my parents died, I found a letter that my Danish grandmother wrote to them concerning their lax parenting.

Well, the letter chastised my parents for allowing me to play in a "worldly band." It wasn't ladylike to go around tooting a horn. And the black and white photograph they'd proudly sent to her added another mark against my liberal parents. I was wearing pants! Yup! That wasn't common for women or girls back then, either. My band uniform consisted of long pants, a cape and the kind of hat a soda jerk wore, or someone in the army. I think it's called a Garrison cap. (I googled it.) But the army kind, like mine, wasn't made of paper like the ones worn by those making milkshakes at the local drug store's soda fountain.(Google it.)

So, back to The Music Man and trouble. Can anyone imagine why I might be singing about trouble in times like these? Or concerned about words like autocracy, "Christian" nationalism, woodchipper and others appearing in the news?

Well, there's a lot of slick selling going on these days. And it's not to get us to form a band and make music together. It's to keep us divided and fearful. In the musical, as they chug along, the slick salesman chants, "Trouble (oh we got trouble) right here in River City (right here in River City). Then he spells it out, "With a capital T and that rhymes with P ( and that stands for pool.) Kids growing up to play pool was at the heart of his fear-mongering.

Well, I know pool halls can be problematic. I almost lost my right eye two weeks ago at Julie's birthday party. It's one thing to leave your heart in San Francisco. But quite another to leave an eye in San Anselmo,California. While it wasn't a pool hall, the birthday party venue had a pool table. I was seated too close as a pool shark took aim, drew back that cuestick and just missed my startled face. However today, I'm letting that P stand for Politics. Dare I go there? Well, for sure, we won't stay long.

So, we're all vulnerable to fear. Today, I don't think most would be fearful about their child playing a musical instrument in a band. Or be horrified at a girl or woman wearing long pants. But we are all susceptible to fearing something. And fear blinds us. Too much of social media feeds those fears with lies and distortions. And much of what we hear, read or watch is designed to make us cower before lesser gods, like Elon Musk sitting behind the Resolute Desk. (see Time magazine's cover)

So now what? Well, so much depends on where you place your trust. I still believe HERE BE GOD overall! And I'm not referring to those who think or act like they're god. That's about power. And when you believe you have all the power, you can play at being god. Like the old saying goes, "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

In contrast, to all this jockeying for power and clutching onto what power one has, is Jesus. So what about Jesus? According to Philippians 2:6-7 we read,"Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (NLT) That's a lot to grasp for us. And even more to let go of for Jesus.

So, what are we to do? Spread our own brand of fear? Hunker down? No! Pray, then "buckle up." Love like we would like to be loved. Feed the hungry. If the world's richest man wants to send USAID into a woodchipper, to cut costs, keep finding other ways to help the hungry and hurting people of the world. Donate to the Salvation Army, World Vision, World Relief, Doctors Without Borders and other organizations who, at great risk, walk into the world's hazzard zones with hope and help. Of course, there is waste in government and most organizations. But it's part of why we have three branches of government, checks and balances to individual agendas. I'm wasteful in my own home!! And I have just me to blame.

But it's also important to hold elected officials accountable for their votes. And to pray for our leaders. There are so many lures, tugs, demands,offers and threats to anyone in leadership. Even when leading a small college or pastoring a local church. Or teaching in a school.

So, my dear readers, family and friends, above all FEAR LESS, TRUST MORE. Pendulums swing, elections come again, people can learn. And over all is God who loves to make what looks Impossible, possible. (Matthew 19:26) And this nudges me to make a list of what seems impossible to me at this moment. Then to offer it to Jesus who can handle this, us, them and more.

Now, take your list and across it write, HERE be GOD. Then pray and trust. More than any other source, I take courage from words like these from the Bible. "God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." (Ephesians 3:20-21, The Message)

So we're not off the hook. While God could do it without us, he chooses to let us be part of his redemptive plan. Sounds risky on God's part, if you ask me. And it also looks like grace and mercy to, then through us to others. Especially to those we're sure don't deserve it.

So, now what? Well, time for us to make some music. We've got HOPE right here where you and I live and that rhymes with NOPE to whatever fears come to pull us down here. So toot your horn and march on. God only knows what walls can come tumbling down.