Translating a World on the Edge

Smugness- – — exhibiting or feeling great or offensive satisfaction with oneself or with one’s situation; self-righteously complacent

How do each of us personally stand up beside this definition?  Aren’t we all,  at one time or another, smug? I know I have been, and I’m not proud of it.

More important, in what ways do we bring our gavel of smugness on others?

Well, when we consistently and pompously think we’re right and they’re wrong–we’re bringing down the gavel of smugness.

When we look at another person as being below us in intelligence, talent, beauty, etc.–we’re bringing down the gavel of smugness.

When we don’t understand why others don’t do things our way, and don’t bother  to understand their way—we’re bringing down the gavel of smugness.

When we are overly critical, pig-headed, stubborn, and complacent.  (And we might be  hypocrites,  too, because as individuals, we are often critical, pig-headed, stubborn, and complacent, as well)—yet still, we bring down that old gavel of smugness.

Smugness can be found in religion, too.

“The operation of the church is entirely set up for the sake of the sinner, which creates much misunderstanding among the smug.”– Flannery O’Connor

For the sake of the sinner, Jesus Christ died, rose, and offers eternal life. Yet we often point to sin in others (the sinners) and are too arrogant to see it in ourselves–because we are–what?  The sin-less?

No, we are all sinners. How can we think that we are so far above others that we can judge them? Only God can weigh an individual’s sin. Because only God knows the absolute truth about any of us.

So, let’s strip away our smugness. Let’s not be so serious about ourselves, loosen up, and laugh a little.

Let’s remember that we are created in the image and likeness of God. But we are not God.  And God, alone, knows what’s beneath that coat of smugness we sometimes wear.

When we are very young, we are easily bored. We like different  experiences, and we like them frequently.  When we are adults, we tone down a bit. We learn which experiences are better suited to us, and our personalities.  And as we get older, we like comfort and continuity.

Still, whether young or old, most of us go through periods when we want a change.  We want something fresh and new.  We’ve grown weary of the same old stuff, or maybe, we’ve even grown weary of  the same people.

There’s a lot to be said for the ‘tried and true.’ But there’s a lot to be said, too, for change.

And we don’t have to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Part of being creative is looking for a new slant on an old thing–even if the old thing is comfortable, continuous, and—well, brilliant.   If we continue day after day, doing, hearing, and seeing, exactly the same thing,  it can become stale, flat, and close to unbearable.

If a relationship with a family member or a friend is getting too predictable and bland, we  look for ways to revive it–anything that freshens up the scene–a new place to go together, a new project both are interested in, a different way to converse or even to disagree.

Another  example might be a piece antique furniture, say a Victorian chair—still comfortable, still beautiful. Except you’ve changed everything else in the room. You don’t want to throw out the chair, but in your eyes, it is becoming stodgy. You might look for a new slant— in a throw, a different place in the room, or even re-upholstery, so you keep the old, but freshen it up.

Freshening up to re-issue is done frequently with pieces of art:  painting, sculpture, music,  dance, and of course, with old movies.

One more concrete example: Everyone who’s been to a wedding has probably heard Pachelbel’s Cannon in D more times than they’d care to.  But you’ve probably never heard it like the following video presents it.

The Cannon is there in all its brilliance, because there is value in the ‘tried and true,’ but a little something new can give it a whole new life.

What do you think of the change? I love it!

Up a tree.  Cornered, trapped, caught.

At another’s mercy, in another’s power.

The expression is said to come from coon hunting. Once a raccoon is treed by the hounds, he’s a gone coon.

Do you like to be up a tree, with someone else in charge? Do you like to put yourself in a vulnerable position? Generally, I don’t.

I don’t like the feeling of not being in control. I want to know how something’s going to turn out before I step into it. I like the safety of the ‘usual.’  So, taking a  risk is not a thing I’m likely to do easily–without a push, without a really good reason.

But there are some really good reasons for allowing ourselves to become vulnerable enough to take a risk. Another person’s life, for instance. We’d like to think that if someone was in danger, we’d step in to help, or even save his life, despite the risk to ourselves. We put another ahead of ourselves and this shows human love.

Love is a really good reason to make yourself vulnerable.

We cannot be truly in love with someone with out being vulnerable. We can’t walk around in armor; we have to take that off and let our true selves out in order to experience genuine love. Otherwise, it’s just a game of charade.

In love, we often have to back down, or give way.  We cannot force those we say we love to do much of anything–ok maybe a little child, but even then, it’s not a good idea.

When we become vulnerable and let go—make ourselves completely available to  the  other—the love between us  becomes stronger.  We allow the other the freedom to find for themselves his/her way forward, even if it involves mistakes.  Even if those mistakes affect us, too.

When we allow ourselves to be ‘treed…’

When we  loosen our grip on the wheel and let go of  every little thing…

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable to someone we love, and they do likewise…

Then love becomes extremely powerful. Powerful enough to withstand any threat or risk.

This is selflessness— not selfishness.

This is when our hearts are open, and our very lives are on the line.

This is genuine love. And there is nothing else quite like it.

By now, most of us are tired of Winter’s mess.  We are hoping that very cold temperatures, the unexpected snow, the continuing rain and wind, will soon be a thing of the past. We look forward to the promise of Spring.

The coming of green grass and budding plants.  The sound of chirping birds making  their nests in trees that are no longer barren and bare, but places for new lives to be born.

Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend who, along with her family, has come through a lot of suffering–a period of Winter in her life. There were a few tears. But there was a joy within her, too. A sort of Spring.

How does this happen? How does one get through the winter of his/her life?

By trusting in God’s promise.

And what is God’s promise to us?

He does not promise that we will not have our winters. He does not promise that we will not suffer(we know what His own son went through.) But His promise is that He will give us peace of heart and mind in everything, no matter how tragic, when we ask Him to. And that there will be a Spring for us.

There is no one reading this who has not experienced some hard knocks in life. Our time here is often difficult. But here, is ‘where the rubber meets the road.’ Here, is where a simple chunk of coal can become a diamond. Here is where we love and lose–and yet, survive. And become new.

Think of the desperate situations in our own lives. Don’t we sometimes become extremely strong in those situations? Well, that’s God’s promise to us. A promise that we can be stronger than we ever thought we could, if we look to Him.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. ..Philippians 4:6-9