The Dead Sea
April 15, 2007
By Tony Shannon
Proverbs 27: 23-27
"Riches disappear fast. And the King's crown doesn't stay in his family
forever -- so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your
flocks and your herds; then there will be lamb's wool enough for clothing,
and goat's milk enough for food for all your household after the hay is
harvested and the new crop appears, and the mountain grasses are
gathered in."
In ancient times, it was the custom, when going to pay the king's taxes, to
wear your oldest clothes. You hoped that the assessor would go easy on
you, based on your appearance. It's good to see that on this Tax Day, April
15th, that some of you continue this fine tradition.
April 15, 2007
By Tony Shannon
Proverbs 27: 23-27
"Riches disappear fast. And the King's crown doesn't stay in his family
forever -- so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your
flocks and your herds; then there will be lamb's wool enough for clothing,
and goat's milk enough for food for all your household after the hay is
harvested and the new crop appears, and the mountain grasses are
gathered in."
In ancient times, it was the custom, when going to pay the king's taxes, to
wear your oldest clothes. You hoped that the assessor would go easy on
you, based on your appearance. It's good to see that on this Tax Day, April
15th, that some of you continue this fine tradition.
This church family tries to avoid making judgments based on appearance (
or to make judgments at all) and we try to accept all, and get to know the
person -- who you are inside. This, strangely enough, puts us at odds with
much or our world, that tells us that outward signs are more important.
"He who dies with the most toys, wins."
But the writer in Proverbs reminds us that "Riches disappear fast..." This is
not a total rejection of the world and all its ways. The writer realizes that
we do live in this world. So let's live here responsively: "Watch your
business interests closely." Or, pay attention to your life, and you can take
care of your household. Or, be aware, and be responsible. Later, in
Proverbs 30 we read "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just
enough to meet my needs!"
To me this is the key. It seems right, it seems just, fair, appropriate and all
that. It feels like the flow and rhythm of nature. But then, I look, and that
isn't what I see. Nature seems to be more about violent swings between
flood and drought, feast or famine, plenty or scarcity. For instance; in the
last century the average annual rainfall in Chicago is 14.5 inches. But last
year we only got 5 inches, and this year we've had 12 inches so far.
Shift perspective.
Over the last 100 years - not long in the life of the planet, but about as
long as we've been keeping records. The average of the dry years, the wet
years, and the normal years is 14.5 inches. And that seems to be OK for
the plants and animals that are indigenous to the area. We shift our
perspective away from "Do I have to water this weekend to keep my
hybrid grass and exotic roses from drying up?", to looking at the ebb and
flow of Nature.... Naturally.
The writer in Proverbs wants to change our perspective; away from
"Gimme more" to "Meet my needs." Let's take a longer view, look at a
larger scale. And consider Nature.
The great Circle of Life. Nature cycles... and recycles. Things move up,
then down. Trees take nutrients and water from the soil from their long life
spans. The they die, fall over, and return to the soil.
Water falls from the sky. Some soaks into the earth and is available to the
plants. Some runs off into streams and rivers, providing homes for various
creatures, moving earth, and carving beds and canyons. It flows from
higher to lower places. Most of it eventually reaches the oceans that cover
much of our planet. Along the way, some evaporates and that portion
returns to the air, to eventually fall and start the cycle again. There is
give... and take.
Acquire, use, return. To a large extent, water carries and sustains life with
it, all over our globe.
BUT,
There are places where the routine varies. Where water is not associated
with life.
One of the lowest points on earth is in the desert on the border between
Israel and Jordan. As the Jordan River flows from high to low, it reaches
this point and stops... in the Dead sea. No fish. No plants. In a rainy year,
some bacteria will grow there,,, briefly. The water is 8 times as salty as the
oceans. No life form on earth can live in this water.
Still, the cycle of Nature continues. Evaporation in this arid desert climate
returns the water to the system that envelops the earth, leaving behind all
that salt. "Gimme more." All flow in, no flow out, no life.
During her Sunday morning welcome, Pastor Nancy usually talks about
breathing. About drawing in the very Love of God in the air we breathe.
So, I'll ask that you all take a nice deep breath... and hold it. Fill your
lungs. Take in absolutely as much of that Love as you can hold. Feels great
doesn't it? Now try to keep it to yourself. "Gimme more." All inflow, no
outflow, no life.
When we try to interrupt the natural cycle of Take... and Give back, it
doesn't work. Our world was not created that way.
Rivers are very efficient and effective at life. Creatures in the river, plants
along the bank, animals come to the river to drink. All along the way as it
flows from high to low.
Lakes are less efficient. The life is there, as with the river, in and around.
But, for the billions of gallons of water in a big lake, only a little gets
shared; the top bits and around the edges. Rivers are channels of
distribution; lakes are storage.
Lakes are storage until... they get too full, and find a place to overflow.
Then the river starts again. Unless they are at the lowest point. Unless they
are the Dead Sea.
We have lakes in our lives too. Especially with our stuff. Material goods.
Those things that the world tells us are a good way to keep score. We call
these lakes basements, garages, storage sheds. We have created an entire
industry to help us fill our lakes to overflowing. Sometimes we have a yard
sale, and some of the stuff spills out, and the river resumes.
Is this what God meant by having life abundantly? Is "gimme more" the
mantra of a responsible steward? Is this a good way to know that we are
successful? He who dies with the most toys, still dies.
The writer in Proverbs advises "watch your business interests closely." As
we go along with our business of living our lives, let us do so responsibly.
Let us meet our needs, and provide for our households. But let's be rivers,
not lakes. Let's spread life efficiently by being distribution channels. The
abundance God creates for us is in the life on the banks of our river. The
water attracts and nourishes that life so much better when it is moving.
Is you flow being interrupted? Are the things in your life causing more
concern than convenience?
Is it time to restart the flow, and pass along some of the material goods to
others? To shift your perspective to a larger scale? To adjust your priorities
to helping to distribute the blessings you have, and sharing the abundance
of relationships, and love, and life?
Do you want to be a low point? Will you settle for the Dead Sea? Or will
you share your gifts? Will you channel your compassion? Will you distribute
your time and concern to the areas that need to be nourished and grow?
Is your Circle of Life turning? Are you being the blessing God created you
to be?
I ask you to consider your water level.
I urge you to decide how you will share your time, your talents and your
treasures.
I challenge you to DO something -- for your planet, for your life, for your
God.
or to make judgments at all) and we try to accept all, and get to know the
person -- who you are inside. This, strangely enough, puts us at odds with
much or our world, that tells us that outward signs are more important.
"He who dies with the most toys, wins."
But the writer in Proverbs reminds us that "Riches disappear fast..." This is
not a total rejection of the world and all its ways. The writer realizes that
we do live in this world. So let's live here responsively: "Watch your
business interests closely." Or, pay attention to your life, and you can take
care of your household. Or, be aware, and be responsible. Later, in
Proverbs 30 we read "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just
enough to meet my needs!"
To me this is the key. It seems right, it seems just, fair, appropriate and all
that. It feels like the flow and rhythm of nature. But then, I look, and that
isn't what I see. Nature seems to be more about violent swings between
flood and drought, feast or famine, plenty or scarcity. For instance; in the
last century the average annual rainfall in Chicago is 14.5 inches. But last
year we only got 5 inches, and this year we've had 12 inches so far.
Shift perspective.
Over the last 100 years - not long in the life of the planet, but about as
long as we've been keeping records. The average of the dry years, the wet
years, and the normal years is 14.5 inches. And that seems to be OK for
the plants and animals that are indigenous to the area. We shift our
perspective away from "Do I have to water this weekend to keep my
hybrid grass and exotic roses from drying up?", to looking at the ebb and
flow of Nature.... Naturally.
The writer in Proverbs wants to change our perspective; away from
"Gimme more" to "Meet my needs." Let's take a longer view, look at a
larger scale. And consider Nature.
The great Circle of Life. Nature cycles... and recycles. Things move up,
then down. Trees take nutrients and water from the soil from their long life
spans. The they die, fall over, and return to the soil.
Water falls from the sky. Some soaks into the earth and is available to the
plants. Some runs off into streams and rivers, providing homes for various
creatures, moving earth, and carving beds and canyons. It flows from
higher to lower places. Most of it eventually reaches the oceans that cover
much of our planet. Along the way, some evaporates and that portion
returns to the air, to eventually fall and start the cycle again. There is
give... and take.
Acquire, use, return. To a large extent, water carries and sustains life with
it, all over our globe.
BUT,
There are places where the routine varies. Where water is not associated
with life.
One of the lowest points on earth is in the desert on the border between
Israel and Jordan. As the Jordan River flows from high to low, it reaches
this point and stops... in the Dead sea. No fish. No plants. In a rainy year,
some bacteria will grow there,,, briefly. The water is 8 times as salty as the
oceans. No life form on earth can live in this water.
Still, the cycle of Nature continues. Evaporation in this arid desert climate
returns the water to the system that envelops the earth, leaving behind all
that salt. "Gimme more." All flow in, no flow out, no life.
During her Sunday morning welcome, Pastor Nancy usually talks about
breathing. About drawing in the very Love of God in the air we breathe.
So, I'll ask that you all take a nice deep breath... and hold it. Fill your
lungs. Take in absolutely as much of that Love as you can hold. Feels great
doesn't it? Now try to keep it to yourself. "Gimme more." All inflow, no
outflow, no life.
When we try to interrupt the natural cycle of Take... and Give back, it
doesn't work. Our world was not created that way.
Rivers are very efficient and effective at life. Creatures in the river, plants
along the bank, animals come to the river to drink. All along the way as it
flows from high to low.
Lakes are less efficient. The life is there, as with the river, in and around.
But, for the billions of gallons of water in a big lake, only a little gets
shared; the top bits and around the edges. Rivers are channels of
distribution; lakes are storage.
Lakes are storage until... they get too full, and find a place to overflow.
Then the river starts again. Unless they are at the lowest point. Unless they
are the Dead Sea.
We have lakes in our lives too. Especially with our stuff. Material goods.
Those things that the world tells us are a good way to keep score. We call
these lakes basements, garages, storage sheds. We have created an entire
industry to help us fill our lakes to overflowing. Sometimes we have a yard
sale, and some of the stuff spills out, and the river resumes.
Is this what God meant by having life abundantly? Is "gimme more" the
mantra of a responsible steward? Is this a good way to know that we are
successful? He who dies with the most toys, still dies.
The writer in Proverbs advises "watch your business interests closely." As
we go along with our business of living our lives, let us do so responsibly.
Let us meet our needs, and provide for our households. But let's be rivers,
not lakes. Let's spread life efficiently by being distribution channels. The
abundance God creates for us is in the life on the banks of our river. The
water attracts and nourishes that life so much better when it is moving.
Is you flow being interrupted? Are the things in your life causing more
concern than convenience?
Is it time to restart the flow, and pass along some of the material goods to
others? To shift your perspective to a larger scale? To adjust your priorities
to helping to distribute the blessings you have, and sharing the abundance
of relationships, and love, and life?
Do you want to be a low point? Will you settle for the Dead Sea? Or will
you share your gifts? Will you channel your compassion? Will you distribute
your time and concern to the areas that need to be nourished and grow?
Is your Circle of Life turning? Are you being the blessing God created you
to be?
I ask you to consider your water level.
I urge you to decide how you will share your time, your talents and your
treasures.
I challenge you to DO something -- for your planet, for your life, for your
God.
