Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear people.

The morning has become so congested with distractions that Bec and I failed to do our walk/jog. Bimbo is bummed. Even this composition has been kind of consuming. And when I read the last draft to Becki in the kitchen while she was engaged in a baking project, I noticed myself getting worked up…pulse up, breathing up, voice turned up…especially when reading the passage in Hebrews 10. Then I gave and altar call. Not really. Maybe I don’t need a jog after all—maybe this kind of exercise can relieve me from aerobic exercise. I don’t think so. But I think it’s worthy exercise nonetheless.

We are using the excuse of Becki’s birthday of yesterday to do something special today…mainly because the plan is more compatible with Thano’s work schedule.

What a thought!—every word that I say, every thought that I think, every move that I make—it’s all being monitored and recorded. Please remember to not forget that!

Love, Dad/Ray.

While preparing tea for my wife this morning, I found myself resonating with a quote printed on one of the tea bag tabs (Good Earth Tea): “The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.”—Horace Walpole, 1717-1797. It makes me wish I could talk to Horace to clarify all the nuances of his statement and ask, “What do I do with myself if I do both—feel and think?” Indeed, God has made us to do both.

Once again, I FEEL terrible as I process the data of these three chapters. It is indeed a serial TRAGEDY. Power-hunger within the human heart for many appears to be an irresistible drive—perhaps on a par with hunger for food. And that’s where a form of COMEDY kicks in—but not the happy giddy laughing kind. It’s non-humorously funny to see these people so intent on repeating the same dumb stuff over and over, the cycle of rebelling against someone else’s oppressive power and authority, doing everything they can to overthrow and break free of that power, then doing everything they can to seize that power for themselves. Why? So they can wield the same oppressive power and control over others, and repeat the same stupid cycle—till someone else comes along to bump them off with identical motivations. Good grief!—it’s tragically funny!

Allow me to spin off on a little tangent. Flowing from the idea that COMEDY is typically a form of entertainment, is there something amiss in the human heart when TRAGEDY becomes entertainment? Many will quickly express revulsion at the infatuation of ancient Romans with the gruesome performances of the gladiators—combat, blood, guts, and death. Oh no—we wouldn’t do that! Instead we hire Hollywood to incorporate combat, blood, guts, and death into movie productions so we can pump them into our homes to be entertained thereby. Hmm. Someone will defend, “Well that’s just portraying the realities of life.” It sure is! Yippee!

Can you imagine anything more bizarre and tragic than for humans to carry on with this same striving in their relationship to God—to rebel against His known will—against His power, rule, and authority—then to trample on His incredible love and amazing grace?!? Is it not non-humorously funny to see them so bent on the same futile attempt to overthrow Him, usurp His authority, and set themselves up as their own puny gods?—arrogantly ignoring any thought of reprisal?

Homework: Read Hebrews 10:26-31. And “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).