Don’t just do something – be there
“Compare and contrast” is frequently used exam question:
I was struck by what is possibly the worldly view in Bette Midler’s song, that “God is watching us – From A Distance”. As opposed to “…the very hairs of your head are all numbered” Luke 12: 7 and “In him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17.28 God is by no means remote or absent from even the smallest stresses of our everyday lives. Many of us are perpetually harried “doing something” in our professional roles. God is the author of the very mechanism of Time, thus has the advantage of not being constrained by it! - but as a loving parent is concerned with the trials of his children.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matt 11:28. More than a temporary standstill, a better word for “rest” might have been “Shalom”, or restoration, bringing back to the original intended purpose, a rebuilding rather than a fix. A return to his presence. Julian has talked a lot about “being there” in its fullest sense - a listening, participatory, unhurried, responsive act. As straightforward perhaps as the “I Am” of the Lord himself.
Bette’s lyrics contain a description of the earth seen from afar – blue and green, white snow-capped mountains – an apparent Eden compared to the vast storm systems of Jupiter or Mercury’s searing aridity. She “cannot comprehend” why, given such natural beauty, our race is so prone to warfare – we probably can’t either! But we can have faith that ultimately God plans a worldwide peace so profound that
“… God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain...” Rev 21:4
In the meantime, we seek a microcosm of this in our Sunday “holy convocation” Lev 23:3.
Because when “The Lord your God is in your midst;
The mighty One will save.
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17
So be it!
