One of the statements that exists in our time is that “living well is the best revenge”. True. In part. The cult of victimhood, of holding carefully to your hurts, and continually seeking revenge damages you.
Today’s reading is good advice for times of trial. As Ferfal points out, you need to be a positive and actively chipper person to thrive in times of crisis. Having a bunch of things you do, and enjoying today is wise at any time.
1Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back. 2Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth. 3When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.
5Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.
6In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
If you look at the rest of today’s lectionary, we are reminded that:
16Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
This is where we have a choice. Without disciplined choices to aim towards the fruits of the spirit, and not let the desires of our fallen nature rule we get dissention, drunkenness and impurity. As a result, we end up with external controls.
If we allow the Spirit to work through us we get results in our life… that all will see as good.
And that is our choice.
