Blessing and merit
30/01/14 05:47
There are some ideas and values which are deeply imbedded in me. I probably learned them from my parents, but in all likelihood they were also consistent with the values of the community, so they were reinforced in the homes of my friends, at school, in clubs and throughout my life. One of those ideas is a kind of adapted meritocracy. The ancient political philosophy that arose in Greece basically was a belief that political power should go to people who have earned it through their merit. The strongest, fastes, best, hardest working people ought to have the most political power.
You see vestiges of meritocracy in contemporary politics. Politicians tout their records and demonstrate their strengths when running for office. Of course, in today’s world, it is difficult to separate the hype from the reality. It is hard to know the true character of a candidate simply because all candidates have undergone “makeovers” at the hands of political handlers. Their stories have been liberally sprinkled with fiction and soundtracks have been inserted into their highly-edited videos to portray them the way that will garner the most votes. At the same time, it is common wisdom in politics that negative advertising works, so there is no small amount of effort invested in trying to paint a negative picture of the opponent. It is hart to tell whether we come close to electing those with the most merit. What I do know is that there are plenty of really good people who never consider setting a foot into politics because the negative pressures of the game are deemed to be not worth the possible rewards.
Still, there are some thoughts deep inside of me that reward follows merit. “If you work hard, you will get ahead.” “The early bird gets the worm.” “Better service makes the sale.” “You’ve got to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.” There are a hundred aphorisms inside of me that all reflect that inner sense that the way to get ahead is to earn it. I have lived my life with a sense that it is important for me to get up earlier, work harder, put in more hours and sacrifice more than my colleagues.
Life has, in part born out those convictions. I have one of the best jobs in the United Church of Christ. It may not command the highest salary, but I get to live and work in a most beautiful part of the world, among some of the best people one can imagine. This congregation really understands what it means to be a church, living out an extravagant welcome, serving others, reaching out to neighbors, forming community with genuine care and worshiping with enthusiasm and joy. I get to lead worship in a magnificent sanctuary with glorious music and work with a staff of loving, caring people. I have been blessed.
It doesn’t take much looking around, however, to have holes shot in that theory.
I have a conversation with a couple about the end of life decisions that they have made and about their fears about the dying process. The doctors have described the process to the best of their ability. The hospice nurses have been gentle and supporting, but there are still fears. It has been quite a while since the reality of death has entered their home. They have accepted that the illness is beyond treatment in the conventional sense. They know that time is being measured in days and weeks, not months and years. And it is hard. It is really hard. Despite great faith and a lifetime of living spiritual disciplines there is genuine doubt and fear. When the drugs get out of balance and it is hard to focus there seem to be voices. Are devils trying to pull one away from embracing the love of God. The books speak of the light at the end of life, but some days seem to be more darkness than light. Dying is a once in a lifetime experience and there is no way to know exactly how much longer this will take or how much more hard things must be endured on this journey.
And I sit and listen and we talk and I am thinking, “There is no way these people deserve this.”
It is a thought I’ve had before.
When I delivered the news of the death of a son in a car accident in the middle of the night, the look on the face of the parents as they opened the door is forever etched in my mind. I went away from their home knowing that there is no way that those people deserved what happened to them. I’ve since seen that look on the face of the father of a soldier, the boyfriend of a suicide victim, the brother of a hanging victim, and countless others.
If life is as simple as good things happen to those who work hard and bad things happen to those who have lived bad lies, there has got to be something that I am missing.
So I read again Jesus words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Despite all of the language about spiritual disciplines and spiritual warriors and strengthening one’s spirit and putting on the armor of God. Jesus doesn’t say, “Blessed are the people who pray every day.” He doesn’t say, “Blessed are the people who have their spiritual act together.” He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” I’ve spend more than a small amount of time with people deep in grief. Trust me, it doesn’t seem like a blessing. Sometimes it seems awful.
And I don’t even need to go into “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You see what I mean. Jesus has a way of turning what seem to be curses into blessings.
I’m pretty sure that we aren't yet seeing the whole picture with our notions of who gets rewards and who gets hard times.
And I’m pretty sure that the one with the most merit isn’t always the one who gets put in charge. Then again, the one who appears to be in charge may not be the one who is really in charge.
I’ll put my faith in the one who is really in charge.
You see vestiges of meritocracy in contemporary politics. Politicians tout their records and demonstrate their strengths when running for office. Of course, in today’s world, it is difficult to separate the hype from the reality. It is hard to know the true character of a candidate simply because all candidates have undergone “makeovers” at the hands of political handlers. Their stories have been liberally sprinkled with fiction and soundtracks have been inserted into their highly-edited videos to portray them the way that will garner the most votes. At the same time, it is common wisdom in politics that negative advertising works, so there is no small amount of effort invested in trying to paint a negative picture of the opponent. It is hart to tell whether we come close to electing those with the most merit. What I do know is that there are plenty of really good people who never consider setting a foot into politics because the negative pressures of the game are deemed to be not worth the possible rewards.
Still, there are some thoughts deep inside of me that reward follows merit. “If you work hard, you will get ahead.” “The early bird gets the worm.” “Better service makes the sale.” “You’ve got to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.” There are a hundred aphorisms inside of me that all reflect that inner sense that the way to get ahead is to earn it. I have lived my life with a sense that it is important for me to get up earlier, work harder, put in more hours and sacrifice more than my colleagues.
Life has, in part born out those convictions. I have one of the best jobs in the United Church of Christ. It may not command the highest salary, but I get to live and work in a most beautiful part of the world, among some of the best people one can imagine. This congregation really understands what it means to be a church, living out an extravagant welcome, serving others, reaching out to neighbors, forming community with genuine care and worshiping with enthusiasm and joy. I get to lead worship in a magnificent sanctuary with glorious music and work with a staff of loving, caring people. I have been blessed.
It doesn’t take much looking around, however, to have holes shot in that theory.
I have a conversation with a couple about the end of life decisions that they have made and about their fears about the dying process. The doctors have described the process to the best of their ability. The hospice nurses have been gentle and supporting, but there are still fears. It has been quite a while since the reality of death has entered their home. They have accepted that the illness is beyond treatment in the conventional sense. They know that time is being measured in days and weeks, not months and years. And it is hard. It is really hard. Despite great faith and a lifetime of living spiritual disciplines there is genuine doubt and fear. When the drugs get out of balance and it is hard to focus there seem to be voices. Are devils trying to pull one away from embracing the love of God. The books speak of the light at the end of life, but some days seem to be more darkness than light. Dying is a once in a lifetime experience and there is no way to know exactly how much longer this will take or how much more hard things must be endured on this journey.
And I sit and listen and we talk and I am thinking, “There is no way these people deserve this.”
It is a thought I’ve had before.
When I delivered the news of the death of a son in a car accident in the middle of the night, the look on the face of the parents as they opened the door is forever etched in my mind. I went away from their home knowing that there is no way that those people deserved what happened to them. I’ve since seen that look on the face of the father of a soldier, the boyfriend of a suicide victim, the brother of a hanging victim, and countless others.
If life is as simple as good things happen to those who work hard and bad things happen to those who have lived bad lies, there has got to be something that I am missing.
So I read again Jesus words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Despite all of the language about spiritual disciplines and spiritual warriors and strengthening one’s spirit and putting on the armor of God. Jesus doesn’t say, “Blessed are the people who pray every day.” He doesn’t say, “Blessed are the people who have their spiritual act together.” He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” I’ve spend more than a small amount of time with people deep in grief. Trust me, it doesn’t seem like a blessing. Sometimes it seems awful.
And I don’t even need to go into “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You see what I mean. Jesus has a way of turning what seem to be curses into blessings.
I’m pretty sure that we aren't yet seeing the whole picture with our notions of who gets rewards and who gets hard times.
And I’m pretty sure that the one with the most merit isn’t always the one who gets put in charge. Then again, the one who appears to be in charge may not be the one who is really in charge.
I’ll put my faith in the one who is really in charge.