Iranians and Freedom

I have spent this evening watching the news. Seeing the video coming out of Iran, reading the tweets. Listening to all of the talking heads spin their points. What struck me in all of this is not the politics. Not criticism or support of our President, but the responses of the Iranian people.

They yearn for freedom. Many of the tweets now speak of how the protests have moved past the election results and this has become about freedom. They are defying their leaders and risking their lives for the chance at something new. Something different. It is amazing to watch. It moves me to pray as hopefully we all are for the Iranian people and their families.

It also reminds us that there are people in our world who are crying for spiritual freedom. There are multitudes who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. We see them every day. We interact with them, shop with them, eat with them, work with them. How far do we go to introduce them to the Jesus we know? How bold are we in the proclamation of the freedom he brings?

Perhaps this is the time that we begin our own revolution and bring the freedom Jesus offers to others.

Via Revolution!

Hope

Welcome to another LIFE Nugget! I have been thinking and noticing that at times I tend to write nuggets that coincide with the sermon series. I am working to avoid that as it seems a bit tacky to me. So today we are going another rout. I was looking through some of my old books today. Now mind you I have sizable collection of books at my disposal. One set in particular is very special. They are sets of the classics that my paternal grandparents used ot get for me every Christmas while they were still living.

I was looking through them and I found a book of poetry. I am ashamed to admit it, but up until tonight I had never really opened it. Tonight I did and after thumbing through the pages I found the following poem by Emily Dickenson.

"I shall know why, when time is over,
And I have ceased to wonder why;
Christ will explain each separate anguish
In the fair schoolroom of the sky.

He will tell me what Peter promised.
And I, for wonder at his woe,
I shall forget the drop of anguish
That scalds me now, that scalds me now.

I read this and it got me thinking. In these words I see hope. It is human to wonder why things happen. It is even human to allow things that happen to steal our relationship with God. Sadly many have. However, here I see the words of a person who even in the midst of challenge allows hope to stir in the midst of anguish. A hope that trusts that at the end, all our "why" questions will be answered.

I personally like the idea of Christ coming and explaining things in the"fair schoolroom of the sky." Not only is it beautiful imagery, I think that it conveys the patience and love that Christ has for us. That he would be willing to take the time to help us make sense of the the challenges we face in life. Trusting that God will in the end work his purposes for Good gives me hope. It comforts and encourages me.

Which leaves me to ask a question. Do you have hope? Do you trust that in the end God will reveal his purposes? Do you have hope in Christ that one day the "drops of anguish" which scald your life will be forgotten? Allowing that hope to grow inside of you may be a great idea. Why not give it a try.

Blessings