Reflections
August 30, 2009
August 30, 2009
When growing up I remember my parents saying often, "If you don't have anything good to say about someone, remain silent." Though they didn't always practice this to perfection, neither did they go out of their way to disparage others with mean spirited evaluations.
We live in a time and space where everyone is a critic. All that is needed is a computer and an opinion. Instead of the old forum of writing letters to persons who have offended or to the editor of a local paper, people can now post their comments in an ongoing online format. This means of communication is powerful, and at times effective in terms of negative impact. This is true in part because people are in general more inclined to share negative thoughts and attitudes, especially if they can remain anonymous which is possible from a computer. This literary action is known as blogging, and while possible in the affirmative, for the most part seems to be action reserved for those who live by the power of negative thinking.
While the author of Psalm 45 writes in an open and unrestrained manner, the method and means of the writing is to lift high the positive aspects of human existence. The verses are filled with superlatives extolling God's blessings upon the subject of this Psalm.
What we say and sometimes what we may fail to say, speaks volumes about what we believe. Though we carry with us every wound and slight which has come our way, we need not be bound to, or burdened by such baggage. The love of God calls us to look beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary promise carried in God's love for us. We have a choice each day our feet hit the floor. Will we choose to be harbingers of superficial criticism, or ambassadors of superlative care and love?
We live in a time and space where everyone is a critic. All that is needed is a computer and an opinion. Instead of the old forum of writing letters to persons who have offended or to the editor of a local paper, people can now post their comments in an ongoing online format. This means of communication is powerful, and at times effective in terms of negative impact. This is true in part because people are in general more inclined to share negative thoughts and attitudes, especially if they can remain anonymous which is possible from a computer. This literary action is known as blogging, and while possible in the affirmative, for the most part seems to be action reserved for those who live by the power of negative thinking.
While the author of Psalm 45 writes in an open and unrestrained manner, the method and means of the writing is to lift high the positive aspects of human existence. The verses are filled with superlatives extolling God's blessings upon the subject of this Psalm.
What we say and sometimes what we may fail to say, speaks volumes about what we believe. Though we carry with us every wound and slight which has come our way, we need not be bound to, or burdened by such baggage. The love of God calls us to look beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary promise carried in God's love for us. We have a choice each day our feet hit the floor. Will we choose to be harbingers of superficial criticism, or ambassadors of superlative care and love?
Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601
