One of Richard’s and my favorite things to do is take morning walks on the golf course that adjoins our condo. As we stroll beside the glassy smooth ponds and through a cypress grove with hanging moss, our souls are nourished by the beauty of God’s creation. The dewy freshness of the day and the exultant songs of the birds remind us to lift our hearts in praise.
Weekdays, there’s not enough time for such pleasures and Saturday’s are full of a list of things to do, if it’s to happen, it’s got to be on Sunday, when we can fit it in before getting ready to attend worship.
This morning we were out early enough to catch the sun rising behind a bank of pink-tinged clouds that rimmed the rooftops of the homes across the horizon. On our last walk, however, I suggested we should take a shorter circuit than usual so I’d have enough time to get ready when we got back. As we briskly moved along, Richard came up close to my right side and started gently pushing against me, keeping me on the fairway. Instead of allowing me to turn back toward the buildings, Richard was nudging me to take a longer path.
“You’re nudging me!” I said, and then I walked around his back and turned toward the building. We both laughed. But our laughter had a double meaning. Richard recognized my reference to radical Regulatory Czar Cass Sunstein’s book, NUDGE.
As we turned toward the neighboring condo, our conversation took a turn as well. We considered, who is nudging us, and where are we being nudged? One obvious example are the radicals in the current administration, like Cass Sunstein, who are putting mandates and regulations in place and passing legislation that is nudging our nation toward a socialistic state. With bigger government and more regulations of our economy and our health care, it’s clear that unless we somehow find a way to roll things back, we’re looking at a future with high inflation, and higher taxes, more government control, and loss of many of our freedoms.
Is there any way out of this grim scenario? There is some, but not much, political hope on the horizon. But Republicans can’t even muster themselves to support the bills to repeal the odious health care bill, which Representatives Michele Bachmann and Steve King, and Senator Jim De Mint have introduced.
As more people lose their jobs and their homes, where do they turn to find help? Do we think the government is going to bail us out? In what direction are circumstances like these nudging us? Into the arms of God or the hands of government?
Dr. D. James Kennedy, my former pastor, said that God’s curriculum for our lives has one lesson, learning to trust Him. That is all He wants us to learn, whether we’re facing loss of our job, loss of our home, or (as I did at age 37) the loss of a spouse. God’s promise is “He will never leave us or forsake,” (Hebrews 13:5).
Furthermore, God has promised He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear, “but with the temptation will also make the way of escape,” (I Corinthians 10:13). So many times in my life, God has opened a way of escape for me—escape from a graduate assistantship with a woman who was pressuring me to pursue women’s studies; escape from a devastating illness that took the life of my first husband, but never touched me; escape from the tentacles of a religious cult that claimed to be Christian, but did not acknowledge Christ’s divinity.
Will God not do the same for you? Will He not provide for His children who trust Him to carry out His purposes in their lives? “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28).
If you know you are among those who love Him and are called by Him, take heart. His promises are true. He has promised that He will never forsake the righteous, (Psalm 37:35).
If, on the other hand, you do not have the assurance of your righteousness through Christ, seek Him today. He is a friend of sinners and will never cast out anyone who comes to Him, (John 6:37).
There is a way of escape when we are being nudged. For those of us who know Him, let us go tell the wonderful story!
Tags: Cass Sunstein, Czar, Dr. D. James Kennedy, Jim De Mint, Michele Bachmann, NUDGE, Steve King
May 3, 2010 at 12:03 am |
I didn’t even know you wrote a blog, Karen, but I really enjoyed reading this, and one of my favorite things to do is to walk in my neighborhood or around a lake to appreciate God’s creation and get some exercise. I also can relax and know that God has given me many blessings and I remember them as I walk…and choose to trust God and his sovereignty for the rest!