October 29

Today's Reading

In addition to his prophetic writings, Jeremiah wrote of the sadness among his people during their judgment and trials. Lamentations is a cry of anguish from the heart. Anyone who has spent time with close family members after the death of a loved one will recognize this anguish. It carries no logic. It can rise the the peaks of anger and tumble to the depths of despair. It can scream, "Why?" and whimper like a mewing kitten. This raw emotion is a by-product of deep grief and Jeremiah wrote it down.

Philemon was a Christian who had money. Don't draw back when you realize that he was a slave-owner. Owning slaves was considered "normal" in that culture. The more important issue was how the slaves were treated. One of Philemon's slaves, Onesimus, ran away. Then Onesimus met Paul, who introduced him to Christ. After Onesimus had matured a bit, Paul sent him back to Philemon, whom Paul obviously knew. This letter is Paul's appeal to Philemon on how to receive back his slave, who is now also his Christian brother. I especially was touched by Paul's message of hope that is implied in this letter. Onesimus had obviously left Philemon with rebellion in his heart. When Onesimus met Christ, his heart had changed. Paul could surely imagine the day with Onesimus returned home to his rightful owner, humble and submissive. What a picture of transformation!

Psalms. David, the king, wrote this to describe some leadership principles he lived by. "I hate all who deal crookedly;
I will have nothing to do with them.
4 I will reject perverse ideas
and stay away from every evil.
5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.
I will not endure conceit and pride." We live in a day when leaders (of both political parties) overlook huge integrity gaps in their subordinates, especially if those subordinates are talented and follow the party line. What would happen if we had leaders who refused to allow anyone in their inner circle unless they lived a life of humble integrity?

Proverbs. Speaking of leadership, I have been stung by the pain of gossip. It goes with the territory. Someone said long ago that we ought not try to answer every criticism. Those critical words are like grains of sand in a glass of water. If we try to answer them all, we just keep them stirred up and everything is muddy. If we let them go, they sink to the bottom and stop causing so much confusion.

Well, Climbing Companion, what has spoken to you today?