"Our Daily Blog" #5

By Dr. Gloria Latimore-Peace

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

"The Serenity Prayer”[1] is among the most popular and frequently quoted prayers but, far too many of us focus on its first phrase: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change". One of the likely reasons is that there are indeed some things that may be so characterized. Another reason could be that we find solace in both Galatians 6:7 and the oft-repeated adage, "Let go and let God". Whatever the case, it would behoove us to ponder the remaining two phrases: "courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference". But, whence cometh the wisdom to know the difference between the things we can and cannot change? And how do we know, in all certainty, what it is that we CAN change, if we never summon up the courage to try -- especially if we continue to "pass the buck" while expecting needed changes to be made for us?

Admittedly, our ability to "know the difference" can be undermined by our unfamiliarity with a particular problem or situation. We may find ourselves perplexed by an event(s) that has never before occurred. That explains but, nonetheless, does not justify the failure to act when the situation reveals itself to be a "clear and present danger".[2] In untenable situations such as these, we have no other options but to "Man Up" and handle our business. The manner in which we do so will undoubtedly be based on our assessment of the problem and what we deem to be our ability to resolve it. Fortunately, we have the resources of the sacred writings as well as the lessons we should have learned from experience, our best teacher.

There are several scriptures to which we may refer, for example: Genesis 1:26-28 wherein Man ["who is fearfully and wonderfully made] was said to have been made in the image and after the likeness of God and given dominion over all the Earth.[3] From these assertions, we can surmise that this is, in spirit and in truth, "A Man's World".[4] Therefore, Man has rights and privileges that are inextricably bound to non- transferable duties and responsibilities. Ready or not, our unmistakable, unavoidable mission must be to change the things we can by making the efforts to do so.

We are also admonished to "be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28). But, those instructions appear to have fallen on deaf ears, for most of our pursuits have been concentrated on division and subtraction/extraction rather than multiplication and addition. It is imperative that we make the change from our present unsustainable life-"style" to a culture, i.e. a way of life, that is able to “long endure” because it is built for eternity.[5]

“The Quality” have wrought a system whereby more than their fair share has been / is being extracted from the earth and its “Tasked” inhabitants.[6] In the final analysis, there seems to be no getting around the need for change. While we are straddling the horns of the current dilemma, the Earth's foundation seems to be shifting. This infinitesimal COVID-19 Virus has managed to elude our border wall, disarm our defense system, and threaten the security of our homeland. But, the repeat of this David and Goliath narrative[7] may be the precursor of a series of MEGA events that will "Make the Earth Great Again". This, then, is the time for MEGA thinking, for MEGA change(s), and for MEGA beingness. If not now, when? If not us, who?

Footnotes:

[1] Reinhold Niebuhr, “The Serenity Prayer” [2] Majority opinion written in 1919 by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes [3] Psalm 139:14 [4] James Brown, “This is a Man’s World” [5] Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address” [6] Ta-Nehesi Coates, “The Water Dancer” [7] 1 Samuel 17