Time Robbers…we all know them. Not only do we know them, we are intimately acquainted with them. Have you ever sat down “just for a moment” to scroll through your phone and then looked up to find you just lost twenty minutes or half an hour?
This has happened to me more times than I can count. I stop to check the headlines on the news, and then an article comes up that looks interesting, so I decide to read it. I finish it only to scroll down the headlines again. The next article looks informative, and then boom, I read it and look up at the clock. Twenty minutes have passed, and I really don’t have much to show for them. The Time Robbers have stolen my time once more.
I love my phone, but it is definitely a Time Robber in my life.Can you relate? Do you spend too much time on your phone checking one type of social media or another? How do you feel when you look up and realize you just lost half an hour? I certainly don’t feel any smarter or better informed. Yes, I have read a lot of information, but will I use it anywhere in my life? Not necessarily. Most of it is just a sort of flotsam that gets tucked away in my brain. It usually gets filed under “D” for detritus.
Lately, I have been trying to limit the time I spend checking the news on my phone. Maybe once in the morning and once at night, and hopefully for not more than fifteen minutes at a time. And speaking of checking my phone at night, I can’t tell you the times I checked it right before bed and read some upsetting headline. So instead of going to sleep peacefully, I was left thinking about something negative as my head hit the pillow. Not only had my time been stolen, but also my peace of mind.Sheesh, what a waste!
Do you have any Time Robbers in your life? Time is the only commodity we can spend and never get back from the Robbers. Have you taken the time to identify yours? If so, how are you dealing with them?
Have you ever gone to a town where you had visited and something devastating had happened there? You start to survey the landscape and look for familiar landmarks, but don’t see them. The scale of the devastation is so great that the area is unrecognizable. You aren’t sure exactly which street you are on, and it is impossible to find the features you remember. Has that ever happened to you?
If it has, you know that the first thing you do is get out your phone and call up Google Maps. You hope there is some way to get your bearings and find what you are looking for. You desperately search for something familiar so you can orient yourself to your surroundings.
That is exactly how I feel when I look at the culture around me. I feel I am living in a society that is unrecognizable from the one I grew up in. Almost every social metric has plummeted in a negative direction. Just to name a few: criminal behavior has skyrocketed because it is rewarded with a slap on the wrist and a get out of jail free card. Homelessness is accepted as a normal part of society, and few public officials are able to find a meaningful solution to the problem. The benchmarks on the education of our students are abysmal, and yet billions are thrown in that direction with little or no improvement in literacy or mathematical skills.
Unfortunately, I can’t call up Google Maps for help to try to navigate our culture. How do I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, live in a meaningful way in an unrecognizable society? The only thing I know to do is to go to the Scriptures to help me find my bearings. When I read them, I can somehow get a perspective on what I see taking place. When I look at some of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples, they open my eyes and help me see the signposts I am looking for.
Jesus said that the last days would be like the days of Noah. Those days were marked by violence and genetic engineering. He also said they would be like the days of Sodom. Those days were filled with sexual perversion and children being misused by unscrupulous adults. Jesus talked about the love of many growing cold, and if that isn’t one of the primary mileposts of our day, I don’t know what is. Man has stopped caring about his fellow human beings, and meaningful compassion is in short supply.
Rather than walking around dazed and confused, each of us can look to the Scriptures for clear direction. We can ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit so that we may love our fellow man. We can do whatever is within our capabilities to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us. Then and only then will we make a significant impact and the landscape we see will become more recognizable.
Sub Rosa means “under the rose” in New Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has been associated with secrecy.Merriam-Webster Dictionary
When I look at what’s happening in our world today, I see many things that are cause for concern…wars, natural disasters, famine, and disease. All of these problems capture my attention, but the things I am most concerned about are the things that are happening sub rosa. In other words, they do not appear on the surface of society, but they are taking place in secret, unbeknownst to most of us.
Take the dark net, for example. If we knew the things, i.e., weapons, deadly drugs, and people that are being marketed, we would be aghast and unable to sleep at night. My greatest concern is for the people, the living souls, who are being bought and sold. Yes, it is human trafficking that grabs my attention the most.
Human trafficking is happening in most communities in this country. And yet, the only people who know about it directly are the people involved and the police who are trying to put a stop to it. Why, you ask? Because it is happening sub rosa, in secret, under the radar.
What is human trafficking exactly? Oxford Languages defines it as, “the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.” Most people think that it is not happening in their communities, but it is everywhere. Last week in our community, in one of the most affluent suburbs, three people were arrested for human trafficking and prostitution.
The statistics are staggering. In Texas alone, it is estimated that 313,000 people are being trafficked with 79,000 of the victims being minors involved in sex trafficking. My concern is that many of these minors crossed the border looking for a better life but instead were forced into a life of sexual servitude. This is a huge problem, especially in the states that share a border with Mexico.
Is there anything that we can do? First, we have to be aware that the problem is present in our communities. Just because it is happening sub rosa does not mean it doesn’t exist. In our area, there are three organizations that help people who have been trafficked. All of them could use funding or some other kind of support. Second, we need to keep our eyes open for those who need help. If there is a house in our neighborhood where there is activity that is suspicious, we can report it to the police. Know the universal sign for help: a person puts their thumb in the palm of their hand and closes their fingers over it. If you see someone do this, call the police; that person is probably being trafficked. And third, pray. Pray that these terrible deeds of darkness will be exposed to the light and that the people responsible will be arrested and the victims will be rescued from this form of modern-day slavery.
Now that January is almost gone, and all of my so-called resolutions have either been implemented or discarded, I thought about one resolution that I could implement each day that actually might make a difference in my neighborhood. This year, I decided that the one thing I would like to implement was to love my neighbor as myself.
You know, it sounds simple, but it really isn’t. My neighbor has her own catering business, and her garbage is near to overflowing every time she puts it out for the garbage trucks to pick up. Many times, after they dump her garbage, there is some lying on the ground. Sometimes, it blows into our yard. My first response is usually irritation as I look out the window and see it blowing by. I have decided to move from that response to a kinder response. I am thankful she has a good job. I am thankful that once in a while, she brings my husband and me lunch, etc., etc.
This may sound simplistic to you, but it has changed my outlook. Every time one of our neighbors makes a lot of noise or their dogs bark, after my initial irritation, I am choosing to think kindly of them. My neighbors don’t even know that my attitude has changed, but I know. It has made a difference inside of me.
Don’t get me wrong – I like my neighbors. I just want to have a kinder, gentler attitude towards them this year. I know I will be a nicer person inside, and perhaps some of that kindness may even move from an inside attitude to an outward action. You never know, after I pick up some of my neighbor’s trash that has blown into my yard, I may even pick up some of hers. Stranger things have happened!
“For Unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“Discount – (verb) to decide that something or someone is not worth considering or giving attention to.” Cambridge Dictionary
If we were fortunate as children, we lived in a family where we were taught to not discount people because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or financial situation. We learned that people are not less valuable because of any of their inborn characteristics or outward circumstances.
For the past several years, people have also been discounting others because of their political beliefs. Our children in the university system have been taught to discount those who do not conform to the current norms at their institutions. On campus, they live in an echo chamber where only the accepted opinions are given any real credence or value.
This past Thanksgiving, a psychiatric intern at one university shared online that people might want to skip getting together with their families if their relatives voted for candidates they didn’t agree with. The “Northeastern Global News” stated that about one quarter of people were considering skipping the family get-together this year.
I come from a family where one of my brothers is on the far right and the other is on the far left. Would I ever consider not having dinner with them because of their political views? Absolutely not. Family is too important, and life is too short. Political candidates and opinions change like the ocean tides. To be so locked into our views that we must live in an ideological bubble where those with different views are discounted seems absurd.
Believe it or not, we can always learn from those who have different opinions than our own. We can learn why they believe what they do. We can learn to be tolerant of those who see life differently. We can learn to care about people who think differently than we do because they add to our understanding of the world around us. We can also learn to have a little humility because believe it or not, we are not always right in our opinions and we do not always see the whole picture.
Let’s learn to love those who have different political views this holiday season. Let’s not discount them as the world would have us do.
For the past few weeks, our society has been focused on the Presidential Pardons being given out at the White House. The President granted his son a full pardon and today has pardoned over 1,500 people. Some of his pardons have been controversial, and others, not so much. Like it or not, over the next several weeks, we are likely to see many more pardons.
Pardons are not something that we see happen a lot. Judges don’t usually give them out and there are not many other entities that are allowed to give out judicial pardons. Because pardons are such a rare thing, they gain a lot of attention.
A lot of us have not been in jail or prison and do not have a record that is limiting our life choices. We do not normally think about pardons in the judicial sense but we are aware of the need for them in our relationships. When we apologize for something we have done that may have offended someone, we want to be pardoned (or forgiven) our wrong. If people are unable or unwilling to forgive or pardon others, they can lead to a very difficult life indeed.
When I think about pardons, I immediately think about the fact that I was given a full pardon several years ago. I was in my mid-twenties, had lived a bit of a wild life, and needed the forgiveness of God for my sins. They were weighing heavily on my mind and I wished to make a change in the way I had been living. I learned that I was not alone and that the Scripture says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” I found out that God was waiting to grant me a full pardon; if only I would ask for it.
I was grateful that his Son, Jesus, had come to this earth to die in order that I might be pardoned for the sins I had committed. He paid the penalty for my sin so that my relationship with the Father could be restored and that I could live a new life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.
Did I deserve a full pardon? No. Did some people not understand how I could be forgiven and begin to live a new life? Yes. It didn’t matter to me. I was and am eternally grateful to the Father and his Son, Jesus, for the full pardon.
When we think about pardons, we should look inside of ourselves and see if we need a full pardon. Let’s not look at others and think about their unworthiness but look at our own unworthiness when it comes to the ability to stand before a holy and righteous God.
After looking inside, do you feel the need a full pardon? Don’t be afraid to reach out to Jesus and ask for it. He has paid the full price for all of your sins and He is more than willing to give you one if only you will ask.
When I was a teenager, I had a friend whose uncle had an airplane. We had a lot of fun when he would take us on one of his trips. I really liked flying in a small plane…it was a great way to get where you wanted to go in a hurry! Fast forward to my twenties. I lost a few friends in small plane accidents because they or their pilots were not instrument-rated. Both planesended up crashing into a mountain. In both accidents, when the search parties found them, no one survived the accidents.
You see, you can be a pilot and not be instrument-rated. You only have clearance to fly in good weather where you can see the horizon and the ground below you. If you get into the “soup,” as pilots say, then it is impossible to determine where you are in relation to the horizon. A person can be flying right side up, but it may seem like they are upside down. Perhaps the most famous incident in recent history is when JFK Jr. crashed when he was flying over the ocean. He was not instrument-rated, and when he became disoriented because of low visibility, he ultimately crashed into the water.
As we move forward in the future, it will be imperative to be instrument-rated in our lives. If we only have a cursory knowledge of God and his word, we can easily become disoriented and crash when events happen around us. Our survival will be dependent upon our skill in the cockpit of life. In order to become instrument-rated, we must become close to the Lord (the Control Tower) and take our guidance from him and his manual (the Bible).
It is fairly easy to become a beginner pilot, but it takes a lot of studying and over a hundred hours in the air to become an instrument-rated pilot. It will be the same for us in order to be instrument-rated in life. We need to spend a considerable amount of time studying his word and walking with the Lord in order to travel safely through what is coming. There may be economic upheaval, natural disasters, and incredible deception just over the horizon. Those who are not instrument-rated will crash and burn, but those who are instrument-rated will be able to follow the manual and handle each situation with an element of peace and a passage of safety that will be elusive to others.
Jimmy grabbed another beer and chugged it. He was already three sheets to the wind, but who cares? Tonight was the end of the season, and they had won; this party was for them. It didn’t hurt that he was the star quarterback and had a full ride to Arizona State. This was his night, and he had enjoyed every minute of it. He looked at his watch. It was late and he was ready to go home. “Hey, Bill, Tom, come on,” he said. Bill and Tom, his linebackers and best friends, were a bit hammered also. They grabbed their coats and followed Jimmy out the door.
Jared caught a glimpse of them leaving and ran out the door. “Hey guys, why don’t you let me drive you home. It’s time for me to hit the road also.”
Jimmy turned and looked at him. “Not gonna happen, you pipsqueak.” He laughed at the thought of the smallest guy on the team driving them home.
Jared looked at his three friends. He was the placekicker for the team. He didn’t drink but just came to the party to socialize and celebrate the end of the season. He knew he didn’t have the physical strength to stop Jimmy, and so he got in his car and thought he would follow them to make sure they got home okay.It had rained earlier, and now the temperature was freezing. The road was going to be slick for sure.
Jared waited about thirty seconds before he pulled out of the parking lot after Jimmy left. He then got on the narrow road and stayed a ways behind him. Jimmy was speeding up and he lost sight of them as they rounded a curve. Jared touched his brakes lightly as he came into the turn. His car slowed as he rounded the corner.
“Oh God,” he said as he saw Jimmy’s car up against a tree. The front was smashed in and the back had black smoke coming out of it. He quickly called 911 and then jumped out of the car. He saw that Jimmy, Tom and Bill looked unconscious. He prayed, “Help me God,” as he began shouting at them to wake up. Bill was the first one to start to come around and so he ran and opened his door. He unhooked his seatbelt and began talking to him. Jared helped Bill walk a safe distance and then sat him on the ground. He left him there and returned to the car.
By that time, Jimmy was beginning to come around. He had been protected by the airbag and was mumbling something about being knocked out at the game. Jared started shouting at him to wake up. He removed Jimmy’s seatbelt and half-dragged him out of the car. “Who hit us, dude?” Jimmy said. His legs were like rubber, but Jared managed to gethim to where Bill was. He let him fall to the ground and ran back for Tom. By this time, he could see flames shooting out of the other side of the car. He knew he only had a matter of seconds to get Tom to safety.
Jared opened the driver’s side back door and started shouting at Tom. Tom opened his eyes and looked at him. His eyes were glazed over but at least they were open. Jared unhooked his seat belt and pulled him out of the car. He fell to the ground and Jared helped him get up and Tom slowly limped to where the other two were.
Jared set him down, stood, and turned around to look at the car. At that moment, the car blew up and burst into flames. A piece of metal hit Jared in the chest and he was knocked to the ground. He put his hand to his chest and could feel warm liquid coming out where the metal had hit him. He started to lose consciousness and the last thing he heard was the sound of sirens coming to where they were.As the blackness was overtaking him, he thought, “Thank God my friends are safe.”
An hour later, Jimmy lay in the emergency room. He was finally awake and had sobered up enough to know where he was. His parents were there talking to the doctor. They looked worried, and he wondered if he and the other guys were going to be okay. When the doctor left, he said to his parents, “Am I going to be okay? How are the other guys?”
His father had a serious look on his face, “They’re going to keep all of you overnight for observation. The doctor said you can come home tomorrow.”
A few days later, Jimmy lay on his bed. He and Bill had been released the day after the accident and were being watched for symptoms of a concussion. Tom was still in the hospital with a broken ankle and Jared…Jared didn’t make it. He started to cry. Jared, the only sober one at the party, had risked his life to save them from the burning car. Not only had Jared saved his life, he had saved him from causing the death of his friends in the car.
The next morning, he forced himself out of bed to attend Jared’s funeral. He watched as Jared’s parents wept as the pastor spoke comforting words to them. He knew he was going to have to speak to them and tell them how sorry he was for his foolish behavior. But he knew that he would never be able to make it up to them for the loss of their son. The only innocent person that night was Jared, and he was the one who paid the price for his bad judgment. He started to cry; it was not fair, not fair at all.
We can all agree with Jimmy that it wasn’t fair that the one person who was innocent in this story was the one who paid the price for Jimmy’s poor decisions. I hope this parable somehow conveys the truth of what Jesus did for us. The Scripture says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ” Romans 5: 6 -8. That’s some kind of love, isn’t it? And it’s there just for the asking.
Valerie Cullers 