Carpe Facultas

   Remember the Robert Frost poem that says:

   "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,"

   Now think about the opposite ends of those two roads and follow them back to the junction. Two roads become two lines of thought or action and lead to one road or thought continuing on.

   That is how it was for me this morning, as I woke up, read the Scripture and then ventured out into the cool morning air. Passing through the parking garage of the other condo building, I ran into two men preparing to go out for golf across the causeway. As the conversation turned toward the election of Tuesday, one of the men was bemoaning the fact that the future had just gotten a lot dimmer, and we were in for some hard times. While I think that might be true, the two roads, of the portion of Scripture I had just read, and this conversation merged into one thought.

                                                          OPPORTUNITY

   Looking at some of the results of the election, and reading what various commentators had to say about our country right now, Biblical or Christian values are under attack, and the other side appears to be winning. Those who thumb their noses at morality, as defined in Scripture, are gaining ground. Many times the candidates take positions that are contrary to this morality, and the electorate verifies their stands by electing them to office.

   What does God think about all of this? Does He just wink and say "let them go on and see what happens" or does He weep as He sees the consequences that come down the road? I cannot speak for God in this, but I sincerely doubt if He is happy. We receive His blessings, and then we flaunt our sins in His face.

   But I also think that this is a time for Christians to be different. For too long we, and I am in this group for sure, have accepted what He has given, and paid lip service to making a difference in our world. We have lived like everyone else and just blended into our society. Where Jesus has admonished us to "take up our cross and follow" we have put that cross on a chain and worn it under our shirt. Just a piece of jewelry, but devoid of any meaning.

   The Scripture that was mine this morning was the parable of the prodigal son, or the parable of the loving Father. I thought about the opportunity the three people in the story had to act. The younger son, the older son and the father. There were opportunities given to each, just as there are to me.

   I believe this challenge is for each Christian individual, but it is also for the organized church. We either speak out, or we fade into insignificance. What will we do?

   I think of my favorite quote from Winston Churchill, given in the dark days of early World War II:

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth lasts for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour!”

   Could it be so for me and for us?

   Carpe Facultas.....Seize the Opportunity