The Trials of Trials and Tribulations
Categories: Spiritual
Tags: Spirituality Americans trials Obama administration God bailout mortgage faith dreams history
This past December 13, I had a dream about the "trials of trials and tribulations." What intrigued me about the dream was the fact that I did not just dream about "trials and tribulations," but the apparent emphasis was on the excruciating journey of undergoing trials and tribulations, and how that journey is handled. We can either emerge with grace or be destroyed by the process. I am beginning to think that the real meaning of my dream is that it was a harbinger of what was to come, as regards this nation.
Fast forward a scant two and a half months or so, and we are all experiencing the "trials," which I interpret as the painful, lengthy process of being pummeled, prodded and poked. We are undergoing a financial, moral, social, cultural and spiritual colonoscopy, without anesthesia. Some of us are not handling this "procedure" well. Too many of us are turning to our drug of choice, be it legal or illegal. Sometimes there doesn't seem to be much difference between "legal" and "illegal," except maybe that one has more syllables than the other. Some of us are "drugging' ourselves with food. I plead guilty tonight. When I thought of the "night of the living dead" that our existence is threatening to become, I had an extra "helping" of Trader Joe's "Dark Chocolate Mocha Crunch Squares." I consoled myself with the fact that dark chocolate has more antioxidants than some fruits and vegetables. Plus, there are no artificial flavors or preservatives! "Rationalization....'tis a wonderful thing. It is certainly prevalent in politics!
After that dark chocolate digression, let's get back to "trials." One of the meaning is "something or someone who annoys." This meaning opens up so many possibilities, one of those "let me count the ways" moments! Currently, some "ones" who annoy me, and quite a number of my fellow Americans, are politicians who "ask not what they can do for their country," but how they can screw up their country, to satisfy their overblown egos, unbridled ambition, wrapped in (un)commensurate ability. Harsh? Hardly. They are not the ones fighting for every dollar, having an "intimate" relationship with dollar stores, or scouring for the cheapest gas stations. No, their 'struggle" is whether to choose the sirloin or the fillet mignon. The real barometer of their "oneness" with mere citizens, will be when they begin losing their homes, and they then can honestly tell you that now, they do indeed "feel your pain." I know that will be "change that I can believe in."
I like this other meaning that defines "trials" as, "struggles, usually over a period of time, to discover how suitable a thing is." I am substituting Americans for the word "thing," although we seem to have become "things," or pawns on a chessboard to those who rule. So, my fellow "things," perhaps this period of "trials and tribulations" will make us discover or re-discover our mettle, how worthy we are to preserve this God-given land, and become "richer" in spirit. As we undergo this period of soul-searching, when "must haves," such as the latest SUV, the latest plasma television, the 'cool" cellphone, are no longer within our grasp, and we rediscover inner reserves of real character, this "trials of trials and tribulations" period could turn out to have been worth it. Many of us do not have the money to make purchases of "stuff," stuff that previously dominated our existence. "Stuff" that made us cast God aside like a worn out DVD. Now, we concentrate on the basics because we must.
Find God again. Bring out of mothballs, the sturdiness of character that founded this country. Rebuild it, not on a foundation of greed, but of honesty, and make it a better country that we can proudly pass on to the generations to come. If not? Then, we may as well read or re-read the history of the Roman Empire, so that we know how to adjust to an empire in tatters, beyond repair, undone by internal strife.
By the way, while we are going through our "trials," embracing socialism is not the answer. I publicly declare that I am not going quietly into that socialist night, and become a "good little socialist!" I came to this country to be an American, not a "Socialist-American!" I will not trade my freedom for a government issued health card. Those who are using this economic crisis, as a Trojan Horse to remake America into Amerika, count me out of your little party. I was born into freedom. I will die in freedom.There is no alternative.
How am I coping during this period of the "trials of trials and tribulations?" I am coping the same way that I always do. I am "clinging to God," and even thinking of "clinging" to at least one gun, when I can find a cheap one! But before this Annie Oakley starts hitting the shooting range, she is firing on all cylinders in the word of God. I call God my Ultimate Flak Jacket and any mere mortal who dares to come against this child of God, soon realizes his or her mistake! I can even present two examples. Of the two mortgage companies that performed "financial surgery" on me, one is "no more." The other one is doing a great immitation of a rotting corpse. The buzzards are circling overhead and perhaps not even the "bailout resurrectionists" will succeed in turning this financial sepulchre into a "live" entity. Am I rejoicing? No. My fellow Americans who were/are employed by these fleecers are, or will soon be scrambling to save their own homes, or even scrambling to pay for food. I pray for them.
I encourage my fellow Americans to not wallow in self-pity and linger in "wonderland," as in wondering how this financial morass happened. It happened through unscrupolous folks in and out of government, taking advantage of the American taxpayer, the elite class preying on both their fellow elites and we the not so elites. Leave those unscrupulous folks to the tender mercies of The One True Higher Authority. Preserve your mental, emotional, and spiritual health by turning to the Real Messiah, to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He does not need to wait for the oceans to recede. He can make the oceans disappear if He so desires. He will exact His revenge on those who have callously used His people. Pray for the ones who have "despitefully used you." Do not ever let crooks and charlatans steal your joy. Continuously read the word of God, for renewal of strength. Here are a few tidbits to tide you over. They work for me. May God protect and preserve this, "the land that I love."
2 Chronicles 7:14
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Romans 12:20
20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Romans 8:28
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Proverbs 28:2
2For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Genesis 50:20
20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
I Also "cling" to the following hymns. I am a real "clinger," when it comes to the spiritual. However when it comes to earthly matters, I will not pull an Esau. Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of porridge. I reiterate. I will not trade away my freedom for a "bowl" of socialist handouts. I almost forgot another declaration. I will not be silenced by "doctrines" of the earthly kind.
It Is Well with My Soul
Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Robert Robinson, c.1758
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
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