A People in Exile (Part 2)

Mother Nature has this uncanny tendency to turn upon herself ? undoing with her left hand what she has made with her right. She sends hailstorms to the destruction of her own blossoms. She unleashes a tempest upon the crop that she herself has ripened for the harvest. Lightning splits the trees that she has nurtured and sets the forest aflame.

Nature is no believer in disarmament because the birds prey upon the insects and worms. The glowworm feeds upon the snail. There is no kindness in the seed, no benevolence in the forest ? for everywhere we turn all are in conflict with one another.

There is something inherently illogical and absurd in life. Have you ever thought about the fact that the misfortune of one community makes the fortune of another? The courts as well as law enforcement officers depend upon the lawbreaker and criminal for their livelihood. Doctors depends upon the disabled and sick for their well being. Funeral directors rely upon the bereaved and dead that they might live. Psychiatrists and psychologists need the mentally unstable for their daily bread. Scarcity of bread brings destitution to the poor and high prices to the needy.

So you see, we too, are a people in exile and the exile in which we suffer has relieved us of all else except our pains. Our present day Babylon have locked us from our personality; shut out our freedom. We have been caged from ourselves. And in this struggle to survive, many of us have lost our souls. So we are left with our sorrows and our pains. With these we pay the debt, the price of living. So it is will all people who, like Israel, suffer exile.

Yet, we thank God today, the precious words of Second Isaiah. It is relevant because it has a message for those of us who have found ourselves a long way from home. It seems to be telling us to get our minds together. While we are in a world where everything is seemingly against us; where Mother Nature and living and surviving is a struggle, we get a word from the Lord telling us to wake up, get up and look up.

We must wake up from our spiritual slumber, stupor of despair, state of sluggish dullness. We must get up from of our beds of spiritual bondage, chairs of soothing contentment, couches of hopeless resignation, and stools of bitter complaints. We must look up to the hills from whence cometh our help, to Him who is the author and finisher our faith, to the everlasting promises of God our Father.

We are an exiled people today only because we choose to be. Each man must find the Himalayan peak for himself. God did not make us to sit down on flowery beds of ease; but we are built to climb. God has supplied us with a supernatural power; that spirit within which is able to conquer every danger and every difficulty.

Therefore, we must not resign from life because of our perils. We must not allow ourselves to be listed among those who asked, "How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land." But we must sing the song of the brave because I have learned that there really is a silver lining behind every dark cloud. Why not press on until you find it? Why not learn how to live in freedom even in the midst of bondage?

The problem with a lot of us is that we suffer from terminal spiritual inertia. The spiritual power God has given us has undergone a critical shortage. We lapse into a state of spiritual bankruptcy. We have no oil in our lamps, no fuel to keep the fire burning.

Be reminded today, that God has given you the power to overcome.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available in July.

executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport car
In The News:

Getting virus alerts on your iPhone? Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to handle fake scam alerts and boost security.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says opening emails is safe, but risks arise from interacting with links, attachments or HTML content.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals four signs of compromised Social Security numbers and offers five steps to protect yourself.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how MAB Robotics' Honey Badger 4.0, a versatile robot, now walks underwater with amphibious skills.
An updated Android trojan called FakeCall hijacks bank calls. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Android phone manufacturers and Google need to step up their game on security.
The Massimo Modular E9 is a sleek, smart and comfy tiny home in 409 square feet. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at what the future of housing might look like.
Every stock trader should consider a virtual private network to safeguard their trading, according to tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson.
Apple recently announced its new lineup of Macs and rolled out Apple Intelligence, its latest artificial intelligence-powered feature for its products.
A Swiss-engineered robot can climb ladders, showing why it's at the cutting edge of autonomous robotic solutions for harsh industrial settings.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson presents the cities targeted most by robocalls, why this is happening and what you can do about it to protect your privacy.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson shares tips and suggestions for how to get the best use out of the updated Calendar app available with the latest iOS update.
Your Social Security number, your unique identifier used for many purposes, has likely been leaked on the Dark Web; here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
Researchers have developed a new technology that creates strong, sticky fibers capable of lifting objects and capturing things from a distance.
Smart rings track the same things that smartwatches do, including steps, sleep and a general overview of your overall health, and they tend have more battery life than smartwatches.
Researchers have developed a robotic finger that can perform routine medical exams like those conducted by doctors, helping to address the growing shortage of trained professionals.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Insurance administrative services company Landmark Admin reported that a data breach from a May cyberattack affected over 800,000 people.
Sotheby's will auction the first artwork created by Ai-Da, the world's first robot artist created in 2019 by British gallerist Aidan Meller.
More than 250 million users of the Verizon Messages app will have to switch to another app. Verizon is shutting down Messages in the next month.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides a list of 10 celebrities who are the most targeted by deepfake scams, including Tom Hanks.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Vast's Haven-1, launching in 2025, transforms space living with human-centric design.
UnitedHealth confirms over 100 million Change Healthcare users had their data stolen. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals what happened and what caused the breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how iOS 18 brings new text formatting and animated effects to the Messages app.
Whether you're a social media veteran or novice, Facebook friend request scams are common. Kurt the CyberGuy provides tips to keep your account safe.

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 10

Matthew 3:7-10 John Rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees7 But when... Read More

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Why do bad things happen to good people? Surely this... Read More

Celtic Mythology: 7 Ways to a Wonderful Life

In Corrogue, Celtic mythology helps me live a wonderful life.As... Read More

Pebbles of Wisdom

Coming face to face with yourself in the space between... Read More

There is Light at the End of the Tunnel - Just Get Out of Your Way !

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but... Read More

6 Little Prayers That Bring Healing - Every Time You Pray

Ok, let's start with the amazing story of Robbie and... Read More

The Truth of Reactions

In my life, I have tried... Read More

Spirituality: Living the Whole

The words 'new age' and 'spirituality' can have people running... Read More

Youre Standing Between Two Clouds

On one side there is a dark cloud. It is... Read More

Slow Leak

In God's world, everything can be used as an anology... Read More

The Power of Myth to Transform Your Life

Irish myth has the power to transform your life into... Read More

Self-Realization How It Can be Achieved Within Ones Life Time

Before we dwell on the subject of Self Realization we... Read More

We Fall Down -- But We Get Up

When I first heard Donnie McClurkin's song, "We Fall Down... Read More

The Path Less Traded - the Spiritual Road to Financial Abundance!

There is nothing more valuable to a sentient being then... Read More

The Ten Commandments Starring Charlton Heston

Last Saturday, the children were down at their grandparent's house... Read More

Using Your Spiritual Path Against Yourself

In looking back at my process over the years I... Read More

Authentic Prayers

Do you go to God seeking His will for your... Read More

I Think Ill Just Go Fishin

I said something last week I haven't said in years.... Read More

Seven Soul-Nurturing Suggestions for Busy Women

Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More

Why Jesus?

There are many contradictions in life and none more easily... Read More

Is The Person You Think About The Most Missing Gods Point?

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More

Anam Chara - Telling Your Story

We as human beings travelled in small bands for hundreds... Read More

From Superstition to Clashing Rocks

"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More

Remote Viewing and the Body-Mind Connection

One of the biggest myths to evolve in the growing... Read More

Getting the Feel of Your Faith

Whether we admit it or not, we operate by emotion.... Read More

O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..