I usually have a few books on the go. There's usually one fiction for bedtime reading, and a few nonfiction, which include psychology, personal growth and faith-based encouragement. I have dreams of spending long afternoons reading and note taking, but that doesn't usually happen. I usually end up reading in snatches and folding the bottom corner of the pages to indicate a passage that's worth rereading and then maybe later copying it down in my quotes journal.
Some books take me months, maybe years to finish. One I've been slowly reading is Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. McManus is a filmmaker, author, artist, and pastor of the Mosaic Church in Los Angeles. Basically, this book is about what it means to be human and explores our longings, desires, needs, and cravings. It explores our soul.
With books like these, I often ponder how the content relates to the times we are living in. The following passages are so relevant to what's happening in our country and the world.
The future doesn't happen by accident; it happens through engagement.
We were created to strive for progress and to pursue it with passion. It is God who designed us this way. He made us creative, and he makes us responsible. Somehow there are many of us who have missed this point. We have allowed human history to be shaped by those who are distant from God and hostile toward people.
Evil never looks for permission.
Tyrants never consider the appropriateness of their actions. One of the great tragedies of human history is that while those who are motivated by greed and power and violence have forged the future of their liking, too many of those who long for a better world have sat passively by, watching and wishing the world could be different.
....I think quite often it has been a misunderstanding about God. We think it's God's job to fix everything. Sincere people have deferred their responsibiltiy while waiting on God to do something, but it has created a spirituality that lacks initiative and engagement. This goes against the nature of the human spirit, and it goes against the way God has created us. We might actually conclude God is apathetic and indifferent just because we are. God created us to engage, solve problems, meet needs, do something with our lives. He made us to get involved and expects us to act. .....Human compassion reflects God and moves us towards God. ... We have to believe in tomorrow to function well today. It will never be enough for us simply to exist, and if all we have is now, our souls will starve from lack of nourishment. Without a future, there is no hope, and hope is essential for our souls to thrive. Hope exists only in the future, and if the future does not exist, there is no hope. ...Without hope, there is only despair. ... Everyone of us is on a search for destiny. ( Soul Cravings, excerpts from Entry 6, 7, 8)
I recently listened to an interview with Jordan Peterson, a Canadian psychology professor emeritus at the U of Tornonto, a clinical psychologist, author, and podcaster on cultural and political issues. He was asked what one thing he would say to young students entering university. His reply was very emotional. He encouraged them to hold onto their passion and not to let anyone steal it from them, because a university education will do that. It will paint a bleak picture of the future and take away hope.
Personally, I feel that the move towards globalism and loss of personal autonomy and control will lead to a general lack of hope and a loss of passion (among other things!) This is not good for the future of humanity. Thankfully, there is hope for better days!
Hope is vital. I'm so thankful that my hope is not in politics!
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23)
Just a few things I've been pondering lately. Maybe you have some thoughts on this as well!
