Today’s Readings: Psalm 38; Ezra 10:1-17; Luke 18:9-14; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 32
Featured Reading: Ezra 10:1-17. Several years ago, one of my friends who is in AA introduced me to a phrase I had never heard before: “dry alcoholic”. I had no clue what it meant. When I asked him what it meant, he said: “It’s when an alcoholic quits drinking alcohol but hasn’t changed his or her thoughts.” Before my friend shared his understanding of what the phrase meant, I had been extremely naïve. I defined an alcoholic as someone who regularly drank too much. Now, I understand that being an alcoholic also has to do with the ways one thinks. I struggle with this morning’s passage from Ezra because, on one level, it sounds as if Ezra is advocating a solution to the Israelites’ problem that sounds like one a dry alcoholic would propose. Ezra is saying the equivalent of “Just quit drinking.” In this case, he’s saying “Put aside your foreign wives and children – then your problems will be solved.” But is that really enough to get at the heart of the problem? My answer to that question is no. The real issue seems to be their lack of devotion to God – not just whom they marry. So often we take that approach to the way we live our own lives. We think things like: “If I just cut so and so out of my life, my life will improve,” or “If I quit doing such and such, then I’ll automatically be healthier.” While those superficial changes can lead to benefits in the short term, the long term payoff is dependent on us doing the deeper internal work associated with such change. Today, I would invite you to explore your life. Is there an area of your life that you’ve tried to change superficially (i.e. by just adding or subtracting something or someone)? If so, sit with that change and go deeper. See if you can find the underlying thoughts and feelings that need to be addressed as well in order to make that change more meaningful. Til next time…
Featured Reading: Ezra 10:1-17. Several years ago, one of my friends who is in AA introduced me to a phrase I had never heard before: “dry alcoholic”. I had no clue what it meant. When I asked him what it meant, he said: “It’s when an alcoholic quits drinking alcohol but hasn’t changed his or her thoughts.” Before my friend shared his understanding of what the phrase meant, I had been extremely naïve. I defined an alcoholic as someone who regularly drank too much. Now, I understand that being an alcoholic also has to do with the ways one thinks. I struggle with this morning’s passage from Ezra because, on one level, it sounds as if Ezra is advocating a solution to the Israelites’ problem that sounds like one a dry alcoholic would propose. Ezra is saying the equivalent of “Just quit drinking.” In this case, he’s saying “Put aside your foreign wives and children – then your problems will be solved.” But is that really enough to get at the heart of the problem? My answer to that question is no. The real issue seems to be their lack of devotion to God – not just whom they marry. So often we take that approach to the way we live our own lives. We think things like: “If I just cut so and so out of my life, my life will improve,” or “If I quit doing such and such, then I’ll automatically be healthier.” While those superficial changes can lead to benefits in the short term, the long term payoff is dependent on us doing the deeper internal work associated with such change. Today, I would invite you to explore your life. Is there an area of your life that you’ve tried to change superficially (i.e. by just adding or subtracting something or someone)? If so, sit with that change and go deeper. See if you can find the underlying thoughts and feelings that need to be addressed as well in order to make that change more meaningful. Til next time…
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