Enough Already

September 22nd, 2023

Quote from “Mere Christianity”

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

—C. S. Lewis

Hello my friends,

This week has tested me near my limits. I love the C. S. Lewis quote above, it’s actually referenced in his book “Surprised by Joy” as well. I am so tired of the negativity that seems to be ever growing around me.

So far this week I had a package stolen from my front porch and while checking out at Walmart an item I scanned, charged me too much! Plus an in store coupon would not scan. I’ve read of similar stories in the news about the self scanning checkout at Walmart so I was being cautious. Thankfully, I was able to get assistance to get the coupon to work and a price change. Weird, I scanned my item and it registered five dollars and some change. I immediately used my Walmart app to scan the barcode but it said it was not available (?) weird since it charged me and read the barcode. I ask the worker to come over for assistance and he tried to scan it with his handheld scanner and it did not register. I finally looked the item up on the Walmart app for this specific store and it listed the item for $2.26! The worker adjusted the price.

Earlier this week I had a package delivered to my apartment and the carrier sent me a picture showing it was delivered, when I arrived home, no package. I was so frustrated! The items were valued at $70. I can’t really blame the delivery service; although I did send an email to my apartment complex office asking about a refund but of course, no response. As I was reading the complex online bulletin board I saw that several packages had been stolen over the past few weeks. This is a sure sign that I should start looking for a better complex to live in. I might as well continue with the complex mishaps, the trash compactor has been not working for nearly a week. Trash keeps piling up because, some people just can’t follow directions or instructions. As we were told to just keep all trash in our apartments until it’s fixed.

I’m not so naive to believe that these things can’t improve but dang! It’s a struggle to get through the day and feel good about it.

In short, I’m tired. Im tired of “things” getting worse. It seems like us against them and I’m not even sure who “us” really is.

My faith and support of the government and elected officials local/state/federal is at a new low. Never before in my life have I ever felt so disappointed, even ashamed. Don’t get me wrong, I am a strong supporter of democracy and capitalism. What I do not support is cheating, lying, corruption, and greed to name a few. As a nation, in my opinion, we have abandoned our standards of morality, patriotism, freedom and the rights of citizens of the nation.

Let me say this, I am a Christian and I am a sinner. I made mistakes all the time, I try not too but I do. I seek to do God’s will and to be and continue to grow into the person He created me to be. To be clear, I am not singling any one person out, I love my country and I love God. I pray we can all do better, you don’t have to be a believer of faith, to do better. Although, I recommend being a believer because, my trust in God is the only way I get through the day. I remind myself everyday of two things: “Be Still and Know” and I am not my own, I belong to God. God created me and I am His. I have hope because of God!

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

—Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

~Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy place where the Most High dwells. 

God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 

The Lord Almighty is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” 

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

“For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me.”
—Ezekiel 18:4 (NIV)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
—Colossians 1:15-18 (NIV)

“It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.”
—Isaiah 42:12 (NIV)