"Living without mystery means knowing nothing of the mystery of our own life, nothing of the mystery of another person, nothing of the mystery of the world; it means passing over our own hidden qualities and those of others and the world. It means remaining on the surface, taking the world seriously only to the extent that it can be calculated and exploited, and not going beyond the world of calculation and exploitation. Living without mystery means not seeing the crucial processes of life at all and even denying them." — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Now, I have a LOT of questions and Michael implored us to make a list of questions we cannot answer. Sadly, although I have questions (like how Sarah can continue to put up with me :->), all I can think of tonight is the question: "Why can't we, as a country, deal with the issue of guns and violence in our society?" I am so sick and tired of seeing the news reports of the shootings and the paltry replies by our politicians so beholden to the gun lobby. I try not to be too political in my posts, but this one is unavoidable. Sadly (I keep saying that), I have no answer to this question but I hope, in this Advent Season, that, just as we await the Birth of Jesus, we also can await a day when the politicians decide to govern for the people instead of for the special interests. I hope and pray on this tonight and every night.
On a more positive note, I do enjoy the mystery of life (most of the time). "What will my kids do today that will make me smile?" "Why does the dog continue to chase the cat when she is also terrified of her when engaged?" "Where DID I put my keys? (OH, there they are!)" A little mystery makes life interesting. Oh to be able to focus on these minor mysteries and not the major ones as I wrote about above.
And, as for Psalm 50, which was the reading suggestion for tonight, I'd like to focus on this verse:
This is another Psalm that implores us, the readers, to do the right thing "go the right way" to be rewarded. So I implore those in government, to do the right thing and end the violence!
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