Absolutely brilliant. Westerners are drawn to radical Islam because it gives meaning to life. Meanwhile, western culture, having tossed out true faith and even truth itself, picked the juicy low-hanging fruits of Christianity while disregarding the Son who shines on them, valued the comforts but discounted the Comforter. That leaves “men of the West” (to borrow a designation from Tolkien) in an ignoble position: called to defend air conditioning, Walmart, upscale brands, Miley Cyrus, and all the other creature comforts and passing fads that constitute our “way of life.” For many of us, it doesn’t seem worth the effort. For a Christian, though, the commonplace is always worth defending, for it is shot through with glory. It’s where the Lord meets us: on the road, at the dinner table, through the checkout line, in the flesh. Christians should never be sunk into everydayness, but of course we often are. That sense of “meaningless, meaningless” tends to set in when we’re not paying attention, or not “being intentional.” Routine casts a haze over the days, making them all run together in a wash of the same old, same old. Here’s the reality: Our often-hurried prayers and distracted worship are weaving eternal union with the Holy Trinity, whose grace lavishes every step we take. Our jihad is in the workplace and school and home, not with bloody swords but gracious words and manners. Our transcendence is found not in passing moments but in the shining stitches that hold them together. Violent conflict can look glamorous, especially to young men of a certain temperament. Humble service seldom does, even when humble service requires rushing into battle. Yet moment by moment, it lays up treasure in heaven.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 13:40:01 +0000
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