For Heaven's Sake by Mike Morgan for July 26, 2010

Wait! I thought complaining was his spiritual gift?

http://imgsrv.gocomics.com/dim/?fh=2900e23b3e572c747e28e073bbe722a9

It’s a new week everyone!

Good Morning All!

This is funny in a comic, but, unfortunately too true in real life, and not funny at all then :(

The Deacon ‘s a very gifted man.

I can just picture his idea of the 7 spiritual gifts: Complaining Grudge Holding Holier than Thou-ness Pessimism Polliannaism (probably the opposite of pessimism, but I know people with both “gifts” that they seem to exhibit simultaneously) Reactionary Conservatism Radical Progressiveness These last two are two sides of the same coin- the “But we’ve ALWAYS done it that way” people and the “It’s NEW and DIFFERENT so it must be BETTER” people.

I too know many people like this. Very sad!

@DewSolo, pretty good!

My list of the seven un-spiritual gifts:

Grumbling (aka murmuring)–complaining to those who can do nothing about it. Grudge holding Holier Than Thou-ness Self-righteousness Judgmentalism Foolish traditionalism Idolatry, as in trusting in self, in some human power, or so on.

Great comments by all! bmonk - Thank you for defining that grumbling/murmuring “gift”, because I get tired of people who are always of the “if you can’t saying anything nice, don’t say anything at all” philosophy. Sometimes, something does need to be said that isn’t always “nice”. But I’ve tried to live by the adage that if I’m not willing to help solve the problem, I shouldn’t gripe about it.

Bmonk ~ You have just described me perfectly, is that a bad thing???

“But I’ve tried to live by the adage that if I’m not willing to help solve the problem, I shouldn’t gripe about it.” Gosh, Rmom, I wish more people felt like that.

Good list, bmonk!

@LuvH8, once you know where your faults lie, then you can begin to do something about them. Hence the old saying, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

About the list: I shamelessly cribbed half of it from you, DewSolo, and added a few other ideas from monastic tradition. The last one was the hardest to find a name or word for, and I still think it’s not quite right.

bmonk ~ I have decided it is a pain to decorate and then take down the holiday decorations. (I am almost done putting away the Christmas stuff) Is that a step in the right direction?

@LuvH8, if you perfect your procrastination, you will leave them up year round–and save both taking them down and putting them back up!

Yeah, I could just add a few Halloween and Easter decorations. Oh, wait I had those up for Christmas last year.

Oh, is avoiding things and life a un-spiritual gift?

bmonk, how about ‘self-centeredness’ for #7 That’s not quite right either.

Maybe Self Importance?

@DewSolo, no, classically it’s idolatry: putting whatever it is ahead of God, trusting it more, maybe keeping it in mind, “just in case” God fails. But we don’t seem to have a good name for it that I can find.

‘Course, if you are going to change it to something else, that would solve the problem too….

So I guess this means no more making paper snowflakes and putting them in the windows in tribute to the snow god? Oh well, I don’t think it works anyway. We rarely get enough snow to do anything fun.

Luv - We did the paper snowflake thing, but never heard about doing it in “tribute to the snow god.” It was more of a science/art project. How they all had 6 symmetrical sections, but each one is unique (assuming the artists didn’t use a pattern) just like the ones God made.

Rmom, I made up the snow god and made the snow flakes by folding the paper to get six sides then cutting out shapes. I wonder if it is worse giving tribute and praying to a god you made up in your head.

LuvH8, I’m laughing, imagining your home lit up with Christmas lights and a wreath or two; red, lacy hearts; Easter eggs and a bunny; skeletons and jack-o-lanterns, all amid hand-cut snowflakes…

I think lots of people pray and offer tribute or worship to a made-up god. It’s really only a problem if you don’t move on to a real God when he appears…

Really? Not too far from the truth sometimes. Did you know that gravity eventually makes those fake spider webs sag? This is why I use real spider webs.

How come it is more difficult to think about God when it is hard to think, or you have the sad, or the happy, or…… I think I think about Him most when I am driving. Which is both good and bad. My not getting in wrecks is sort of a miracle.

I kind of do that to a lot of things. I will try to learn or do something or whatever and then all the sudden I just stop.

Grudge holding is exactly NOT what Jesus would do! And it is rampant in our conservative churches.

C. A - It is also strong in liberal churches - ref Rev. wright.

Yes–as a favorite religion prof once liked to say, “Christians have a remarkable dexterity for missing the point.” What is so hard to learn about forgiveness and love? About not counting the cost but choosing to be vulnerable, as Jesus chose to be vulnerable?