How Is My Spiritual Life Like Knitting?

I really enjoyed Ben Stein's documentary released a couple of years ago - Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Out of the entire movie, there was one 30 second clip that has stuck in my memory. One part of an interview with PZ Myers, whose words I will never forget. You can see the clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHiZjOH1NmQ I've transcribed his statement below.

"Religion...gives some people comfort, and we don't want to take it away from them. It's like knitting. People like to knit. We're not going to take their knitting needles away; we're not going to take away their churches. But what we have to do is get it to a place where religion is treated at the level it should be treated. That is, something fun that people get together and do on the weekend and really doesn't affect their life as much as it has been so far."

Every time I hear that quote, I feel torn between anger and tears. Anger that something as precious as my relationship with a living God could be considered something that should be kept to the weekend and not allowed to affect my life, and sadness at the realization that this is how many people view religion - something fun to do on the weekend, but which has no bearing on how they live the rest of the week.

What do you think God thinks of this attitude? He is the Almighty, Holy Creator of the Universe gave us the precious gift of His Son - who sacrificed Himself on the cross - to bear the penalty of our sin - so that we could live with Him forever. And we have taken that sacrifice and effectively spit on it, stomped on it, and ground it into the dust. He offers us intimacy with Him, resulting in immeasurable comfort, peace, and joy. The response to this offer? The very ones Christ died for hold His gift at arm's length. It's something fun to do on the weekend - kind of like knitting, but we wouldn't want to get carried away and let it affect our lives.

As shocking as I found Myers' statement to be, even more shocking was the realization that I came to this afternoon. I have been guilty of treating my faith exactly as he describes - as a hobby. Something to do on the weekends. True, I have always felt that my faith MUST affect my life - but only when convenient. As soon as my schedule starts to fill up with work and family responsibilities, I set my relationship with God aside for the moment to make room - as if it were of lesser importance than the other areas of my life.

I am overwhelmed with grief at the thought that I have taken this relationship offered to me by the Almighty God and carelessly tossed it on the shelf with my needlepoint, my quilting, my gardening supplies, my scrapbooking, and yes, my knitting needles - as if it were just one more hobby to be picked up and discarded at will.

God forgive me.

New Year Reflections

The year 2009 was not a particularly kind one to our family. In the past year, we or those close to us have experienced illness, death, layoffs, depression, anxiety, moves, separation from loved ones, financial crises, and more. The bottom line for 2009 was stress. The question of the year became "What next?", and near the end "How much more can we take?"

I wish I could say that I handled the trials of 2009 with faith and confidence that comes from our faith in Christ. Unfortunately, I sometimes lost sight of Him. However, I can say with complete confidence - He was always there. If there is anything positive that I can take from the year 2009, it is the complete assurance that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

The last year forced me to face some of my largest faults and failings, and as painful as the consequences of those failings were - I always knew that I was forgiven, and that Christ was still there - even when I couldn't forgive myself. Even in the midst of the worst trials our family has ever faced, we witnessed example after example of God's care and protection.

I wish I could see what 2010 will bring. I keep telling myself that it can't help but be a better year than 2009. However, I know that it is quite possible that we could see even more challenging times ahead than what we have just traversed. Whatever comes - whether good or bad - I am resolved that my "lifeline" for 2010 will be:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9