Yesterday I finished my first book of the year, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs. For last week’s Sunday Salon, I shared reflections from my reading journal on the book. This week, I do the same. These are from my journal from yesterday and Friday.
Because this people draw near with their mouths
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote.Isaiah 29:13
Right before the quotes from this Scripture, Jacobs writes
I’m still praying several times a day but when I do, I’m saying the words with as much feeling as I give to a Taco Bell drive-through order.
That, in turn, reminds him of the verse in Isaiah.
He discusses being in a deep valley. Yesterday I learned of a company for which I once worked that is closing several newspapers near where I worked, including the ones for which I worked. For some reason, it sent me into a depression for a long time yesterday. I go through the motions at Mass, but where is my heart? In the winter doldrums.
Finally Moses finished writing the words of all these teachings in a book.
Deuteronomy 31:24
After this verse, Jacobs compares Wikipedia and the Bible in that each has several authors, and editors, at least according to one view. If it is true, it does not invalidate my faith. I don’t think so.
At one point, he writes:
I’m too attached to the idea that everything has untidy origins.
The challenge is finding meaning, guidance and sacredness in the Bible, even if I don’t believe that God sat behind his oak desk in heaven and dictated the words verbatim to a bunch of flawless secretaries. Or maybe the fundamentalists are right, and this is impossible.
I do not believe it is impossible. I believe God works through people, even those who may not believe as I do, for example, A.J. Jacobs. He is editorializing himself on the Bible and I find nothing wrong with that.
The challenge is always finding meaning, guidance and sacredness in life even if one doesn’t believe in God in the way everyone else believes. Who are we to put God in a box?
_________________________
Give thanks in all circumstances…
I Thessalonians 5:18
After this verse, Jacobs explains how he is being an extremist with gratefulness and that he can’t stop.
He admits:
It’s an odd way to live, but also kind of great and powerful. I’ve never been so aware of the thousands of little good things, the thousands of things that go right every day.
Sometimes my thank yous are directed at no one in particular. It’s more of an appreciation than a thanks. A reminder to myself: “Pay attention, pal. Savor this moment.” But other times when I’m in a believing phase, my thanks have an addressee. I’m thanking God or the universal laws of nature — I’m not sure which it gives the act of thanking more weight.
I agree with Jacobs in this regard. Whatever our belief system, we should be thankful, even if to remind ourselves to pay attention and savor this moment.
Too often we go through life grumbling when we should be, or could be, looking at the bright side of life. Not that I believe we should ignore the tragedies of the world or stick our heads in the sands, but I am reminded of a fellow blogger’s advice: Worry less, laugh more.
