Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Order

Most mornings I wake up within the exact same ten minutes. Even on the weekends, I find it difficult to sleep beyond that ten minute time frame. How’s that for order of circadian rhythm?

All this order talk made me think about other things that run with such impeccable order and precision, like the ocean with its lulling waves rolling on shore one after the other.

I also thought of the human body and how intricately scabs heal over and how systematically the body operates internally without any medical or scientific help. Our immune systems and digestive systems are examples of two well-oiled machines within us.

But then of course, I thought of my children waking me, breaking that circadian rhythm. And tsunami’s in the ocean crashing on land, wreaking havoc among the roiling and angry waves. Finally, my mind landed on cancer and pancreatitis, disorder to the body, affecting three of my family members currently. Was it supposed to be like this?

I’m going to get a little philosophical on you now, so if you don’t feel like entertaining thoughts like these, hop on over and get creative in my String a Story Together Contest. And if you feel like being philosophical, think on this one and then go be creative in the contest.
~~~That is the question of the hour though, was it supposed to be like this? With the exception of my children waking me (that one was just for fun), was the earth supposed to have tsunami’s? And people, cancer? Order turned to chaos. Off the top of my head I can’t quote anything or provide a Biblical answer for this. I have my suspicions, but if you have a strong opinion and even better, if you find something in Scripture that discusses this, I’d love to know.

When did order get whacked and was that always in the cards for earth and for the human body? Or did biting into that one apple throw the whole world off course?

Sometimes I feel like the only one with young children who thinks about such things. Prove me wrong.


*photos by flickr

26 comments:

  1. Order dissipated and chaos became the tragic result when sin entered the world. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree.

    In spite of the turmoil that we see on almost every hand, God still has done remarkable things to recoincile our fallen nature.

    The scripture in Peter comes to mind, "After you have suffered a little while He will strengthen, perfect, and establish you."

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  2. Wendy, think on this and then tell me what you think:

    For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (Romans 8:18-22 NKJV)

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  3. I want to thank you for the insight already provided. Tamika, I'm thinking on that word...reconciliation. Anne, I knew you'd bring some poignant scripture to point. It fits perfectly into the gaping open hole of my question. Sometimes I crave to have your spiritual dust on me, a physical mark of all you've taught me! Praise God for your responses and for the liberty I have to ask such things.

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  4. Deep thoughts, Wendy. I don't have any words of wisdom on this. You've given me something to think about, though.

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  5. "spiritual dust" ? LOL! How you make me smile. That's the result of about 24 years obsessive Bible reading--and a heart to use it for His glory. :D

    I clicked on your site to follow-up the comment, and just couldn't help but dance through "Send Me on My Way" once again. It's a joyful prayer for me.

    Lord, send me where You'd have me go today, say what You'd have me say, be what You'd have me be. Send me on my way, Lord.

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  6. I've thought a lot about this very thing, Wendy. I hate to see people suffering, from natural disasters or physical ones. I do believe that it all began in the garden, and have often wondered why God put that darn tree in the middle of it to begin with. I'm pretty sure it's all about free will, but I still have questions. So, that doesn't really help does it? I'll be reading more comments from this post and gleaning myself, I suppose. :)

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  7. I think about this sometimes too. Has cancer been around since the beginning or has it developed as a result of men making poor choices since? I don't know. I do know that God loves us, even though there are terrible things in the world.

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  8. Whether tsunamis, cancer and any other disorder were supposed to happen, I can't answer. But to somehow search for meaning in them, to try as we might to find some good, some positive change, some wisdom, from them seems to give us strength, in understanding, and in insight in how we view the world around us.

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  9. Wendy, my beliefs are pretty much the same... it all began with Sin. I also believe that some diseases & heartache stem from generational curses, such as depression, poverty, cancer, heart disease, etc. It's all in the blood. But my faith also teaches me that with the Son of God, those curses can be broken by pleading for HIS blood! I'm calling it a blood transfusion. If by chance they're not broken, then it is a test of Faith, like the story of Job.

    I think at one point or another we tend to have these questions, especially during a trying time, but we are encouraged by these words:

    "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new!” ...
    Rev 21:1-5 NIV

    Hope this helps! Lovely post.

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  10. I agree with most of the other answers! If not for that pesky thing called sin, we'd have a perfect world!

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  11. Yes, I think about it, too. But I do believe when sin entered the world that's when things changed and suffering became known.

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  12. Yup--it's all supposed to play out this way. But we as Christians win in the end:)

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  13. Beautifully written!

    I'll keep mine simple. God is surprised by nothing. What is chaotic to us is already known by Him. Many times the chaos in my life scoots me closer to God and that's where I find order.

    (Thanks for visiting me! I'm glad to "meet" you.)

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  14. Oh Wendy, I'm sorry you're dealing with family illness. I just finished reading Janet Tronstad's "A Dropped Stitches Wedding," the last in a series which featured four young women who bonded during cancer treatments. The book brought so many emotions in me. It's hard to understand or tolerate deadly illness in anyone we love. Good thing God's there to keep us together.

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  15. Wendy,I have no answers for such deep questions but I can offer a sympathetic spirit.

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  16. Oh, Wendy. I've been thankful for your post today and the comments left by others. I am sorry for the illness in your family. I know how that feels. I'm dealing with a similar illness that you mention above with one of my close family members.

    Also, one of my dear friends' family is from American Samoa, so I've actually seen pictures and emails of what devastation and heartbreak the tsunami can cause.

    I've just said a prayer for God's comforting hand to be placed on your heart.

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  17. I've been wanting to get back here all day and didn't get time until now.

    Many of us write fiction. We're taught about the craft of POV and character development and tension. Without tension, the story is flat. Who wants to read about everything being easy and happy? We want to see characters overcome their antagonists--people and situations which corner them, drive them to their knees, threaten to overwhelm. We hold our breaths as a story comes to its defining moment, and the protagonist turns victor. The good author paints a story that is satisfying not because it has a happy ending, but because it has a victorious ending after conflict.

    The Author of our faith has set us up. :D He created us with a free will, so that our love would be freely given, and not an automated response which would have failed to affirm its object. He could have written a story where all was well and benign and utterly without tension and victory. He did not. He wrote a story filled with pain and tension.

    It is the passionate love story of a mighty Prince Who painstakingly creates a magnificent home for the love of His life. He patiently woos His beloved for many years, and finally betroths her to Himself by defeating with His shed blood the evil dragon who has long tormented her. But now she must prove her love by remaining faithful to her trust: preserve the light entrusted to her while waiting patiently in the land of darkness. The story climaxes with the resurrected Regent become majestic King arriving on a white horse to carry His bride off to the place where the two delight in their union and live happily eternal after.

    For all the pain, I'll take the story with the satisfying ending--the story which has a few hours of pain but an eternity to glory in victory.

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  18. I agree with everyone else about sin entering the world and almost forever changing things. But not really forever, because we have a wonderful forever to look forward to, right? Great questions. I'm glad Anne pulled up that verse.

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  19. I definitely think it all came about at the Fall. So many things changed then... sometimes it's mind boggling to think of what the world would have been like.

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  20. First I want to write that I have no idea why I spelled tsunamis, tsunami's. It bugs me, but I also don't feel like publishing a new post. There, that's out.

    Susan, I love that you commented anyway. I appreciate your coming here like you do, Susan.

    Anne, Francis Chan also mentions the obsessed Christian in Crazy Love and as a huge, fat compliment...that is you. I'm with you on that prayer. Send me on my way, too, Lord.

    Beth, I knew you'd represent. Thanks for doing so and it's a sticky one, isn't it? The tree, the apple, the bite...the bite that remains.

    Donna, I think Anne needs someone to follow her around saying that or at the very least everyone that follows this blog to click over and gain wisdom from her wisdom...

    Natalie, I believe that is the most pure thought: God's love and it is sustaining on all accounts.

    Joanne, I so often search for wisdom, learning in all of my insight some things aren't meant to be known by me. I confess, it can be frustrating.

    Ellie, I don't know about the post being lovely, but it certainly felt raw and I thank you for pointing me to a verse that got me to cry with gratitude. I await heaven.

    Jody, it is pesky, isn't it? And prevalent. I battle with it hourly, minute by minute sometimes.

    Jennifer, thanks for admitting you think some of this heavy too. I liked the simplicity of your comment.

    Terri, your Yup had me laughing. And winning in this case, is everything.

    Christina, I appreciated your comment and liked the reminder that God is surprised by nothing. My post tomorrow might make you smile.

    Jill, I think I'd like that book. I like people who help each other through tragedy. Thanks for your kindness. I could almost hear you saying those words!

    Ava, I'll take a sympathetic spirit any time! THANK YOU.

    Heather, your prayers are realized. I've felt support all day and I have to be honest, I didn't mean for this post to be a sad post, but one of questioning. I guess questions can be sad sometimes.

    Anne, I'll take that same story, live by it, hope to live my life in a way that brings people to know that STORY. What a truth-teller you are. Praise God for you! Praise God for you!

    (*if you don't follow Anne's blog yet, please check it out. It inspires me daily with godly wisdom)

    Jessica, here's to the wonderful forever...as God whisper to me, "Not yet."

    Kristen, it is mind boggling and it wouldn't be All in a Day's Thought if I neglected to write about even those mind boggling things.

    Once again, I'm floored. Each of you have added to my day. Your words filled my brain and sentiments, my heart. I am not alone in my questioning. In fact, my questions all have one answer--THE STORY that Anne explained. I'm not afraid to ask questions because of this. Knowing the answer makes me all the more free to ask and know God is at the end of every single question.

    I'm going to learn to spell tsunami w/out the 's. :D

    And I shall sleep dreaming of heaven, the white horse and of all things being new and radiant in His glory.

    And you, I hope you sleep free and alive and thankful, as I too, am thankful.

    Night.
    ~ Wendy

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  21. I think that God created the universe, and order was the law, but because we are human and the world isn't perfect, we (it) deviates from the law. But that's why we need Christ. What would be the point of Christ if everything continued like clockwork?

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  22. HI Wendy .. thank you for very much for sharing my pain.. in this world which contains people who can mock and joke with you but no one comes forward to take you out from the marsh of the black emotions. you have proved that earth is still a better place to live..

    The order you've talked about is significant.. something has to give you a command.. thats why I guess.. Moses, Jesus and Muhammad came.. because people wore the robes of freedom and lived an irresponsible life.. if God's Glimpse wasn't recognize then.. the world would have perished long before..

    love Naqvee..
    faheimgul.blogspot.com

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  23. Wendy -

    Your post reminded me of my thoughts earlier tonight.

    I stood in our church's fellowship hall watching my daughter and a few other young children run around and scream in their high-pitched little voices, having the time of their lives just running and screaming.

    I stood there in my post-Fall state, burdened with adult concerns, and watched them in their pre-Fall state, burdened with nothing.

    Our burdens will one day enable us to appreciate what it means to have no burdens.

    I await that day with longing.

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  24. Such an interesting question. Why do bad things happen to good people? Because this is not the perfect world. In some cases, what we don't see is God's organization. For instance, grasshoppers can be a plague to farmers. But scientists have discovered the grasshopper population follows a cycle, reaching a peak every seven to ten years. I can't tell you why, but the fact that there is a cycle indicates some type of organization.

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  25. I second Anne L.B.'s comment. Romans 8 was the very first thing i thought of. Creation is groaning to be "set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." There will be a day when our broken world is redeemed with a new heaven & a new earth, no sin, no illness, no brokeness, exactly the way the world was created to be.

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