A short sermon by Rob Bell (25 Feb 2013)

"how about a short sermon?

“this is the day that God has made.” [psalm 118]

really-this day? the one with wars and poverty and divorce and addiction and betrayal? this one?

yes, this one.

this one because there’s a difference between analysis and awareness.

analysis pulls things apart, looks for cracks in logic, points out the inconsistencies.

analysis needs things to make sense.

there’s nothing wrong with analysis, of course, it’s often vital to our survival and thriving. but if we stay there, in that mode and that mode only, we can easily find ourselves stepping back with arms folded, pointing out all that’s wrong with this day and all the ways it falls short and all of the evidence for why this particular day doesn’t appear to be the kind of day that God would make-all while this day passes us by.

(this is very easy to do, by the way. it’s why cynicism is so popular. it’s easy.)

but in this psalm-the one that says that this is the day that God has made- this psalm isn’t first and foremost about analysis, it’s about awareness.

and the difference is massive.

awareness doesn’t ignore or gloss over the very real questions and pains of this day, it transcends all of that analysis with the very straight forward acknowledgement that whatever this day is, it’s a gift to be embraced and engaged and maybe even enjoyed.

this day maybe be rough and bloody and heartbreaking but it is here and it is now and it is bursting with untold potential and possibility and our response to it is of utmost, urgent importance.

we may, it’s important to note, not get another one. my friend’s brother was recently killed in a car accident, another friend’s father just died, and the mother of another goes in for another round of chemo this week. you know exactly what i’m talking about-whatever this is, we’re all acutely aware that is very, very fragile.

so yes, this is the day."

- Rob Bell 

I find Rob Bell's short sermon powerful, insightful and deep. It is true that our analysis of things that go wrong and do not live up to our ideals, or things that remind us of pains, suffering, injustice, greed and struggles in the world, can overwhelm us and cause us to be jaded or cynical about humanity, about God, about life, and therefore it is hard to rejoice and be glad in the day that God has made, let alone be glad at all. I have been there before, such as when I read the newspaper yesterday about how establishments wanted to paint a one-sided view of GM (genetically modified) salmon and other GM foods to sway public opinion to accept GM food, while mainly glossing over the fact that such food can harm human health and the environment. And that is just one example of greed and injustice among many others in the world. 

But as Rob Bell pointed out, our awareness frees us from being overwhelmed by our analysis of all the pains and problems as it reminds us that in spite of and in the midst of all these negative things, we can still appreciate - embrace, engage and even enjoy - the gift of the day because not only the here and the now is bursting with potential and possibilities, the day is also fragile, so we can be glad at least for the miracle of being alive. This is a great reminder for me to focus on being in the present moment and live life with awareness and mindfulness, so as to find peace and stability even as I navigate a world that is filled with pains and sufferings but also with hope and beauty.