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My brother always has some sentence in our conversations that gets me thinking (or maybe its the whole conversation)!

The other day the line was – “Love came first, then holiness.”

The statement was in relation to what we perceive of God.  How we look at God’s attributes.  Where we place our own emphasis in relation to modelling God.

My religion states that I should be holy as God is holy (this is a God Statement).  Completely other than anything around me.  Only striving to be what God is.

Not that I am then God.  God is God and I am not.

The question then points to a state of being that is reflective.  We see images and settings in which holiness is displayed.  We are asked to reflect on those instances and to expect that a principled life will derive from them.  In some instances, the word of God becomes the rule of God in very plain language.  In other instances, the actions of God become the ground from which we derive our rules.

BUT . . . the big interrupter word in life.

If holiness is reflective, what is it reflecting?

Which brings me to the statement Jesus made – “Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”.  This is a statement of communion and communication.  Prior to statements of holiness and laws of direction and decision comes LOVE. 

Oops, I forgot to talk about the Trinity, and the joy of contact, and fulfilment in passion for others, and that great Latin phrase “et. al.” (“and all the rest” that goes along with the word LOVE).

I guess that’s for another day.

I never really understood grammar until I was into my fourth language.

Not that I am fluent in any of the languages (some even wonder about my Englishing abilities).

A noun is a thing – more than an action.  You can attach words to a noun to describe the word further.  And you can string nouns together with little words that help you know if one word is attached to another word, or if you are comparing things.  And you add little squiggles to help you know if you need to pause, or continue with caution in your reading.

Now then, there is the verb.  An action word that derives from other words.  Sometimes a verb is just a word that stands by itself.

In strict adherence to grammar rules, the grammarian becomes agitated over crossing lines that have stood the test of time.  Often this refers to nouns becoming verbs.

Or more rightly, proper nouns (what we might call trademark words or phrases) becoming verbs.

All that to say, I’m still trying to figure out what “COVIDING” means.  I get the noun – we have pictures of COVID19 and scientific descriptions.  We sort of know what the noun is.

But Coviding?  Is that related to mental health issues?  Or perhaps systemic racism?  Does this verb conjure up climate change?  Are we talking about health regulations?  Maybe this is about survival food preparations in the midst of quarantine?

Seems to me that when you are Coviding, there is very little to do with a virus and or the mutated state of that virus.  Rather, I sense we are talking about the effect and not the noun.

I can live with that – I would just like someone to define what we are talking about!

Today is mask day – along with tomorrow and the next day . . .

Readjusting to an unknown tomorrow transplants me back to the saying:

Tomorrow has it’s fill of evil (and viruses).  Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.  But seek first (every day) the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (life giving sustenance) shall be added to you.

Imagine memorizing those thoughts decades ago, when I was just a teen trying to figure out my life.  And now I’m retired and the relevance is as great as ever. 

Continuing on with A.B. Simpson (Record of Christian Work, Vol. 40 – 1921).

“The last thing in Paul’s watchword was work:  Not “I dream,” “I purpose,” or even “I will do,” but “I do.”  Paul gave no countenance to that abuse of God’s rich grace which encourages easy indolence and the kind of rest that does nothing because God will do all.”  (p. 625)

“All Christian unity depends upon oneness with the Lord.  The secret of Christian union is not platforms, creeds, or even cooperative work, but it is one life, one heart, one spirit, in the fellowship and love of Jesus Christ.”  (p. 605)

“All the victories of God’s Spirit and providence begin at the altar of believing prayer.  Let us store the heavens with prayer.  It always come back, and the longer it waits the larger the accumulation and the overflow.  You have no conception of the strength and satisfaction, as well as wide and lasting usefulness, which the ministry of prayer will add to the humblest Christian life.” (May 8, 1921 in section on Thoughts for the Day)