Have you ever learned of something that simply turns you completely around, that seems to be impossible to fully understand or believe?  With what is happening in the world that God made, I must confess to you that this story, told here in this ancient of all books, has reminded me just how small and selfish we are.  We want knowledge but don’t always love enough to share it as we should.

Is today’s story about the things we hear happening in the city of Baltimore this day a result of “The Snake in the Grass” lesson we have read in Genesis 3?  As I write this meditation of what has come to be known as “The Original Sin” story in the Bible, for some reason I keep coming to a comparison.  I can’t seem to get beyond the thought that what is occurring in that city at this time in human history is the result of humankind’s failure to obey God our Creator.

There really isn’t any other explanation that can make sense, especially in this day of enlightenment.  Failure to turn to God as the way of life will always lead to such evil destruction and death.  For me “The Snake in the Grass” is another expression of humankind’s’ failure to live with God’s Way as our guide.  What is happening with such a magnitude of evil in Baltimore reflects our inability to obey what has been given to us by the One who made us.  I am convinced that the reason we have such pain and suffering in this beautiful world called earth is because we do not live as God has made us to live.

The two commandments of love of God and love of neighbor are certainly not the same, but they cannot be separated either!  In Matthew 22 we can read when Jesus was asked,”Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?”  Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord our God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: you must love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mt. 22. 37-39).

This is what our world needs; this is what Baltimore needs, if we desire to live not only in God’s Garden but more, in God’s World.  May this be the Truth of Life for all of us to live and share with all people everywhere.

Prayer

Lord God forgive us for our selfish unloving ways, we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.