June 2011 – The Thinking Christian Woman

Be the cursed brat!

righteous, spiritual warfare 1 Response »

Jun 302011

Illustration from 1900 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Apologies if you’re a Wicked (the musical) fan who sees Elphaba (aka Wicked Witch of the West) as a misunderstood victim, but there’s a wonderful line in the Wizard of Oz, right after Dorothy throws a bucket of water to douse the fire on Straw Man’s arm, accidentally soaking WWW.

The dissolving green meanie screeches,

“You cursed brat!

Look what you’ve done! I’m melting! melting! Oh, what a world! What a world!

Who would have thought a good little girl like you

could destroy my beautiful wickedness!”

A Thinking Christian Woman never aspires to be a cursed brat of course. In fact, a wise balancing truth advises, “if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men,” (Romans 12:18, see also Hebrews 12:14). Even so, might there be some redeeming value if the spiritually wicked consider me a cursed brat?

In many passages, God characterizes attitudes, values, words and actions as either “righteous,” or “wicked.” Those words mean more than “good” and “bad.” Here’s a simple summary of the subtleties:

Righteous – being in a right relationship with God, people, or any other created thing

Wicked – being in a twisted relationship with God, people, or any other created thing

Have you ever been rejected? It usually hurts for sure, but if someone who is out of right relationship, rejects us and sees us as an enemy, can that actually be a good thing in some ways? After all, we are, in part, defined by those who exclude us and seek to eliminate us from opportunities, relationships and power.

Jesus talked about a kind of decluttering, or pruning, that gardener God does in a life to make it more productive. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2)

What if rejection and exclusion are rebukes of life that can sever us from unproductive attachments and help steer us in new and more fruitful directions?

It’s not pleasant perhaps, but being what some might consider a “cursed brat” at the right time, in the right way, and for the right reason (such as to destroy wickedness), is something the Thinking Christian Woman might lovingly choose to confidently embrace.

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Oh rats!

compassion, justice, mercy 2 Responses »

Jun 212011

Do you like rats?

What a question! Of course many people keep rats as pets, and I understand they can be very sweet, but probably the majority of people have them solidly on their disfavored list.

My grandpa’s sister, Ida, was bitten on the lip by a rat when the Jones family was living in a sod house on the Nebraska prairie as homesteaders. One night Ida thought she was hugging her dolly in bed. Apparently wild rats don’t like to be hugged by little girls!

Back to the present, I’m currently on an active vector control campaign, using strategically placed Rat Zappers to patrol the deck near the bird feeder. Caught #26 last night (we’ve been at it for about a year). Southern California weather is idyllic, that’s a fact, but it attracts more than just tourists!

Imagine my surprise at finding a rat, apparently dead, in the laundry room Saturday morning, directly under my next footfall. A rat in the house! Oh, that is the absolute worst! On closer examination, it was not dead but clearly breathing and looking at me with fearful, plaintive brown eyes. I’ll spare you the actual image, knowing how distasteful even a picture of a rat might be to some. The little guy’s head was stuck between the washing machine and the threshold. I really thought that wild critters had better sense.

What to do? Put on thick leather gloves, took him by the body, and gently worked his head free. So there I was, holding a rat. Now what to do?!

Thought about just tossing him in the Rat Zapper and ending it quickly, but that seemed so proactively violent. No, that wouldn’t do.

So I put him in the flower bed and expected him to scamper off, but he just laid there. Stunned, exhausted, injured, I didn’t know. Asked several people for advice, including my wildlife knowledgeable brother, and finally decided if the rodent was still there after 2 hours, I would dispatch him mercifully.

At the appointed time of execution, I laid him out on the ground and raised the shovel. Oh those brown eyes and long whiskers! Twice I raised the shovel, but just couldn’t do it, so I put the shovel down and offered the condemned some water, which he drank and drank.

Put him back in the flower bed, covered him with leaves, and decided to let God and nature take it from there. After 4 hours I gave him more water. By the next day, there was no sign of the perp. I wish I’d marked his ear or something so I could recognize him if he ever ended up in the Zapper. I still hope he perishes, just not directly at my hand.

Practical justice dictated death for the trespasser. Compassionate mercy prevailed.

The Thinking Christian Woman can discern between justice and mercy, administering each, in its time, in love, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

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The polite thief

ethical choices, worldview Comments Off

Jun 082011

Four days before a month-long trip out of the country, a friend discovered he’d lost his wallet. After scrambling to assemble alternate id and arrange for alternate international payment methods, he went ahead with the trip.

Less than a week later, his homesitter discovered a 40 cents postage due notice in the mail, took it to the post office, and retrieved an envelope containing the wallet with everything intact except for hundreds of dollars in cash, and a note that said,

“THANKS I WAS BROKE.”

This social interaction challenges the Thinking Christian Woman with many ethical questions.

What moral code, worldview, and/or twists and torques of logic lead a person to conclude that the right thing to do is to keep the money and yet return the wallet and its other contents?
What is the proper response for someone who has been subjected to involuntary charity?
Is there such a thing as a criminal act of mercy?

Ancient wisdom writings say, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

What do you think?

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Taking Disney captive to Christ, and a Lawyerly look at the Good Book

A Lawyerly Look at the Good Book, Disney, law, Taking Disney Captive to Christ 6 Responses »

Jun 012011

The Thinking Christian Woman is excited to announce two new series that will appear in the next few months and continue intermittently.

Taking Disney Captive to Christ

2 Corinthians10:5 encourages us to be intellectual spiritual warriors “…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (NKJV)

In this series, we will look into all things Disney – from Tinker Bell to Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Philip, from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to Toy Story Midway Mania, and beyond! – to find hidden messages of faith and to transform and elevate Disney “magic” through the higher thoughts and values of God’s wisdom.

As an Annual Passholder in Southern California, I enjoy visiting the parks and looking for connections (or not) between Disney and the Judeo-Christian worldview. It will be fun to compare notes with all of you, including those of you who more regularly visit the Florida Disney parks.

A Lawyerly Look at the Good Book

Isaiah 33:22 says “The Lord is our Lawgiver…” and James 4:12 says “There is one Lawgiver…” (NKJV)

This series will focus on demystifying our rights and responsibilities under the law by discovering how common legal principles play out on the pages of the Lawgiver’s book!

This series will draw on experiences as an attorney in private, solo practice for 19 years as of this month, and as a volunteer judge (judge pro tem) in Small Claims Court for the past 13 years (oh the stories I could tell!).

Check back frequently, or choose to follow this blog by email, if these topics interest you!

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