Why Sandals and a Stick

Have you ever argued with God?  I'm talking about a serious, frustrated, and sometimes angry, what-are-you-thinking-God kind of diatribe?  Just as an example:

"What am I doing here?  DO you have a purpose for my life? Just WHAT am I supposed to be doing here?  WHY won't you just let me in on this great and powerful secret? You're GOD and I'm just - well, ME!  So, listen to me God - I could use a little help here, OK?"

Yes, I could use a little help!

Some people say that you shouldn't talk this way.  God made the entire universe.  He made ME!  It's considered blasphemous, or at the very least, disrespectfully irreverent.  But, some say the name "Israel" was given to Jacob because he wrestled with God.  (Wikipedia reference)

I believe God can handle our frustration even when we are less than appreciative while taking things out on Him directly.  I think He likes honesty, if not the words and tonality. As our Creator, he made us so I have to figure that he understands us pretty well.  Yes, I know that you might be thinking that my belief conveniently justifies my actions.  Maybe. But I rely on circular logic which says I'm right. Yes?

So, I was talking with a good friend one day. It wasn't a good day and it usually helps to talk with this guy.  We seem to have a good deal of commonality between us although we've yet to meet. I said one thing, he said another and we discussed life in general with that more than familiar negative slant. Sometimes it's my job to encourage, empathize, and educate.  On this particular day, it was his obligation.  (I think he gets stuck with this half of the friendship all too often, lately.  My apologies, sir!)

We talk about the Bible.  We talk about Jesus and how we should interpret life here on earth.  He said something about how we should be willing to follow Jesus in exactly the same way as was asked of the apostles.  I didn't accept his suggestion very well.  With sarcasm and wit (if I say so myself) I said, "How can GOD not realize that things are different now?  Things have CHANGED!  Our modern life consists of things like house payments, car payments, insurance, gasoline, and all kinds of stuff that cost a fortune!  So think about it.  It was pretty easy for those guys 2,000 years ago when all they had to do was put on sandals and carry a stick!"

Dreamstime.com Photo

We've laughed about this comment for a while now and, interestingly enough, a lot of good conversation has intrigued us ever since!  This blog is a result of one of those conversations and I have a feeling that things will evolve in strange directions from here.

One last comment.  The day after our first "sandals" conversation, I heard from Florida again.  This time the conversation was dead serious.  It seems that during evening prayers, he had been thinking about how things have changed since the days of sandals and sticks - and he heard quite clearly,

"I haven't".