Hi there,
This week Charlotte is gearing up for a visit from Hurricane Ian. We usually get rain — and sometimes just clouds — from hurricanes that come up the coast. However, there is a good amount of generational memory of Hurricane Hugo, the storm in 1989 that took a sharp turn inland at Charleston, SC, and made a direct hit on Charlotte five hours later. People of my generation remember it well; a few of my friends know of someone who was killed. At one point, the power company reported that 98% of their customers in the Charlotte area did not have power.
Anyway, we do not expect much beyond soaking rain this weekend, but there’s always some level of uncertainty. We will stock up on groceries as per usual, and we’ll be ready to siphon off the pool if needed. Stay dry and safe, everyone!
The Part Where There’s an Essay:
A few years ago I heard a teacher use an illustration that has stuck with me since. She was comparing the teaching of law alone, compared the teaching of the gospel. She said at the end, “I don’t want the people who hear me to be leaving with more bricks in their backpack.”
She was painting a picture of the ways that people already enter into Chrisitan teaching burdened; they come with shame, with fear, with hangups from bad things they’ve been taught or misunderstandings. Maybe they are afraid of being rejected by God or by His people, even though they are Christians themselves.
It’s convicting to me to think of the ways I might be burdening someone in this manner. It’s especially burdening as a parent:
We put bricks in children’s backpacks when we teach them to obey without also reminding them that full obedience was already obtained on their behalf. (Romans 5:18-19)
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
We put bricks in children’s backpacks when we sigh and suggest they’re “just like” so-and-so and really they ought to try to be someone else. (Psalm 139:14-16)
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
We put bricks in children’s backpacks when we don’t give the benefit of the doubt. (I Corinthians 13:7)
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
We put bricks in our own backpacks when we expect children to be Jesus rather than human beings who stumble, fear, sin, and require help. (I Thessalonians 5:14)
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
We put bricks in children’s backpacks when we act like we don’t stumble, fear, sin, and require help. (1 John 1:10)
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We put bricks in children’s backpacks when we cultivate environments that engender fear instead of welcome repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Imagine coming to a place expecting relief and instead leaving with more weight to bear. May we be those who lighten the load -- who offer true delight and reassurance found in the truly Good News.
For the Anglophiles
If you’re a fan of British humor, you might want to try out W1A, a mockumentary of life at the BBC. It pokes fun at office phenomena like open offices, social media gurus, creative seating, and constant meetings. It also features David Tennant as the narrator, saying nonsensical things like “New Broadcasting House is virtually empty except for those people that are still there.”
It’s laugh-out-loud funny. Contains language. You’ll find it streaming on Amazon.
Reads & Listens of the Week
Chris Martin, the author of Terms of Service, asks us Are You Afraid of This Question? “I am more concerned about how our lust for conflict in neighborhood Facebook groups or local news comment sections is making us more angry, hateful people than I am about how Facebook may use those posts to sell us lawnmowers or shoes.”
Along the same lines, Samuel D. James wants to tell you about Why Everything Feels Boring, Everybody Seems Mad, and You Were Happier 20 Years Ago.
The Trinity Forum has kicked off its new season, specially dedicated to “Reading and the Common Good.” Last week’s episode is called “Reading for a More Tranquil Mind.”
Fall is fully upon us now, which means it’s time for me to listen to Patty Griffin. One of my favorites of hers is about Mary, the mother of Jesus. I recently heard an interview where she said the song is also inspired by her grandmother.
Here’s a live version where she’s accompanied by Natalie Maines of The Chicks. The video quality is not the greatest, but I’m partial to the harmonies:
To the degree that we live with an abiding sense of His love for us in Christ, to that degree will we love God with all our heart and soul and mind.
― Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace
So good!! What a helpful imagery for discipling our little ones at home. Thank you for this, Kelly. Very helpful!