[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Monday, August 11, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and greetings to my fellow saints of the Most High God, no matter where in this world you reside.  I hope that you are all doing well, no matter what the situation, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

Here's a somewhat creatively humorous article by Jeanne Zornes, writing from Washington State.  Her article is entitled "Arthritically Correct Hymns" and is rendered as follows:

Some of the old standby (pun intended) hymns just aren't what they used to be for me.  I blame a once-broken ankle that healed into a weather prediction station, and unsought visits from a bent-over friend, Arthur-ritis.  When the order of worship has more "ups" than "downs," it's not long before I want to position my posterior in the pew.

I do so with great guilt, no thanks to the tradition of hymns built off stalwart verses like "Stand firm" (2 Thess. 2:15).  For those of us with lesser endurance who "sit firm," I propose some arthritically correct hymns:

1.  "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Sit and Cast a Wishful Eye." Outdoor worship? Just give me a lawn chair and warm blanket.

2.  "Sit Down, Sit Down for Jesus." There might be another sit-downer who needs a friend.

3.  "I Sit Amazed In the Presence." That sure fits the morning devotional time--good, quiet, seat-in-chair-with-Bible moments.

4.  "On Christ the Solid Rock I Sit." It worked for the house built on a rock.  The one on sand should have had flood insurance.

5.  "Sitting On the Promises." That's better than pacing around and wringing your hands in worry.

6.  "Lord, Lift Me Up and Let Me Sit." Though I may not see the words on the overhead through the six-foot-four, 280-pound guy in front, I can still feel spiritually lifted.

7.  "Sit Down and Bless the Lord." We do this anyway before passing the meat and veggies.

To be honest, the "arthritically correct" hymns just don't sound right.  But I'll be happy to belt out the originals, as long as I have permission to eventually obey gravity's pull on my aging body.

And there you have Sister Jeanne's article which I trust brought you a chuckle or two.  Let me state, before anyone here thinks that I'm insensitive to those of you who have or are still suffering from arthritis, that, although I have yet to experience it, I totally realize the discomfort you go through every day of the year since you first had this condition, and I pray that, in some way or another, that God will relieve you of this malady, even if only for a brief period of time.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought article for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul