Rock With A View

Yesterday, my husband, kids, in-laws, and I went hiking at one of our favorite places on earth, Mohonk Mountain House in the NY Catskills. It’s one of those places that you really have to see to believe, a pristine lake atop a mountain surrounded by scenic vistas, rock climbs, and miles of hiking trails.

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Tony, Bill and the ‘kids’ hiked the difficult path through the Labyrinth, Lemon Squeeze and the Crevice to reach Sky Top.

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My sister-in-law, Cathy, and I took the easier walking trail to the summit leaving us time to rest a bit along the cliff edge. We were, as always, enthralled with the view, especially when we saw a hawk below and realized we’d never seen a hawk in flight from above before.

Up on a pinnacle, we were given a tiny glimpse of what God sees all the time. From our normal vantage point, all we can see is the hawk’s underbelly. Our point of view is so limited, but God’s view from above is all-encompassing.

When we struggle to understand, it’s because we can only see what’s right around us. We are unable to see the bigger picture. When the ark finally rested on the mountains at Ararat, water still surrounded Noah and his loved ones. It was months before the water subsided and the mountaintops were visible, and weeks after that when Noah first sent out a raven, then a dove, to see if the water had receeded. Even after the dove returned with olive leaf proof, Noah waited. Even after he saw the dry surface of the ground with his own eyes, he waited. A month later, not just the surface, but the whole earth was dry, yet Noah waited. He waited to leave the ark until he heard from God.

When Tony & crew scrambled through the crevice, they couldn’t see the summit. At times, they couldn’t see where to take the next step. But they had a trail map to guide them. When we are ark-bound, unable to see beyond our immediate circumstances, it may seem that there is no hope, no sure footing to stand on. But with His Word as our guide, God’s promises are as sure a foundation as there is.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my 20160619_181912salvation, my stronghold. Ps. 18:2.

Mohonk’s gift shop sells a book, “A Rock With A View.” Surely, our Lord Himself is a Rock with a view.

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The hikers

 

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Skytop Tower

 

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View from the top of Skytop Tower

 

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Mountain laurel

 

Happy Father's Day, Pops!
Happy Father’s Day, Pops!

Entitlement – The Poison and The Antidote

Like so many others, this week I am reeling, feeling utter dismay and disgust over both a father’s letter to a judge and that judge’s lenient ruling for a young man convicted of a heinous crime. Both father and son showed complete indifference to the true victim in the scenario, excusing the son’s actions, blaming alcohol consumption instead of taking personal responsibility. The victim’s brilliant statement to the court appeared to be completely disregarded in the judge’s determination. In the aftermath, people are outraged. And rightly so. There’s a petition to have the judge removed. Good.

But that’s not what I want to address today.

This decision, despicable as it was, wasn’t determined in a day, or even in one court case. The father’s letter and the judge’s decision revealed a deep insidious decay in our culture today. It’s called “entitlement.”

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The definition of “entitlement” is:

  • the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

We see “entitlement” in all areas of life. Entitlement is a myopic worldview with an “all about me” mentality. Entitlement rips apart the fabric of civilized society. It’s more than just “looking out for #1.” A sense of entitlement is accompanied by emotions such as resentment, envy, anger, ingratitude, and disappointment. It leads to blaming others instead of taking responsibility for your own actions. It is as dangerous to the mind as rust is to metal or cancer is to the body.

In writing this, I don’t think that you, my dear reader, suffer from feelings of entitlement. But I think you see it around you, just like I do. My purpose in writing this is to point out that we have the power to counter the culture of entitlement. What we do or say can reduce or eliminate this poison in our families and friendships, our homes and workplaces, our churches and ministries.

If we each apply steps like these below, we can turn the tide on the sense of entitlement:

  1. Focus on countering the entitlement culture:
  • Seek out opportunities to be grateful. Be pro-active in searching for the blessings you already have.
  • Make changes, not excuses. We’re not perfect. When we mess up, let’s be honest, seek forgiveness, and change the offending behavior. Don’t seek to blame someone else for our actions.
  • Look for the heroes in tragedies. The victim in the story above keeps pictures of bicycles above her bed to remind her each night of the young men on bikes who rescued her. She is choosing to focus on the people of integrity in her life, rather than wallow in the mud-puddle of victimhood.
  • Share stories that point out honorable actions, like this one.

 

  1. Teach and be examples for the next generation.
  • Limit expectations to reality. Don’t expect what you haven’t earned. (Except for the grace of God.)
  • Develop an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude begins where entitlement ends.  “Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” Harold Coffin
  • Encourage excellence, but not competition at someone else’s expense. Take joy in other’s accomplishments.
  • Teach your children well. Talk about entitlement, sexual consent, and make the discussion age appropriate.

 

  1. Seek the Lord in prayer and His Word.
  • Take it to the Lord in prayer . “If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will healtheir land.” 2 Chron. 7: 14
  • The Bible is filled with examples of entitlement beginning with Adam and Eve who wanted to eat something they weren’t entitled to. Jesus’ disciples argued about who was the greatest and where they’d sit at His table. But Jesus provided the antidote to entitlement, saying that they must become like little children or like a servant.

 

Let’s remember. We have all sinned and aren’t entitled to anything except eternal damnation. By His grace, as believers, we receive something wonderful that we don’t deserve. Let’s be salt and light, doing everything in our power to draw those in our spheres of influence to counter the culture.

“ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Phil 2:3-7

 

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