its the end of the world.

Do you remember the old REM song lyrics "It's the End of the World as we know it... and I feel fine?" I think this song can sum up a lot of what is happening right now. Every day I hear people saying "its the end of the world" or something about "Armageddon" because of the economy or President Obama or President Bush (we apparently made it through without the world being destroyed) or global warming or a million other things. I am not saying that these things shouldn't be areas to have opinions on or trying to fight against the damage that can be done by them, but really, for most of us, we still feel fine. We may have lost a job, had to cut back on our spending, or even won/lost a political battle, but how affective is the doom and gloom alarmist mentality?

CS Lewis was asked in an interview 6 months before he died, "What do you think is going to happen in the next few years of history, Mr. Lewis?" His response was phenomenal. Lewis responds, "I have no way of knowing. The world might stop in 10 minutes; we are to go on doing our duty. The great thing is to be found at one's post as a child of God, living each day as if it were our last, but planning as if our world might last 100 years."

We need to focus now on the things that will make a difference for the future; social and environmental justice, personal savings, sharing the Gospel of Jesus, all while recognizing that the world can change, or even end at any time. Let's not focus all of our attention on this is the end of the world, but more so on what can we do before it does.

Maranatha. (O Lord, Come!)