We use the idiom frequently: "Under the circumstances, I had to leave," or "Under the circumstances, we were not able to attend" and so forth. We understand it to mean "in this situation" or "given these conditions": or "such being the case." But it is a strange way to express that, don't you think? Under the circumstances? As if something is on top of us, preventing action that we would otherwise take.
And that is what caught my attention: the idea of something being on top of us, perhaps even weighing us down. A spell of foul weather. The bus running late. The grocery store out of my brand of coffee. The toddler who can't go to daycare with the sniffles, or I don't feel so good myself. All of these things are "circumstances"—situations, conditions, cases that we have to deal with. And sometimes they get us down. We get under them.
"Rejoice in the Lord always," the Apostle Paul wrote, and for emphasis he added, "I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:4, 8)
Yes, the weather is terrible, but it is going to clear tomorrow—or by next week, or whenever. Yes, the bus is late, but when it gets here, I'll get warm again—or cool, as the case may be. Yes, my favorite coffee isn't here, so I'll get this smaller can of Brand B to tide me over—or maybe I'll check at another store. Yes, the baby can't go to Wee Care, so Grandma or one of us will give her a lot of TLC today. Yes, I'm sick but I'm not going to make it harder than it has to be by complaining.
I think sometimes we are afraid to look on the positive, hopeful side of things because we are afraid of being accused of being a Pollyanna. If that seems like a problem, just smile and don't say anything about your reason for doing so! Refuse to be under the circumstances!
MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
And that is what caught my attention: the idea of something being on top of us, perhaps even weighing us down. A spell of foul weather. The bus running late. The grocery store out of my brand of coffee. The toddler who can't go to daycare with the sniffles, or I don't feel so good myself. All of these things are "circumstances"—situations, conditions, cases that we have to deal with. And sometimes they get us down. We get under them.
"Rejoice in the Lord always," the Apostle Paul wrote, and for emphasis he added, "I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:4, 8)
Yes, the weather is terrible, but it is going to clear tomorrow—or by next week, or whenever. Yes, the bus is late, but when it gets here, I'll get warm again—or cool, as the case may be. Yes, my favorite coffee isn't here, so I'll get this smaller can of Brand B to tide me over—or maybe I'll check at another store. Yes, the baby can't go to Wee Care, so Grandma or one of us will give her a lot of TLC today. Yes, I'm sick but I'm not going to make it harder than it has to be by complaining.
I think sometimes we are afraid to look on the positive, hopeful side of things because we are afraid of being accused of being a Pollyanna. If that seems like a problem, just smile and don't say anything about your reason for doing so! Refuse to be under the circumstances!
MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Art from http://www.sxc.hu/
No comments:
Post a Comment