I rarely delve into the world of international geo-politics, but Iran has made the news quite a bit of late: First, by continued advancement in its determined nuclear development program, which has now reached the stage of producing weapons grade uranium; and second by the increasingly sophisticated weapons delivery options at its disposal, for example, long-range rockets capable of striking targets far from its borders.

Of course, we have been hearing this news for many years. And for years nothing much has happened, except that Iran has quietly, but persistently marched ahead. The Iranians have officially maintained that their nuclear development is for peaceful purposes only, to be occasionally interrupted by their president who has, and continues to make direct and reckless threats against both Israel and the United States. All, while the international community has done little; because, candidly, there is little that can be done.

This is a complex situation, made more difficult by the Iranian leader's belief that he himself, is a divine and destined agent on this earth: not as a light for peace among all peoples, but rather for violence and retribution against God's children, Israel; through whom Yahweh chose to bless the whole earth, even to the sending of his only Son, to do His will.

"Lord, give this world's leaders wisdom and courage to pursue peace, knowing that you yourself will call them 'Children of God'; and give the rest of us the wisdom to seek your face and the courage to do your bidding while we await your joyful return. Amen."

This is the process whereby often well-intentioned people, trying to be helpful, manage to once again make us feel even worse. It's a pandemic. Simply stated, the belief is that we create our own luck, and therefore bad luck, by the things we say, or do, or our mindset, or how we're able to channel our energies. It sounds reasonable. Of course, at its most basic level, there is much truth, in a generic sense here; but taken to extremes, this view once again leads to increased guilt and misplaced fault at the foot of the sick, or hurt, or injured party. How?

I've witnessed this many times: folks with serious health problems, including cancer, have been blamed for their disease, due, not to smoking, or life-style choices, or bad genetics, but to metaphysical concepts: for example, lack of proper thinking, or too little faith, or failure to mentally ward off a certain disease at its inception. This type of mindset can be found in the fringes of Christianity, often in fundamentalist sects, but is rife in the "self-help" crowd. I maintain, it's not so convincingly true when one of these 'self-appointed prophets' gets sick! The result of all this mental machination, taken to extremes, is to blame poor folk for their plight, and the depressed for their lack of motivation, and the chronically ill for their frailties. How then, may I ask, do we manage to blame children, the blameless among us, when they are ill? I submit, we are better friends, and people are healthier, both physically and mentally, when we simply try to help: by healing, and nurturing, and binding the wounds that need binding - without judgement.

"Lord, Help us to be willing to help those around us whom we can, being the kind of friend we would want, when in need. Amen."

Well there certainly does seem to be a preponderance of bad news of late. The headlines confirm what many of us know: that the economy at this time is still severely challenging for millions of folks. Many of us too have our own health struggles, some quite serious - and sometimes we are facing these without a great support network. Add to this, the difficulties some of our loved ones are enduring - through bad choices, or just plain bad luck - and you've got the recipe for a lot of stress, with no quick fixes.

Then, there is the gospel: the Good News. The news that tells us that someone loves us and cares for us with an everlasting love - the one who is still in charge; add to this the eternally compelling image of the cross - that the Lord of Glory died to demonstrate this love for us - a symbol so powerful that it transcends all the ups and downs of this old world and our own personal struggles; and lastly, the profound reality that the same power that brought Jesus back from the dead is working in us and through us, in holy mysteries we seldom now understand, but that one day will become clear.

"Lord, Thank for you sending us Jesus, the one who bought us back from our sins; and your Holy Spirit, the one who brings us back to our senses. Comfort us now, while we wait for the full joy of your presence, where there will be neither sorrows nor tears. Amen."

One of those highly touted character traits - often lauded, but seldom seen? On the contrary, I have seen quite a lot of it, but I submit, so often applied incorrectly.

Perhaps you too have witnessed this curious phenomenon: Otherwise good folks, who might fall into the category of the meek and mild-mannered, who live far from the spotlight of controversy, rise to the occasion to do something out of their character: something really AWFUL! How disappointing, yet not at all un-familiar.

Looking for that elusive silver lining, it shows that most of us do have within us the capacity for extremes of behavior: If that potential could only be channeled for good, think of how the world would change. As things stand now though, the results are predictably grim: First, by taking the low road, we not only fail to demonstrate faith - the belief that God can and is taking care of us - but worse, often participate in behavior that is not even in our own best interest, but merely satisfies some past petty grievance, or sadly, is done merely to fit in with the peer pressure we all experience from time to time, creating confusion and unhappiness and insecurity among our family, friends, and colleagues, who happen to be the recipients of this behavior. The will to evil is often, lamentably, stronger than the will to good. Lord, have mercy.

"Holy Lord, you, who were able to save Daniel from the hungry mouth of the lion, give us the courage to do the right thing; at least when it is obvious and easy. Amen."

This is a psychological process whereby we "project" our own unacceptable feelings, unconsciously, to another person.

For example, I feel and express:
"Billy has been so distant lately, he must be resentful of me on some level."

Reality:
I have been jealous about Billy's new car, and have placed distance between us. Because this is, generally speaking, an immature and uncharitable response to Billy's good fortune, I would be uncomfortable acknowledging it - even to myself. Thus I project this feeling,
and its consequences onto Billy, allowing me to distance myself from him, while making Billy the culprit in the process. Mission accomplished.

Forgive me indulging in this sort of discussion, and please note I am not a psychologist, but I witness this sort of behavior frequently and I think it undermines what God is trying to build up: You and me: the body of Christ. Of course, we are not aware of this behavior, because that would defeat its purpose: But I think we could find it, even in ourselves, if we started to look for it.

"Lord, you who have given us the Spirit of truth, help us to apply its keen wisdom to our own hearts and devices, confident that you are able to sustain us, and renew us in your image. Amen."