Living In The Extremes

Today I heard the word extreme used to describe what has been happening with the weather lately.  Definitely extreme......fires....floods.....hurricanes.......winds.......hot spots and cold spots....dry and wet.  Yeah, definitely a good definition of our weather.  Extreme.

I looked up the definition of extreme in the dictionary and was told "existing in a very high degree....or going to great exaggerated lengths....or exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected. "It came to my mind that we could use the word extreme to help define most of life right now.  We have not only extreme weather showing up but we have the extreme in our politics. Just listen to the ads on TV.  There is not one politician including the President that does not use extreme language, extreme fear, extreme untruths to get you to vote for them.  It is sad, scary, and worrisome.  If you look at Washington DC and those who we have elected in the House and Congress you cannot help but see the extreme polarizing "us against them" mentality. It has spread into our states, cities and communities.  It sickens me. The  extreme also shows up in this virus.  If you read any of the stories of those who have fought hard to live after getting Covid, you can only define it as extreme.  I would add a few other words like nasty, unpredictable, relentless.  It is not something to brush off as minor no matter what your age, religion, or beliefs.  This is yet another issue that has been made political and people are dying because of it.  No one can deny that 2020 has been a year of extremes......financially, politically, socially, economically, with weather and with peoples health.  

It is hard not to focus on it all, but it came to me today that the Bible is full of extremes too.  Some bad and some ugly, but some that are soooooooo good.  Maybe our focus needs to come back to the good extremes.  Let's start with the best one of all......Jesus dying on a cross for us.  God giving His only Son to die for our sins and to make salvation available for us all.  Pretty extreme!   And think about Peter walking on the water......oh yes, he doubted and started to sink, but he and Jesus were walking on the water. Amazing. Jesus showing up after His resurrection!   Pretty extreme!  Joel and I are studying the book of Acts and there are some pretty extreme happenings with Holy Spirit in there.  And lets not forget Noah and the flood.  He was pretty radical to build that huge Ark and bring two of all God's creation on board.  And Moses and the parting of the Red Sea?  Oh, yeah...........extreme!  One of my favorite stories comes from  2Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat steps out with a radical faith and believes that God will protect them from the large army coming against them.  They went forth singing!  Yes singing....and watched as all the enemies coming against them turned on each other....and died.  Extreme faith and obedience in a situation that looked hopeless.  

Today has found me praying for an extreme faith to believe for peace and civility in our country, for healing and unity for our nation, for this virus to die, for miracles to abound in our lives, for health and wellness, for the weather to shift, for prosperity for the many hurting financially, for complete healing for those I love and care about.  We are living in the extremes.........but we can face them all with our "extreme" faith in God and His promises.