Sunday, August 18, 2002
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Sunday, August 18, 2002 |
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Response to a reader
By
MARY JANE HOLT
I don't think I have, in more than 15 years of writing, responded in print to negative comments from a reader. Today, I will do so though, because there may be a tremendous lesson to be learned by all, especially myself, as I discuss what is on my heart. I quote from the reader's letter to the editor: "Why don't Christians do something to stop the destruction and abuse of nature, which you claim is God's creation? You not only don't do anything, you as Christians are responsible for a large part of it. In fact, the columnist Mary Jane Holt talks about God's wonders from the top of her deer stand. "Christians are great at giving lip service to the idea, but when it comes to action, most sit on their thumbs. You talk the talk, but you don't walk the walk. When it gets down to it, I think it's the non-Christians who are really trying to make it a better world through tolerance, compassion and open-mindedness." End of quote. Sort of. Let's consider the question: "Why don't Christians do something to stop the destruction and abuse of nature, which you claim is God's creation? You not only don't do anything, you as Christians are responsible for a large part of it." I say, if the shoe fits, wear it. If there is a Creator God, and if he's watching, and for sure since we will one day be held accountable (perhaps in this life AND the next) for the use and misuse of our natural resources, then we all need to avoid being so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. This planet, this earth, will nurture us only as long as we respect and care for it. Now, let's consider: "Christians are great at giving lip service to the idea, but when it comes to action, most sit on their thumbs. You talk the talk, but you don't walk the walk." Oh, before God, how I wish that were not true! But it is. I won't add insult to injury by trying to deny it. Talk is cheap. The walk? Very few are willing to walk the walk. And as for: "When it gets down to it, I think it's the non-Christians who are really trying to make it a better world through tolerance, compassion and open-mindedness." Sadly, she may be right again. I can only imagine how Christ, the ultimate compassionate activist, must feel about this fact. And now, let's consider this one: "In fact, the columnist Mary Jane Holt talks about God's wonders from the top of her deer stand." Fact? On Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, following an awesome snowstorm, I wrote: "It was around noon on Jan. 3 when I finally ventured out of the house. My cozy fire had won out for a day and a half over taking a walk in five to seven inches of snow, depending on where I would step. But finally I had found my sense of adventure and out the back door I went. "I walked slowly, hugging the edge of the yard and the fields, not wanting to mar nature's perfect palette. Feeling more and more like an intruder with every step, I meandered around to the back field and climbed up into one of Daniel's deer hunting stands to quietly observe the changed landscape. "I let myself try to take in the beauty before me. I wished for a camera. I had not brought one with me. I had my binoculars, but couldn't bring myself to use them because of the limited field of vision they offered. I wanted to drink in all of it." Please note it was not my deer hunting stand. I'm not sure I could kill an animal even if I was starving. I like to think I could, but I'm not sure. So, am I defending myself against the reader's comments. Not really. What I want to point out is how we all, Christian and non-Christian alike, take half-truths, call them fact, and run with them. We are all critical and judgmental of those who think, speak, act, dress, and worship different from us. We may not all be guilty all of the time, but sadly, we are all guilty some of the time. Now, regarding deer hunting though I am not a hunter, I do cook and eat venison. I eat very little meat, but wild venison is a healthy, extremely low fat meat that I do occasionally enjoy. I am confident, as well, that no antibiotics or other assorted drugs have been fed to the animal prior to its being served at my table. I truly hope that fact does not offend others. As I think on this subject, I am reminded of a Scripture passage in the book of First Corinthians, chapter 10, verses 23-33. Though I dislike pulling scripture, or any kind of quote, out of context, these verses are food for thought. I will think on them for a while.
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