Controls

Totalitarianism is of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed. In my lifetime, I have seen the slow but sure loss of all individual freedoms in this country by government control; the totalitarianism of the United States, (increased more in the past 7 months during the Obama administration than at any other time in the past 70 years) is beyond comprehension. Just this week, controls on tobacco were given to the FDA. Recently, one of my friends asked me if I did not want a magnificent Brooks Brothers 'smoking jacket', which had been given to her deceased husband. She said, “It has never been worn, it is absolutely perfect and beautiful.” You see, there was a time, when wonderful photographs appeared in magazines, showing a man in a smoking jacket, with an elegant pipe or cigar or even a cigarette; I don't believe I've ever seen a photograph of someone smoking 'pot'. Of course, I have no use for such apparel, but it distresses me to realize that the days of elegant dress and personal freedoms are gone forever.

With the take-over of the largest corporations in our country (GM, Chrysler, AIG, etc.), the take-over of our financial institutions (banks, securities brokers,etc), controls on abortion, euthanasia, and health care, no more religious programs on public broadcasting, when will more rigid controls start on alcohol, gambling and even the Internet? One of my medical profession friends, working in a VA Hospital, told me that the research has already been completed for the limitation of calories; we know now how many calories are necessary for living, that obese people will not be eligible for many procedures, including orthopedics, such as in England. With the publishing of calorie contents in New York restaurants, the continued haranguing of fast food restaurants (the only places people with limited incomes can afford to eat anymore), we can expect controls in this area.

There is not one little doubt in my mind, that God is not in control of everything. He has prepared his chosen to face life; especially, those who are disabled. I did not understand it then, but I do understand the preparation now, when I was young and very myopic (nearsighted), I could not see the blackboard and had to walk to the front of the room to read what the teacher had written on the board. I learned, to listen carefully, and memorize everything she said. Now, as a totally blind person for over 40 years, I can listen to several radios at the same time, memorize almost everything I hear and able to regurgitate it back to a typist. It bothered me, that I was not able to hit a small ball with a stick but God, in his marvelous wisdom, AND HE IS BOSS, knew that I would never have need for playing baseball. Each disabled person shares in the suffering of our blessed Lord. Only those who suffer with Him can fully understand the extent of his grace. Joni Eareckson Tada , has used her marvelous voice as a quadriplegic due to a spinal injury. Helen Keller, both deaf and blind from birth, inspired not only an entire nation, but the world. Ray Charles thrilled an entire generation at the piano.

Perfect love is horizontal, you can not leave a person in poverty and go back to your wealth. The Christian missionary learns early to live among the people. The greatest evangelical or missionary sermon ever preached was just two words, “FOLLOW ME”. (Matthew 4:18-20) Perhaps the greatest story of missionary zeal comes from the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific, which until 1858 had been unexplored. When I visited there in 1980 (now a tourist island), I could not help but think of the first missionary who arrived on the main island while the natives were still cannibals. John Gibson Paton, Scottish missionary, did not have a convert until he himself lost his wife and son to disease, and when the natives saw him bury them, and he had to sleep on their graves to keep the cannibals from eating them, they realized he had FAITH which lead to one of the greatest missionary projects in all the world. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12)

Enduring many years of deprivation, danger from natives and disease, he continued with his work and after many years of patient ministry, the entire island of Aniwa professed Christianity. In 1899 he saw his Aniwa New Testament printed and the establishment of missionaries on twenty five of the thirty islands of the New Hebrides. The world will never understand our creator or his creation. The tragedy is, most do not want to understand. As one lady said to me recently, “I don't care. I don't understand the Bible.” I handed to her a beautiful vase and I said, “Why not worship this? This will be easier for you to understand.” People all over the world worship limited objects made of metal or porcelain, which they can understand. God's answer book, his love letter to the world he created, has astounded scholars for thousands of years. Most theology is not easily understood but the essentials of salvation, grace through faith, can be understood by a child.

We do not understand why the 'playing field' is not level. This is something which bothers any disabled person, any person of different skin color, lesser opportunity, but, the all sufficiency of God through Christ, enables anyone, black or white, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, disabled or healthy, equal footing in singing the “Hallelujah chorus”.

Do not place much confidence in weak and mortal man, helpful and friendly though he be; and do not grieve too much if he sometimes opposes and contradicts you. Those who are with us today may be against us tomorrow, and vice versa, for men change with the wind. Place all your trust in God; let Him be your fear and your love. He will answer for you; He will do what is best for you. (Imitation of Christ, Book Two - Thomas A Kempis)