Unexpected Consequences

Unexpected Consequences

12 April 2023

Shame on me.  With the beauty of Easter trumpets and joyous hymns still ringing in our ears, with the fragrance of Easter flowers still wafting in the air, shame on me for asking a few hard questions just 3 days after the triumphant joy and wonderful feelings of Easter.  But here goes:

Why do so many good intentions end up yielding painful consequences as by-products?

Let me start with a toughie, which someone suggested I feature in this WFW.  This Monday evening begins Yom Hashoah, the annual 24-hour period in which the world remembers the genocide of over 6 million Jews as part of World War 2.  (Although suspended because of pandemic issues, COS hopes to resume our inspiring joint Yom Hashoah services with Congregation B’nai Israel).   Such horror inspired the United Nations to be supportive of the establishment of the state of Israel in 1947, as a needed refuge and new start for the Jewish people.

But as I’m reminded in reading Blood Brothers, suggested reading for our upcoming congregational trip to the Holy Land in June, the new Jewish state tragically led to the displacement of thousands of multi-generational Palestinian land-owners.  Jews themselves around the world debate how they might win a mutually just peace with the Palestinians.   Apparently, this is one issue at play in many Jews protesting this month their current government’s right-leaning policies.

With good intentions, our founding fathers ensured that citizens could own guns to protect their farms and hunt for game.   Yet, today we struggle with how that Second Amendment right sometimes yields the unintended consequence of one of the 146 mass shootings (four or more people injured or killed) in America so far in 2023, or over 11,500 Americans dying this year by gun violence, most recently in Nashville and Louisville.

Humanity has been blessed to figure out how use energy sources to heat and cool our homes and power all kinds of life-enriching devices.   Yet now such fuels seem to be fueling more life-threatening erratic weather as an unintended consequence.  So, we’re desperately struggling to shift our energy modus operandi to new energy patterns and possibilities.

 My stomach turns when hearing that Russians have abducted tens of thousands of Ukrainian children.   And while it can be debated if it’s apples or oranges, my stomach also turned reading this month’s National Geographic article featuring how members of the indigenous Lakota Nation explain the impact of our own country’s forced relocation of their children “back in the day” to Native American boarding (and “re-education”) schools.  “Our culture was totally, totally messed up” claims Lakotan, Wanda Garnier.

I think the first three examples typify good realities which lead to unintended and difficult consequences.

God gave us the gift of free will.   Indeed, what a gift!   But do you ever think God moans about the unintended consequence of our more-than-periodic selfishness, rebellion, and power to damage so many of God’s children?

“Pastor Fritz, what’s your point today?”

Well, riding this Easter high after our stupendous Holy Week services (thanks to everyone involved!), and on this gorgeous spring day, I guess I’m bummed about what bubbles up on the news cycle.

But it’s another good chance to claim and activate Easter.   Jesus went to the cross, and we declare in the mystery of faith, put to death the power of all kinds of dark unintended consequences.   So, as Easter people, Jesus calls us to live in the “new creation.”   We face all these painful situations knowing that God wants to infuse them with POSSIBILITIES, to use our Lenten and Easter theme!   The angels and Jesus tell the women not to be sad too long, but tell their friends that Jesus is meeting us in our future.  So, amid all the challenges like those described above, remember that Jesus instructs us to move with good spirit, confidence, and dedication into our future.   How can WE, as Easter people, bring Jesus’ life and joy to bear upon every challenge, no matter how confounding?

In Easter Hope,

Pastor Fritz

Let us pray.

Dear God, it’s hard to maintain the joyful Easter spirit when the daily news seems to feature so much pain.   So, call afresh to us daily, reminding us that we are Easter people.  Inspire us to trust that you, working through us, want to foster resurrection and new possibilities out of the painful situations of our day.   Empower us, steer us, love us.   Let us live with Jesus’ command in our hearts and minds:  to keep walking into our futures, where he will surely meet us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions:

1. What is a local or global situation causing you concern? Even if it’s an unintended consequence of something good?
2. Are you willing to take a moment to pray about that right now?
3. Is there a specific action you can take now to infuse “some new creation Easter” into that challenge?