Its going to take me weeks to recover from the stupor of this moment. I, like this cat, am exhausted. And if you tell me that this is only the second day of Christmas, and that the feast lasts all the way to Epiphany, and that I need to just keep eating, I’m going to have a hard time not wanting to punch you in the face. Sorry about the violence of my feelings on this matter, but there it is. My diet starts Today.
Also, the cleaning starts today. But not until after the nap.
One of the most interesting thing to me about the Old Testament, which you will only discover by reading it several times, is how Un-Puritanical God is. The puritans get a bad rap. They can’t possibly be blamed for the totality of austere disapproval that has come to characterize so much of our modern thinking and feeling. But the word ‘Puritanical’ is a worthy one–a pretty good description of how I’m sure so many of us view God. We think he is always telling us to Stop It, to restrain our passions, to fight against sin, to be kind rather than selfish, and on and on. The Law is one big No to all the things you think would be most Charming. You look at the law and think God is just mean and bad. He doesn’t want you to be happy.
But carry on reading the text and try to add up the number of days of feasting Required of the ordinary person hanging about in ancient Israel. It’s rather, to completely understate it, a lot. And actually, when you look at the number of times you were supposed to stop working, pack up, high thee hence to Jerusalem to sit around eating and drinking ‘whatever your heart desires’ it can also seem like kind of an unkindness–If I’m always eating and traveling, when am I supposed to plant my crops and clean my house? And the answer from God is Yes, I’m not going to give you the time you think you need for the work so that when you land on a harvest of plenty you’ll know it wasn’t you that did it. Your work is futile and troubled, so have a sit down and rest. God’s work is the only sustainable, perfect, sufficient work. Why don’t you have a party and then collapse back and think about that for a few days.
The feasting under the old covenant was abundant, rich, long lasting, something that I, in my poverty of spirit, living ever more fully in the kingdom of anxiety, cannot possibly countenance. But I ought to. Because God isn’t pinched and tight fisted. He is anundant in mercy and grace. I ought not to measure him by my narrow wants and passions.
Still, enough with the food. My diet starts today.
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