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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022
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New year is a chance to tell God your thoughts RABBI IRWIN WIENER Columnist
Another year has begun. What kind of year just passed and what kind of a year lies ahead? These are just two of the questions we will ask ourselves as we do each year at this time. What kind of year have we said goodbye to? It was a year that will not soon be forgotten. It was a year that was filled with traumas and destruction and more importantly, the loss of so many lives because of a virus that was uncontrollable and saw many ignore the science as 800,000 of our fellow countrymen perish. It was a year that saw a building collapse with people snuggled in their beds unaware that in an instant they would be no more. It was a year in which floods and hurricanes inundated our cities and destroyed life and property. It was a year that contained heinous crimes and indiscriminate killings and murders involving not only adults, but children in the prime of their lives as they attempted to learn the purpose and value of life.
It was a year that was filled the most hate-filled rhetoric that has become uncontrollable. It was a year in which civility seemed to be a thing of the past and violent episodes prevailed even in the treasured halls of our government. It was a year in which we witnessed more of our brave men and women who wear the uniform of our country killed by terrorists while rescuing the unfortunate and those yearning to be free. It was a year that will be remembered for a long time, more than perhaps others. Some of us will never stop wondering whether we did enough to matter, and some will contemplate about things that never were and maybe will never be. Through it all, however, there is one constant theme that will resonate within us as we sit and imagine what could have been and as we imagine what will be in the new year. Perhaps it is best illustrated by the following story: A student was having a discussion with his teacher. “Someday, I too hope to become a teacher,” said the youth. “Aside from my studies is there any other all-important qualification I will need?” “Yes, the stimulus of imagination,” replied the teacher. “You will have
to imagine that somebody is paying attention to what you say.” Will we listen to the climate watchers who shout from the rooftops to stop the destruction of our planet and all life therein? Will we listen to our medical professionals who warn us that science is the answer to combating illness and disease? Will we listen to each other as we attempt to bring sanity to a chaotic environment? I believe that all of us during our lifetime have wondered whether anyone listens to us, our children, our colleagues at work, and our significant others, and even ourselves. We have a great deal to say because communicating is the most significant way of connecting. Sometimes we say things that really don’t matter and, of course, we do say things that affect our lives and those around us. Sometimes we say things that have different meanings because we are not clear and precise. Sometimes we say things we really don’t mean because we want to be sensitive to another’s feelings. And sometimes we say things that aren’t true because we are too ashamed or embarrassed as to our real intent. A new year gives us an opportunity to also say things to God we never thought we had the ability to express.
There are thoughts we have that mean so much because we are at a stage in life where minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years are precious and not to be wasted. It takes a great deal of imagination to expect that God is listening and hears our words because we believe we cannot see, or touch, or even hear an answer. But it doesn’t take imagination to realize that answers can come from experiences and happenings that remind us we do matter. We see the miracles of life daily, but we tend to ignore them. We can touch a loved one because that touch awakens the understanding of togetherness and companionship. We hear the sounds of laughter, and the tears that fall when we lose someone we love or witness illness. As we embark on another year, we all should listen to our inner voice that tells us life is to live and treasure because it is a gift that keeps on giving. Listen to a friend or relative as they reach out for understanding and compassion. And, if we are having difficulty hearing, be sure we are tuned in to what is being said. Try not to miss “I love you,” or “I care about you,” or “I wish you were here.” Rabbi Irwin Wiener D.D. is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes congregation.
Is God listening or are we just not hearing? BY PHILIP MELLA Guest Writer
One of the paradoxes of our modern age is that as our knowledge and understanding of the universe has expanded so has the number of people who profess no faith in God. Although there are many intervening and confounding variables, it reminds us that paramount among sins is that of pride, for it’s the gateway through which all other human failings enter. Against that somewhat guarded preamble, and in light of the monstrous horrors of wars, dictators, and despots in the 20th century, modern man has often questioned whether God listens to our prayers. It’s a fair question, which as we’ll see, may elicit some surprising answers. For background, we must examine how our culture has inadvertently or otherwise led to a weakening of faith. Despite its aspirations of scrupulous
objectivity, our federal judiciary has generally reflected cultural trends, responding with ever greater fidelity to society’s warp and woof. Therefore, in the past half-century we’ve witnessed the judiciary’s overreach relative to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment – the so-called “separation of church and state.” The outcome is the incremental relegation of God and Christian symbols such as the crucifix from the proverbial public square, not to mention our schools. Religious thought leaders call that the secularizing of society, which some celebrate and others see as the demonstrable cause of the moral decay that has clearly taken root. It’s been an imperceptible, slow process, which means it’s all the more insidious. But when moral certainty – which is implausible without faith – is removed, confusion and its close ally, evil, fill the vacuum. Returning to our deeper understanding of the universe, in a recent editorial on Apollo 11, columnist George
Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
SUNDAY WORSHIP at 8:30 am & 10:00 am All Are Welcome! 480-963-3360 | www.chandlermethodist.org | 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.
Will, wrote, “The universe, 99.9 percent of which is outside Earth’s atmosphere, is expanding at 46 miles per second per megaparsec. (One megaparsec is approximately 3.26 million light years.) This cooling cinder called Earth, spinning in the darkness is a minor speck of residue from the Big Bang, which lasted less than a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second 13.8 billion years ago.” Will, a professed agnostic, predictably fails to consider whether the hand of God created the Big Bang. Regardless, the human imagination simply can’t comprehend this vastness, which encourages us to question whether an omniscient God is overseeing it all. Psalm 8 captures that sense of forlornness by asking, “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” Which returns us to the question of whether God listens to us when we pray? The question is complicated by the fact that we humans are forever yearning, and instinctively pray for favorable outcomes, and when we’re disappointed, we naturally question whether God
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is, in fact, with us. The problem is in the unavoidable premise, which is that we use the metrics or tools we best understand. That is, when we pray for a given outcome, we constantly check for any hint that it’s trending the way we hoped – that is to say, on our terms. Since spiritual humility suggests we often don’t know what’s best for us, it’s wise to use a different approach. A clue is that Hebrews 11 tells us, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is a kind of translator of God’s will, but its code is purposely written in the language of prayer. If God doesn’t answer us it doesn’t mean He’s not listening; it may mean we’re not hearing what He’s telling us. Or, that we think we know better than God what’s good for us. Ergo, the sin of pride. Philip Mella of Chandler is a former elected official, a retired health care executive, and a writer focusing on history, religion, and science. Reach him at pnmella@yahoo.com.
Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
