Beware of your contempt
In my old age, I find that I am more curious than ever. I am intrigued when I hear my generation talk disparagingly of those who will follow us. Of course, the other thing about getting old is realizing how often we are simply repeating the sins of our forefathers. I distinctly remember the older generation besmirching the character of hippies and those lazy, good-for-nothin' kids who smoked cannabis back in the 1970's - of course, no one called it cannabis that back then. In fact, the various slang terms for marijuana actually serve to make my point. Since we old folk often run off on tangents - here's one for you. In the 1930's law enforcement called cannabis Giggle Smoke; it was considered a highly dangerous narcotic. in the 1930's and 1940's it was popularly called Goof Butts. In 1949 Raymond Chandler mentioned it in his novel "The Little Sister" when he referred to a character as a "muggle smoker." Mary Jane. Jive. Haschich Fudge. Catnip. 13 (for the letter M). Even "Nixon" - which described inferior cannabis. Today, cannabis is legalized in many states. It is possible that two things can be true here - some things don't change, we just rename them; times do change and people are capable of changing their minds.
One thing that never seems to change is this: we are a judgy people and we seem to take delight in assuming that the generations that follow us will somehow be inferior. Why is that? What does that historical habit cost us? How might we look at this differently and make meaningful changes to our perspective?
I suppose this is is yet one more reason why I return to the scriptures time and again for perspective. Although I have no intriguing new insights from the scripture as it relates to cannabis, I do find a story that certainly could help all of us step back and consider our own beliefs, assumptions and even prejudices. It's found in the Old Testament in the book of Ruth, a Hebrew short story that was masterfully written.
It's the story of Ruth and Naomi - a young and old woman who together, shed light on a way of seeing the world and being in it that delights God to no end. The story goes something like this: during the time of Ruth and Naomi, the Judahites and Moabites held contempt for one another. Over the course of history both tribes had at one time or another invaded, bewitched, seduced and oppressed each other. A famine caused a Judahite by the name of Elimelech to flee with his wife Naomi to Moab in search of food. Bascially, they were immigrants who left their homeland to survive, no one was under the assumption they were going on a Disney vacation. During this time their two sons married Moabite women and eventually Elimelech died - leaving Naomi a widow. Then the boys die. Naomi is left with nothing and decides to return to her homeland.
Here's where the story caught my attention. Naomi treats her two daughters-in-law with kindness, and she suggests that the daughters return to their family with the hope of securing new husbands. Ruth refuses. She remains committed to Naomi; she is loyal and loving. And although it must of been hard to return to Naomi's homeland as a foreigner born of a hated people, nevertheless, she does it.
The story ends happily. Ruth, the young Moabite, becomes the great-grandmother of David and an ancestress of Jesus. She is one of only two women that have a book of the Bible bearing their name. She is one of only four women who appear in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. I love this story so very much.
When we are tempted to think of ourselves or anyone else from a position of contempt, beware. God is at work. When we judge anyone because of their age, race, cultural background, suffering or neglect - beware. God is at work. In keeping with my theme of being old and willing to say anything, here goes: We old folks would do well to shut our mouths and wait, watch, pray for and wonder at what the Lord is about to do for that kid who is smoking the Giggle Smoke, or understands politics differently than we do, or makes choices we do not understand. Ruth made a choice that made no sense, but it got her written up in the Bible as a hero of the faith and an ancestor of Jesus.
I'll challenge all of us to one more thing: have a little faith. If your eyes are too weak to see the value in each person, that's not ok but it is what it is, do this instead - have a little faith in God. Creator. Redeemer. He's not finished with any of us - including you! In a world where it is easy to judge, choose the less traveled path - be a Ruth.
