May 26, 2010

Today's reading: Ezra 4, 5, 6; Psalm 26, 56, 86, 116, 146; Proverbs 26

Esther 4:1, "When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;"

I wish I understood why people react the way that they do to certain situations. Young children often laugh uncontrollably when they should cry. Some people have no reaction at all to pain. I am reminded of a story of a doctor who dealt with patients who had the dreaded disease of leprosy. The account I heard was of his patients who did not know they were burning themselves on the stove so there was no reaction to the pain because they felt no pain.

Some people run around life acting like they feel no pain. I do not believe this is totally true. I think they suppress their reactions. We could respond with the fight or flight reaction. If the pain is caused by someone else then we could flee or run from it. We could ignore it and let it fester and get worse and worse. This is not a good reaction.

On the other hand we could fight. In that fight we could enlist others to help us. The best place to start is to pray and seek God's will in your response. Notice the reaction of those who ministered to Esther in Esther 4:4, "So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not." Esther was trying to minister to the need of Mordecai; but, he would not allow it. Sometimes accepting help is the most difficult step.

Look at Esther 4:16-17, "Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him." Now everyone is on board together fasting and praying and look at the result. Esther is willing to do what she needs to do. This is a proper reaction.

So, how are you doing?