Among the challenges of adulthood is the opportunity to come to terms with our default perspectives, the assumptions we hold and lenses we see through that shape our interpretation of experience.
Default perspectives often trigger default behavior that serves to reinforce the default perspective. It happened to me again last night. I played tennis with someone I knew I could not beat (default perspective). So, I took risky shots, played trick serves, and pushed lines (default behavior). I got beat even worse than usual (default result), which made me wonder if I would ever win (reinforced default perspective).
We all have default perspectives, some more harmful than others. In this week's scripture passage, we encounter a servant who perceives the landowner as "a harsh man, reaping where he did not sow and gathering where he did not scatter seed" even though two earlier servants make no mention of it. He then sets a defensive course of action, which, of course, catalyzes harsh action on behalf of the landowner and confirms the servant's default perspective. It's quite a doom loop.
I can't help but wonder how often this happens on our journey of faith. When we imagine God primarily as an enforcer of rules, stern and prone to punishment, we experience an unsympathetic and capricious God. However, when our default perspective is of a God of grace and reconciliation, we experience God in like manner: grace decorates our lives, reconciliation comes, and love wins. It, too, is a self-reinforcing loop.
It's a fascinating passage worth careful attention. In addition to exploring it in depth this weekend, we'll celebrate three baptisms, excellent music at all services and nearly 20 Confirmation Class members joining our congregation in the Sanctuary service at 11 a.m. In other words, the day will be rich and full.
Join us, and bring a friend.
