Midday Connection

Midday blog: Looking at Unpleasant Things

The Medium lost the delighted smile she had worn till then. “Oh, why must you make me look at unpleasant things when there are so many delightful ones to see?”
Again Mrs Which’s voice reverberated through the cave. “Therre willl nno llonggerr bee sso manyy pplleasanntt thinggss too llookk att iff rressponssible ppeoplle ddo nnott ddoo ssomethingg abboutt thee unnppleassanntt oness.”
- Madeline L’Engle

I somehow missed reading A Wrinkle in Time as a child, so I’m starting off my 2013 by reading it. I was struck by the quote above – especially with Martin Luther King, Jr. day taking place in January. Dr. King has been such an inspiring figure to me. He dared to look at the unpleasant things – straight on. His work toward Civil Rights inspires me to confront injustice straight on – to not just look away from the unpleasant. No, he wasn’t a perfect man. I’m not a perfect woman – yet I know that God can use me in spite of my failings. Thank God for that!

There are times when I feel weak and overwhelmed and I want to look away from unlovely things – the painful, big issues in the world. Will I have the courage to see the mess and do what God has enabled me to do?

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. –Martin Luther King Jr

Lori is the senior producer of Midday Connection and editor/contributor for Daily Seeds: From Women Who Walk in Faith and Tending the Soul (Moody Publishers). She grew up in a small town in Ohio, spending more time outside in nature than inside. Lori is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. Her interests include art, humanitarian aid efforts, cooking, gardening, coffee, thinking, learning and spending time with her husband, John (and their three fiesty cats). For more information and her blog please visit Lori’s website.