Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art

Moth, Rust and Exogenous Events

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Ithaca






I started seriously investing in the stock market again last summer for the first time since I had children, and have enjoyed conversations with other investors, reading the business pages off and on again, and following the ripple effects of politics and the economy on the markets.


So I look at my portfolio on Saturday, and blink. What?


 What happened was what the New York Times called an exogenous event— “a sudden political or economic jolt that cannot be predicted or modelled but sends shockwaves rippling through global markets.”


The turmoil in Egypt has spooked the markets. The price of oil and other commodities have surged, and a sustained increase might choke growth in the US. The unrest may spread to more countries in the Middle East. 


 Then there is “the rising risk of food inflation, interest rate increases in China, and sovereign debt troubles in Europe.” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist of Standard & Poor’s Equity Research.


“But as is usually the case, a boxer never gets knocked out by a punch he’s looking for,” he said. “This could be what triggers the decline. Geopolitical events are very, very hard to model.”
Egypt is one of a handful of spots classified as World Oil Transit Chokepoints by the Energy Department, and events there can have an outsize impact on global energy prices.
The immediate impact of any interruption would be felt primarily in Europe, which relies heavily on jet fuel,  heating oil nd other distillates refined in the Middle East and shipped via the canal and pipeline.
 “The key risk to Asia — most notably to India — is if social unrest and economic disruptions in Tunisia and Egypt spread. The direct negative impact on Asian growth would be through weaker exports, but indirect effects through higher commodity prices on the trade, inflation and growth should not be underestimated.”
Egypt is a major player in the global grain market, importing more wheat than any other country. Some analysts have speculated that Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries might increase grain purchases to placate angry consumers, which could eventually push wheat prices higher.
Given the confrontations with the authorities in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities, many analysts expect oil prices, and global markets, to remain volatile in the coming days.”
Okaaaay.
I have been blogging through Scripture and am frequently impressed by how contemporary it is, by how it speaks to my life.
Do not let your treasure– the energy and intelligence and passion of your heart–be invested in anything which can be taken away by moth, rust, thieves or exogenous events.  
I think I might slowly withdraw from the drama of the markets, and put my energy into something which offers joy in the journey. Something which is worthy of attention.
I love this poem by Constantine Cavafy about joy in the journey, about the journey being as, or more, important than the destination.
ITHACA

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon — do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.


Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.


Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.


Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.


And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithaca means.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1911) 

Flying Cars: The accelerating speed at which Technology makes Fantasy Reality!

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When Zoe was little, and we got stuck in interminable traffic jams on our way home from pre-school, she would quite predictably say, ” Don’t you wish our car could fly?”  We all agreed

Well, apparently there are now flying cars for real.

I can remember longing to be able to carry the internet around in my pocket and be able to access it everywhere. I was a relatively early iPhone user, and still love that gadget. It’s amazing  how rapidly technology can make fantasy reality.

I used to fantasize about a videophone when I first left home to live abroad and didn’t see my dad for years at a stretch. I wouldn’t get one now or a webcam–imagine having to spiffy up just to make a phone call!

How Long, O Lord? Psalm 12, and 13, Day 30, Jan 30

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King David

Psalm 12

The Psalmist describes a fraught, divisive situation in which no one can be trusted, for everyone tells his neighbour a version of the truth, and everyone conceals some of their hearts’ truth. 
ESV This is a community lament, suited to occasions when the people of God are dominated by liars in positions of authority.
ESV The Psalmist describes flattering lips and insincere speech (a double heart) both of which manipulate others for the sake of gain. In such an environment, the godly and the faithful become so rare that it seems as if they have disappeared, either because they have been suppressed, or because they have been seduced into lying themselves.
It seems very contemporary, and I read it with curiosity to see what David, with his vast experience of life thought God would do about it. 

1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful any more; 

   those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
   they flatter with their lips
   but harbor deception in their hearts.
 3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
   and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
   “By our tongues we will prevail;
   our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
Those in power rely on their smooth speech to talk themselves out of a fix.
 5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
   I will now arise,” says the LORD.
   “I will protect them from those who malign them.” 
NIV A reassuring word from the Lord.
But evil does reach a tipping point. And at a certain point, God intervenes.
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, 
   like silver purified in a crucible,
   like gold refined seven times.
In such a climate of insincerity, God’s promises give hope.  What the Lord says will happen.
 7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
   and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
   when what is vile is honored by the human race.
When people value power, money and success more than character and goodness, the wicked temporarily have the upper hand.
ESV The Psalm closes with assurance–God will protect his faithful followers. David is confident, even though, at present, the wicked think they have the upper hand. 


Psalm 13

 

1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? 

   How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?
 3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.
The Psalmist begins in despair, yet his spirits pick up as he recalls God’s unfailing love and goodness to him.
 

How Long, O Lord? Psalm 12, and 13, Day 30, Jan 30

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King David

Psalm 12

The Psalmist describes a fraught, divisive situation in which no one can be trusted, for everyone tells his neighbour a version of the truth, and everyone conceals some of their hearts’ truth. 
ESV This is a community lament, suited to occasions when the people of God are dominated by liars in positions of authority.
ESV The Psalmist describes flattering lips and insincere speech (a double heart) both of which manipulate others for the sake of gain. In such an environment, the godly and the faithful become so rare that it seems as if they have disappeared, either because they have been suppressed, or because they have been seduced into lying themselves.
It seems very contemporary, and I read it with curiosity to see what David, with his vast experience of life thought God would do about it. 

1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful any more; 

   those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
   they flatter with their lips
   but harbor deception in their hearts.
 3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
   and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
   “By our tongues we will prevail;
   our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
Those in power rely on their smooth speech to talk themselves out of a fix.
 5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
   I will now arise,” says the LORD.
   “I will protect them from those who malign them.” 
NIV A reassuring word from the Lord.
But evil does reach a tipping point. And at a certain point, God intervenes.
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, 
   like silver purified in a crucible,
   like gold refined seven times.
In such a climate of insincerity, God’s promises give hope.  What the Lord says will happen.
 7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
   and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
   when what is vile is honored by the human race.
When people value power, money and success more than character and goodness, the wicked temporarily have the upper hand.
ESV The Psalm closes with assurance–God will protect his faithful followers. David is confident, even though, at present, the wicked think they have the upper hand. 


Psalm 13

 

1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? 

   How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?
 3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.
The Psalmist begins in despair, yet his spirits pick up as he recalls God’s unfailing love and goodness to him.
 

Wisdom is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 3 9-18 Day 29, Jan 29

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Wisdom is more precious than rubies.

Proverbs 3
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,

   with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine.


 Many who have tried this, including I myself, can testify that it is true.
It has been narrowly interpreted to mean give to one’s church, but that, of course, is not what it says.
It says honour God by giving some of your wealth to his purposes, to things that he would like. 
And the poor are on God’s heart. His word is on God’s heart. Your local church is also on God’s heart, but giving to it should be balanced with giving to those in desperate need.


11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, 
   and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in.

One way of showing our love and care for our children is by disciplining them.
 Similarly, God does put us through seasons of discipline to develop strength of character in us. He also rebukes us through punishing circumstances so that we can stop, drop and repent. 
He does this because he is relentless in seeking to develop strength of character in us. 


 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
   those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
   and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
   nothing you desire can compare with her. 
16 Long life is in her right hand;
   in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
   and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
   those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Wisdom: the knowledge of God, the fear of God, the knowledge of his ways, good sense, is worth more than silver, gold and rubies.
It is to sought after in preference to silver, gold and rubies. In preference to wealth.

Wisdom bestows wealth in normal circumstances. The converse is not true.

Conducting one’s life in a wise way, in accordance with divine wisdom gives one riches, and honour, and a long life.
One’s life is likely to be pleasant and peaceful.
For wisdom, like a tree, gives shade and fruit.
Those who cleave to her are blessed. 

Wisdom is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 3 9-18 Day 29, Jan 29

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Wisdom is more precious than rubies.

Proverbs 3
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,

   with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine.


 Many who have tried this, including I myself, can testify that it is true.
It has been narrowly interpreted to mean give to one’s church, but that, of course, is not what it says.
It says honour God by giving some of your wealth to his purposes, to things that he would like. 
And the poor are on God’s heart. His word is on God’s heart. Your local church is also on God’s heart, but giving to it should be balanced with giving to those in desperate need.


11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, 
   and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in.

One way of showing our love and care for our children is by disciplining them.
 Similarly, God does put us through seasons of discipline to develop strength of character in us. He also rebukes us through punishing circumstances so that we can stop, drop and repent. 
He does this because he is relentless in seeking to develop strength of character in us. 

 Genesis 31

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.
Jacob had left the territory of the hostile Laban and was about to enter the territory of the hostile Esau. He sees the angelic encampment as a divine assurance that God’s host had come to safely escort him to Canaan.

 3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, @I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”
 6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
The 400 men suggests the Esau is going to attack Jacob. Esau has lived by the sword, as in Isaac’s “blessing,” while Jacob has lived the peaceful life of a shepherd.

 7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”
 9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.
A typical immigrant success story. Jacob’s prayer expresses his increasing dependence on God.
11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”
 13 He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds.”
 17 He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ 18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’”
 19 He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: “You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.” 21 So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.
 However, his two camps and  false humility stratagem suggests that he is also relying on his own resources.

 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
   But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Determined to win, Jacob does not release his opponent even though his hip has been dislocated.
His persistence is rewarded as he finally accepts that all blessing comes from God. 
 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
   “Jacob,” he answered.
 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
Now that Jacob accepts that all blessing comes from God, God accepts him as his servant by changing his name. 

   But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[g] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
His life was spared as he wrestled with God suggesting that his life will be spared as he wrestles with Esau. 

 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
A new day dawns in Jacob’s life.
Brilliant. A theophany. God comes in human form, with a human’s strength. He could not overpower Jacob, and then uses divine power to end the game.

He blesses Jacob because what Jacob wanted–for his entire life–even more than he wanted wealth or success, was God’s blessing. He tried to get it by manipulating a hungry Esau, by tricking a blind Isaac, but using tricky breeding practices, by a midnight escape.

And now he gets it just because he asked!! Wow!

ESV The renaming of Jacob brings to a climax a lifetime of struggling with others. Jacob has changed through the events of the preceding years. 
He has finally come to covet God’s free blessing rather than wresting it from others. 

 NIV Jacob has wrestled all his life, first with Esau then with Laban. Now, as he is about to re-enter Canaan, he is shown that it is with God he must wrestle, and not with any human being. 

Sheep, Wolves, Doves, Serpents, Matthew 10, Day 28, Jan 28,

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Matthew 10
 1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Does every believer have the authority to heal every disease and sickness, or those to whom God gives the gift of faith to heal? Theology apart, in practice, I have observed that some people’s prayers heal the sick, and change things, which is not true of every prayer uttered for healing.
If I were sick, I would, of course, ask for prayer from someone with a track record of healing disease and sickness, because they are more likely to have the faith and authority.
 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Salvation, because of God’s sovereign choice came from the Jews, and was preached first to the Jews.
These are the signs of the kingdom of heaven on earth—the sick healed, the dead raised, lepers cleansed, demons exorcised.
Healings, exorcisms, miracles. Signs of the Kingdom.
Are these the only signs of the Kingdom?
No. Because the Kingdom of God is also within us. Where one experiences and demonstrates love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control, whatever the provocation.
Freely you have received; freely give.
God freely gives spiritual power, and expects it to be shared freely.
  9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 
While Jesus does not want his apostles to profiteer, or make a fortune off the spiritual gifts he has given them, he does expect those blessed by their endeavours to support them.
11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 
And what a blessing they would have been to their hosts!!
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 
Peace is the gift given to individuals, homes or cities which receive the good news of the kingdom.
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
They come non-coercively bearing blessing. If they and their blessing are not wanted, they move on.
   16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 
ESV The serpent was the symbol of shrewdness and intellectual cunning, while the dove was emblematic of simple innocence.
What protection might a sheep, among the most tasty and most defenceless creatures in the animal kingdom (even more so than rabbits which have speed and sharp teeth) have when surrounded by ravenous wolves?
Or us when face to face with evil?
We can ask God for shrewdness, whether it is a natural quality of ours or not.  We can think. We ask him for guidance in how to be shrewd enough when we suspect that we are out of our depth in miry situations.
Goodness, innocence, gentleness and naivete also have an immense power. People after all are made in the image of God.  
The ultimate power however for a sheep among wolves is the fact that the eyes of the shepherd are on it.
 17 Be on your guard;
Jesus was meek and humble, yet his advice was edgy.
Don’t trust too soon, too easily, and perhaps not too much. Be guarded, be careful.
This is hard advice for me, I am naturally sanguine, trusting, and open. But heeding it is part of growing up.
you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Jesus tells his disciples not to be anxious because the spirit will guide them.
Jesus promises protection and infusion of wisdom when one lands up in tricky situations because of doing the right thing.
One needs to experience it to know its reality.
I will give you words and wisdom which your adversaries cannot withstand or contradict. Luke 21:15
   21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Following Christ is always a divisive thing.
It  may well lead to persecution—unfair, unjust targeting.
And sadly, not just from non-believers, but also from believers and church-goers, who, for instance, may prefer the status quo and power to anything which might rock the boat.  
* * *
And here’s how the disciples would stack up if we were hiring.
 TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph, Woodcrafters Carpenter Shop, Nazareth
FROM: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem
Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.
As part of our service, we make some general comments for your guidance, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation, and comes without any additional fee.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All the other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants