In Matt Haig’s novel, The Midnight Library, thirty-something Nora is having a bad life.
In her estimation, she’s failing at it. She regrets so many of her life choices, maybe even most of them. She is so filled with regrets, she decides to end it.
That’s when things get weird.
Nora is surprised to awaken in a vast library, and even more surprised to find it staffed by Mrs. Elm, the school Librarian of her early teens. It gets weirder. Mrs. Elm offers her the chance to live different lives; those lives she would have lived if she no longer had those regrets.
Wow, that’s tempting.
Can you imagine it? What would life be like if you had never done that thing you did? Not said that thing you said? Would your life be better?
I’m pretty sure King David was thinking something along those lines in this week’s selection from 2nd Samuel. Quick review of last week: David gets Bathsheba pregnant, has her husband killed, and then marries her … all to cover up that he had sex with a married woman.
This week, thinking he has gotten away with it, David is stunned when the Prophet Nathan makes it clear that God knows all about it … and is not happy with David’s choices. So, yeah, I’m thinking David suddenly had some huge regrets.
The problem, of course, is that in real life, we don’t get “do overs.” David could no more go back and eliminate his bad actions than any of us can.
We have to live with them.
And suffer the consequences.
There is one thing, though. We can ask for forgiveness. No, that doesn’t mean we get to skip over the consequences of our actions. Good or bad, we are going to reap what we sow. But, we can seek God’s forgiveness for our regretful actions.
That’s what David is doing in Psalm 51 when he asks God to teach him wisdom in his “secret heart” and create in him “a clean heart.” It’s a great confessional poem, and I can testify to its power to help.
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PHOTO CREDIT:
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Once again, we meet DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast at Our Breakfast Place (formerly the Egg and I). Join us there (or on Zoom) Friday morning at 8:00. We have a great time visiting, reading scripture, discussing, and laughing.
Blessings,
Steve
Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera if you don’t wish to be seen and to mute the microphone if you don’t wish to speak.
SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
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