BORROWED

In my first novel, I gave God the name, the "Owner." It was for me an aid in remembering that God really does own everything that is since he created it. He does in his goodness and mercy grant us temporary title to some things, but they still belong to him.

This even includes our very lives. They wouldn't exist without his having created them. Which makes the concept of owning things to me one with a far different meaning than some of us appreciate.

This whole idea took on a different aspect for my wife and I a while ago when we moved into our first house. Technically, we are the homeowners. Yet, while we possess the house and it is in our name, the mortgage company does have a claim against it. So we don't own it without help.

But the ultimate help is from the Lord. After all, he is the real owner of the house and everything else. It is wonderful that he grants us some kindness and blessing in allowing us the right to temporarily possess and own any given item, but I do wonder at times if we truly appreciate how that is temporary.

When one looks at the panorama called life and all the inequity it is very clear that people don't view ownership as temporary. If anything, the opposite seems to be the dominate aspect of thinking. Too many seem consumed with the process of trying to gleam as much in life as possible, even at the expense of others.

As a result there truly is a tragic gap in the world in terms of provision. Some have too much, others have too little.

I know we have the power to change that reality, but it isn't going to happen. Jesus, I think, expressed the truth of human nature when he made the comment, "the poor you have with you always."

I don't believe he was endorsing poverty. I think he was simply making a sad, but very true observation about human nature. Basically, that God puts in our hands the capacity to do otherwise in terms of charity, but we don't do solve the problems even when we have the power to do so.

I don't claim to be exempt from such behavior either. I do marvel at God's blessing in terms of us having finally be granted a chance to own a home. It didn't come along early in my life and still would I at this point get rid of it to say feed the poor? That is the way some would claim you should do.

As for myself, I don't believe that is what is meant by helping. Sharing is not the absence of blessing for oneself as I see it. It is the responsibility to help to the degree God's spirit leads. That is the part that I think we fail at and in the process lose out on the rewards for whatever might have been accomplished if we had said yes instead of no.