fickle: adj. marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability: given to erratic changeableness

We’re a fickle bunch of humans, are we not?

I include myself in this category just as much as I do you, I promise. We forget the good stuff so quickly. My dad used the phrase, “As dependable as a fart in a windstorm.” Yup.

When it’s too hot, we forget how we longed for warmth through the long winter months. As soon as the temperature gets cold, we forget how we craved sweatshirt weather when the sun was soaking us as it was intended to do. When we get what we begged for, we so quickly move on to the next thing we long for.

I can think of some very big national events in my lifetime that unified us all as a country, and man, those could’ve been used to fuel some real healing and change. Instead, we forget our sameness and instead, highlight our differences and use them as a leaping-off-point for hatred and division.

It wasn’t long ago at all that in the face of our common fear, we played each other songs from our living rooms and lifted each other up. Now, it’s as if we are collectively reveling in the surmised power that comes from disagreeing loudly.

I disagree strongly too, friends. I am struggling to my core as to how folks can think differently than I do about things that seem so obvious. BUT, our loud words, our loud behavior, the pushy points haven’t helped a bit. No one has made an impact with ugly.

Could we stop now? Can it be over now?

I know the answer. It won’t stop.

Because we are like those Israelites we shake our heads about. Read Exodus for reference. ALL they cried for, begged for, longed for, was to be free. And as soon as they were, they spent their days receiving a miracle and then complaining because it wasn’t good enough. Food on the ground each day for free, water from rocks, shoes that never wore out — didn’t matter. Thanks for doing that impossible thing for me, but now I’m off to be a jerk because I can.

I do it. We all do. Check arrives in the mail just in time to save the budget — miracle. Thanks, God. Person I love gets healed — wow, I am the MOST thankful!!! That thing I’ve been asking for resolution on, completely taken care of in a way only God can do — Hallelujah!

And then the next minute, I’m off to fret about, complain about, focus on. We just forget so quickly. It’s okay to be this human.

The Bible stories are there to show us lots of things and one of them is to remind us how we are all the same no matter what century are sandals are from.

Another reason is to point us to how to be more like our Creator. We will never be like Him. Our love will always be human and never be unconditional. We can forgive, but we don’t have a forget button like He does.

But we can at least attempt to keep our minds in a good frame. (Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 TPT). Even folks who don’t recognize God understand the concept of thankfulness. I am so glad I know it’s because I’m loved rather than happenstance, and in knowing this I find myself so frequently in the Psalms. They help me stay in a mindset that is at peace, that sets down the ugly and wants to move forward instead of staying stuck in my own understanding.

I want to be steadfast. I want to be light. I long to find and be peace in the crazy.

The more of us that are willing to show love and light instead of loud and right, the more unity we will find — as families, as Americans, as humans.

How about you? How are you coping with the place in which we find ourselves with so much pulling at your mind and peace? Do you have a favorite Psalm? This one is one of the many I’ve found beauty in recently. I hope it brings you peace.

Psalm 147 (The Passion Translation):

Our Amazing God

147 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
How beautiful it is when we sing our praises to the beautiful God,
for praise makes you lovely before him
and brings him great delight!
² The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers up the outcasts and brings them home.
³ He heals the wounds of every shattered heart.
⁴ He sets his stars in place, calling them all by their names.
⁵ How great is our God!
There’s absolutely nothing his power cannot accomplish,
and he has infinite understanding of everything.
⁶ God supports and strengthens the humble,
but the ungodly will be brought down to the dust.
⁷ Sing out with songs of thanksgiving to the Lord!
Let’s sing our praises with melodies overflowing!
⁸ He fills the sky with clouds, sending showers to water the earth
so that the grass springs up on the mountain fields
and the earth produces food for man.^[a]
9 All the birds and beasts who cry with hunger to him
are fed from his hands.
¹⁰ His people don’t find security in strong horses,
for horsepower is nothing to him.
Man power is even less impressive!
¹¹ The Lord shows favor to those who fear him,
to his godly lovers who wait for his tender embrace.
¹² Jerusalem, praise the Lord! Zion, worship your God!
¹³ For he has strengthened the authority of your gates.
He even blesses you with more children.
¹⁴ He’s the one who brings peace to your borders,^[b]
feeding you the most excellent of fare.
¹⁵ He sends out his orders throughout the world;
his words run as swift messengers, bringing them to pass.
¹⁶ He blankets the earth with glistening snow,
painting the landscape with frost.
¹⁷ Sleet and hail fall from the sky,
causing waters to freeze before winter’s icy blast^…
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!