The Phil Files

Exclusive! High class!! Well to do!!!

Our plane flew over this area of the metroplex as we flew into DFW airport Monday night. The houses were massive, the lawns well manicured and the SUV’s and sedans were expensive. Yet in the fading light, the houses looked remarkably the same from the air.

Oh sure, there were more gables and more square footage on some than others, but they were still shingled covered boxes surrounded by grass. All that money for the prestige of a great location, the best schools, and privilege — but they were still only shingles on boxes surrounded by grass. And inside, well, I know about the inside — broken hearts, worried parents, struggling marriages, tight finances, confused romances, jangled nerves over 401k’s, and secrets rotting the hearts of their holders. And yes, some hearts seeking for answers, and some living out the answer. It’s a whole lot like a few miles away where there are fewer gables, smaller lawns, and fewer shingles. It’s been my theory that for the most part, most of us have the same amount of “disposable income,” we just have different house/rent payments.

Hmm. Makes me wonder what this stuff we work so hard and stretch so much to acquire — and what we so much fear losing when the economy turns down — it makes me wonder what it all looks like from God’s side of the view. This is not to downplay the obvious anguish of those who have lost their houses or retired couples living out of their cars because of retirement woes.

But so much of the driving force of our “modern economy” is built on sand — credit stretched to the limit to give us what we want. Seems like I remember Jesus saying something about a humpy back camel trying to get his big fat nose through the eye of a sower’s needle and exchanging our souls for something that falls short of real life. None of us is immune to the pressure and desires that move us in this wrong direction.

So I guess what it all comes down to is what’s in the hearts of the folks in those boxes covered by shingles and surrounded by grass — small, large, or just in between sized boxes.
Oh Lord, may the thought of my heart and the words of my mouth be pleasing to you … for You alone are my Rock and Redeemer — especially in times like these.