Running Around in Circles
by Herb Douglas
Two thoughts have been working on my mind this morning. On one hand, I was thinking about a song that Bing Crosby made famous, a song composed by Irving Berlin. (Has there ever been a more famous, more pleasing combination?): source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/
“A greyhound who had lots of speed was surely bound to fail
For morning, noon and evening, he'd be chasing his own tail
He was running around in circles
Running around in circles getting nowhere
A squirrel in a treadmill cage, around and 'round he'd go
You'd think that he'd be in a rage, but seems he didn't know
He was running around in circles
Running around in circles getting nowhere
The man who runs a carousel is often heavy-hearted
He rides all day, but sad to say, he winds up where he started
So, concentrate and clear your mind of schemes that never last
Or you'll wake up someday and find your chances all have passed
You've been running around in circles
Running around in circles getting nowhere
Getting nowhere very fast.”
1. The latest earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, etc., or
2. The latest signs of troubles in the European Union, or
3. The riots in Greece and elsewhere, or
4. Creation vs Evolution issues, or
5. American politics, Democrats or Republicans, or
6. Women's Ordination, or
7. The place of Israel in last-day events, or
8. Spiritual Formation/Contemplative prayer, or
9. The Mayan Calendar, 2012, or
10. The Jubilee Years, or
11. Conservatism vs Progressivism, or
12. Etc., etc.
13. Of course, anyone of the choices above is interesting but each fades into the wallpaper if we do not keep our eyes/ears on the Big Picture. The Big Picture includes all the areas that too often, by themselves, occupy our main attention.
14. But without seeing the Big Picture, everything else will fade into either insignificance or will be overwhelmed with an even more dramatic event and, as the song goes, “You've been running around in circles getting nowhere, Getting nowhere very fast.”I know,
15. I know you are asking, “What's the point?” THE BIG PICTUR E IS SIMPLE: WHAT DOES GOD HAVE ON HIS MIND FOR PLANET EARTH? What is the overwhelming, all-consuming issue that everyone living on this planet today should be thinking about? In what way do all the issues listed above play a part in the Big Picture.
When each of us focuses on the Big Picture, it really is amazing how each front-page issue fits together in a larger whole. Everything is related to everything else! But not everything is as important as everything else!
When we don't have the Big Picture in mind, then all the other issues, awful and scary as they may be (as well as how cheery the optimism may be) truly become wearisome and depressing.
AND WHO WANTS TO LIVE LIKE THAT! "Just running around in circles getting nowhere, Getting nowhere very fast.”
