Labor Day Musings

It’s been ten days since The Smiling Man Conspiracy went into review on Kindle Scout. Whether or not I’ll be selected, I have no clue. But I do know that I will be okay either way. I have faith that whatever the result, God will guide me to the next stage in my life. It might not be a pretty sight. There may even be a fair amount of suffering involved. But it’ll be His will, as it always is and will be.

I’m human, so anxieties and anticipation naturally flare up. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t constantly thinking about the book even while fairly contented by whichever decision happens to be made. I’m at peace, yes, but worries surround the shell of hope I’ve constructed. Thank God it’s not up to me what will happen. I’d probably muck it up somehow. He is perfect. I am not.

Which brings me to the next issue I wanted to discuss: that monstrosity known as Twin Peaks: The Return and its abysmal ending. In an earlier blog post, I dissected the problems I had with the show’s pacing and writing. Those failings held true to the end. There were moments of brilliance, but they were marred by a substandard plot, lackluster characters, horrible self-indulgence by the director, laughable and bizarrely repetitive dialogue, and much unnecessary nudity and language.

I can’t think of a worse revival for an old television show. David Lynch & Mark Frost made their choices, their creative decisions that would shape this unruly beast that I wish I hadn’t bothered to watch. Yet, I can’t find too much anger in it. They were always going to make those choices. The fans could think of a million more interesting and better written alternatives, but they were never going to occur. Why? Because His will be done.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. How can humans have free will if His will is the only thing that matters? Like much of Christianity, it’s a paradox, but one that makes a funny kind of sense. You see, humans do have the free will to make their future. But God is Sovereign and All-knowing. He is always aware of what you’re going to do long before you do it. Thus, we are predestined to make the decisions He knows we will.

Naturally, a great many philosophical questions arise from this basic premise. These questions would merit their own discussions, but I’d save those for another time and a Christian writer with more tact and Spiritual maturity than I currently possess. Someone in the ilk of William Lane Craig, J. Wallace, Lee Strobel, or Ken Ham, for example. Or local pastors who you may be more familiar with.

I’m a young man and an even younger Christian. I’m thankful to Him that even in my youth, I know that truth that His will be done, not mine.

“Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth. Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases.” (Psalm 115:1-3)

Thanks for reading this Labor Day blog post. I hope it’s been brief but enlightening. Peace be to you and remember that despite what we dupe ourselves into believing, the only one in absolute control is God.