Midweek Meditation: Aging Saints and Paradigm Shifts

Several years ago I heard a pastor use the quote, “Doing the same thing over and over again in the same way, and expecting different results, is the definition of insanity.” And although I’ve found tracking down its original author to be hopeless, I have found  plenty of appropriate times to apply the quotation.

However, upon reflection, I think ‘insanity‘ may be too strong a word.  Call it foolishness instead. For instance, I’ve pointed out to piano students that practicing the same  phrase over and over in the same way (i.e., without stopping to correct the mistake) and expecting to be able to play it correctly, is foolish.

A Poem for Mother’s Day, from a great mother: Ruth Bell Graham

One of the mothers I admire most (other than my own dear departed, whom I wrote a bit about here) was Ruth Bell Graham. Her courage, devotion and persistent life-long faith are inspiring to me. She loved and prayed for a prodigal; her writing refreshes my hope for my own prodigals. Below is one of my favorite poems of hers.  I offer it to all praying mothers, in honor of Mother’s Day. May we all bow before the Infinite Wisdom.

Had she been another mother:

Had I been Joseph’s mother
I’d have prayed
protection from his brothers:
“God keep him safe;
he is so young,
so different from
the others.”
Mercifully she never knew
there would be slavery
and prison, too.

——————————-