Down The Rabbit Hole

Are you familiar with that delightfully absurd story, "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland"  first published in 1865, and seldom out of print since? The publication of this tome changed children's literature, which had been heavily into moralizing and moribund stories. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) wrote other nonsense works, but is forever loved for this childhood favourite.  

As Alice in Wonderland begins, Alice is lying on the grass on a hot summer's day, with her sister who is reading a not very interesting book, (at least to Alice) and not really doing anything, when a white rabbit runs past, wearing a waistcoat and consulting a pocket watch! She follows him to his rabbit hole and promptly tumbles in. This plunge leads her to a world of talking caterpillars, narcoleptic dormice, and disappearing cats and other absurdities. The world that Alice knows is turned up-side-down  

As I look around our world today, and try to make sense of all that is happening, I think that humanity has tumbled down that same rabbit hole that Alice fell into. We find ourselves in a very strange land where up is down, right is wrong, good is bad, and evil has become an acceptable lifestyle. Christians are portrayed and marginalized as intolerant and hate filled bigots, political and other leaders who have the morals of a cockroach are hailed by many as "being appointed by God". 

The police in many counties are out of control and shoot first, ask later. Vocal minority groups force their agendas upon the rest of us, accusing dissenters of being "phobic" of whatever it is they want to ram down our throats. "Social Media" is filled with more venom than a pit of cobras, so-called "keyboard warriors" vilify even the most innocent situations or people. Housing costs and land values have suddenly mushroomed, pushing the dream of home-owing beyond many. A recent survey in our country revealed that  3 out of 5 home-owners could not afford to "buy" at current prices, the home they purchased 10 years ago, in many cases those homes had more than trebled in price.       

Gaia, the ancient Greek earth goddess, has been re-born as the savour of our ravaged planet, to be worshipped and rewarded with millions of "green" dollars. The "environment" is the new cathedral for the faithful to gather in supplication and reverence. 

We live in a society where the winners are the successful people;
those who make a lot of money; those who are famous; or those who outmanoeuvre others; those who are good at using the moment to outdo others and make more for themselves.  These people are seen as heroes.  

Alice has a conversation with the Cheshire cat... it goes something like this. “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” The cat responds by saying, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” Alice responds by saying, “I don’t much care where,” to which the cat replies, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” 

This is a mirror of modern living, we are beset by problems, events overwhelm us, the "woke" brigade are judging history and historical  personalities by  today's very muddled standards... destroying history does not change it, it actually makes it easier to repeat it. As a society, we no longer know which way to go... as the world becomes more Godless, is it even possible to live a Godly life today?   

Make no mistake about it.... we live in a very negative and troubled  world, and this should come as no surprise to us, considering that Jesus gave us a "heads up" long ago... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 KJV. 

The Amplified Version of the Bible expands that thought... I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]  

Two things are immediately obvious in this verse... tribulation is all around us... but PEACE can be found, and it resides in the Prince of Peace. The word in Greek translated as "good cheer" is tharseo, pronounced thae-she-o, and it literally means to have courage! 

We are to be positive, not negative people! More than that, we are to be a rejoicing people.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Philippians 3:1 NKJV 

Again, the Amplified Version expands upon Paul's thought...  FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety. 

The Greek word translated as rejoice is chario, pronounced khah'ee-ro, and it comes from the same root as good cheer, as used in John 16:33. Good cheer... courage and rejoicing... the perfect recipe to cope with the madness around us daily!