Defining Moments

Life stinks sometimes.

M Scott Peck states, “Mental health is dedication to reality at all costs.” This is one of those “easy said than done” concepts of life. Throughout all of Scripture we see the people of God, whether individuals or groups, who are committed to God and this principle. In fact, I believe as Christians we ought to be able to live this out the most. Our hope for what Christ is doing allows us to be committed to the reality of this world, not resigned to it, but seeking to be part of Christ’s redeeming work of our present reality.

Mordecai expresses his emotions.

I think this is important for us to see here. In a book where to this point emotions are not always appropriately expressed, instead dealt with in strictly a rationale approach, the example of Mordecai is starkly different.

I believe this is a good reminder that we are emotional beings. In our world, and even in our Christian churches, we value the mind and the intellect as we should. But sometimes we are also quick to minimize or downright stop emotions. This is not how we were created. In fact, God is described in many places as having emotions. We can grieve the Holy Spirit Paul says, which is an emotional act.

IN fact, much to the dismay of some I am certain, we are starting to learn the negative consequences of unexpressed emotions. IMO unexpressed emotions will sooner or later come out whether that be emotionally, mentally, spiritually or yes even physically.

Mordecai is seeking justice.

His actions are meant to get the attention of the king. This is why it may be more public than we would like. In the Ancient Near Easter, this was exactly the appropriate response.

Esther is unaware of reality.

This is not a bad thing. Sometimes it is good to be naive and we ought to protect the innocence of youth. In fact, in our age of information sometimes we need to realize it is okay to not know everything. With more knowledge and understanding comes more responsibility.

Now this is not an excuse to stop growing or to stick our heads in the sand. Reality is true whether we know it or not.

Esther thinks for herself.

For the first time we start to see her develop her own voice. This is first seen in how she goes to take care of Mordecai. She tries to help him by giving him clothes so she speak face to face with him. He refuses.

Secondly, we start to see how she is growing in character. Up until now in the story of Esther she has just “done what he said to do”. Now, she is starting to think through the consequences and the reality of the situation. We must all learn to do the hard work of thinking through for ourselves.

For you young people, kids and teens, you must at some point in time make your faith your own. You must start to think for yourself what Jesus is asking of you.

Events can be redeemed.

This is probably the most quoted portion of Esther and for great reasons. I do not believe the events of Esther’s life was rosy nor ideal. She has experienced the trauma of many things. Her family were exiles, she lost both parents at presumably a young age, she was forced to be part of the King’s palace. She was forced, and asked, to keep silent who she really was. All these things can be very traumatic. We can then desire to just exist and not truly live. Yet, maybe all those things happened to her, as Mordecai suggests, for such a reason as this.

Though Esther was powerless to control the events which happened to her she was not powerless in how she would integrate or respond to them.

Be open to life’s defining moments.

Indulge me for a moment. This passage reminds me of a Robin Williams movie, Dead Poet’s Society, and his classic moment of the movie where he stands on a desk and says, “Carpe Diem, seize the day.”

Esther responds instead of reacts.

How key this is for us in today’s world. I know I am trying to learn this lesson better each week. Response is a deliberate action. Reaction is just our “instinct”.

We need the discipline of fasting.

I know I spoke on this the beginning of the year, which seems like decades ago. But I stand with my fellow believers calling us as God’s people to fast in these days. I am not sure what fast you need to do nor for how long. I cannot say “God says we must fast” in these days but I suggest maybe this is needed. I also know when I have fasted it has allowed me to come out with a resolve, a clear sense of direction, so I can live out one of my many defining moments.

We need to be open to God’s healing.

Esther could only see the truth of Mordecai’s words because she was open to the possibility she was more than just what happened to her. You are not just a victim of your past. You do not need to resign to the traumatic events of your past. No, you may not be able to go back but you can go forward and allow Christ to make your whole. Maybe you have experienced those things for such a time as this.