Passion Week, Day 3- Reasons for the Haze

As we near the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, many athletes around the world, not to mention the image conscious Chinese government, are worried about the haze of pollution that hangs over the city of Beijing. Some athletes especially in outdoor stamina events may wear breathing masks during their events. Beijing officials are considering extra measures to reduce pollution such as limiting the number of vehicles on the road and actually building massive exhaust fans to blow the haze into the countryside.

Those defending Beijing say that a topographical and meteorological anomalies that can't be helped are to blame. The reasons for the haze according to China is that Beijing sits physically in sort of a bowl under a weather-generated lid which traps the pollution in the city. Of course, Communist countries have always lagged behind Democratic countries in pollution control and industrial safety. (See Chernobyl) But admitting mistakes is the last thing a totalitarian regime would ever do and there is no one with influence ver them willing or able to call them on it.

While this behavior may be typical of governments it is not atypical of people. From the very beginning we have blamed things on others or on circumstances that we say or think can't be helped. I wonder what excuses for misunderstanding Christ's mission could have been offered by those in the first Easter? What would be their reasons for the haze that kept them from seeing and understanding what Christ was doing? Truly they were blinded but blinded by what?

For many it was fear. For others (like the Jewish religious leaders) it was jealousy. For some it was simple selfishness. For others it just simply the haze of ignorance--they just didn't know enough. They all had reasons for the haze. Do you and I? Is there something we are missing because we refuse to see God and what he is doing right now that may be big? What are your reasons for the haze and most importantly what are you going to do get rid of the pollution between you and God?

There are, like in Beijing, some natural barriers to connecting with him. But reduce the amount of traffic in your mind and life and spend somwe extra time with him in prayer, Bible study, and church attendance. I think you will find that the Holy wind of the Spirit will begin to blow away the smoke between you and God. At least you and I won't have any more haze for which we have to find reasons.