.a hidden lesson for archies?.

Today = Luke 7:18-50; Genesis 11; Psalm 5

Today has been a busy day, full of Cuban food, thrifting, skiing, and my dad's tasty dinner. We've been frantically trying to get everything together for when I leave Thursday morning. I can't believe I'm leaving so soon! It's been so good to be home and to see everyone. I'm excited to go back, but I'm always sad to leave. I'm starting to really hate goodbyes.

Completely unrelated is today's reading. (And I'm actually posting before midnight!). Since I haven't really commented on Genesis much, and it is pretty important, I thought I would start with Genesis 11. It tells the story of the Tower of Babel, and then goes on to describe one of the numerous lineages in the Bible. The Tower of Babel is an interesting story for me, and I admit I don't quite understand it. It's crazy that God confused the languages for so many people so quickly. It would be crazy to wake up one morning and not understand anything your neighbor is saying. Languages have always been fascinating for me. I wish I was faster and more diligent at learning them, especially given my study abroad trip in Italy next fall. Anyway, the story of Babel basically describes a large group of people who decide to build a giant tower to reach to the heavens so that they can make a name for themselves.

When I first read the story, I wondered what cause God had to create mass confusion and rip a population of people apart. But I think a lot of it has to do with that part about "making a name for themselves." In truth, God's name is the only one that should ever be praised, he's the only one who should be really famous, and the only one who should ever be worshiped. But these people wanted that for themselves. Unfortunately this tradition continues to today, with everyone wanting their name known and anxiously waiting for their "fifteen minutes of fame" to begin. It's comical how we believe we deserve to get recognized for making witty comments on camera, pulling some backyard stunt, or even building a tower out of mud bricks. God made the whole earth just a few chapters back, and they thought they should be famous for using something he already made to make some baked tower in the desert. Smart. It reminds me of the all-important, yet sometimes instantly-forgettable lesson in humility; "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:5-7)

I find it interesting that people are always searching for power, strength, fame, money, ... even new clothes or a better house. But God doesn't ask us to take on any of that. He want's us to lean on him for might and power. We should never be anxious or worried about anything. And yet we always take our life into 'our own' hands. If the people were building that tower as an Ebenezer, or as some kind of praise to God, it would have been seen as a worthy venture. But because they made it to glorify their name, it is look at as pure foolishness. Which reminds me of the importance of this story for me: I'm going to have to check my motives with architecture often. It's easy to construct a Tower of Babel with your name stamped on it. It's difficult to surrender your talents and abilities to God, the one thing that actually matters. Buildings and towers and bridges and monuments all fall.