It is unusual when you start some decompression time watching TV, and you stumble into a big philosophical and spiritual conversation in display. It was the near end of the Netflix special on The Tale of Norm MacDonald – comedian and hiding himself being a victim of cancer having been fighting it for 9 years with very few people knowing (passing away in 2021) – he was hiding the diagnosis and treatment because it would not jive with his comedy routines and image – comedy which was rarely light-hearted anyway but still why put the focus on death over life… it might get internet views but does not fill comedy clubs…
I don’t follow many comedians except maybe David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, but I do appreciate these Netflix specials which give you that other thing to thing about for a while, and so the long while I was being productive cleaning windows this past week, it is good to have projects to keep you from being bored in other projects, well I started listening to this particular show – pausing as needed when I moved on to other tasks. Then when I finally rested in decompression of the week, I finished the episode and wow – I did not see these special spiritual nuggets coming – but they are so good!
One such clip: Talk show host Larry King was interviewing Norm MacDonald and you could see the HOPE in Norm’s eyes and in his expression when they came to the conversation about FAITH. Larry King professed to be an unbeliever – and said he did not want to think of death – and Larry heard the terrible term that death is a “dirt nap”. WELL, Norm chimes in with this HOPE – this piece of spiritual wisdom – professing that “He is on a journey” when asked about his faith – Norm telling Larry: “Can I calm your fears about death? You and death will never intersect. As long as you are here, death is not. As long as death is there, you are NOT.”
…
YEAH
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The other quotes in the show also good ones: “What people don’t understand about faith is that you have to, uh, choose it.”
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“Scripture. Faith. Grace. Christ. Glory of God. Smart Man says nothing is a miracle. I say everything is.”
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A early quote from Norm on social media (just starting then) showed this journey that he and many people are likely on: If you want to know if I believe in God, sometimes i do and sometimes i don’t. Such is faith.” – and “Seems like Faith is the only Salvation.”
Norm would say in a stand up routine (which could be thought-provoking): “I am not smart enough to not believe in God. I am not stong enough to not believe in God. So I need God.”
SO I NEED GOD.
We hopefully also cling to the One is wiser and bolder and braver and our All in All – God. We hopefully look to the Lord on this journey and understand that we need Him. and that we understand that He loves us – that God is our beginning and our future and our here and now.
May we all not be “too smart” – “too strong” – “too witty” – “too ambitious” – “too anything” – to not believe in our EVERYTHING… May we always remember to look to God – feel our way towards God – listen towards God – and act accordingly on this journey…
So, I need God – yes – He knows the Way.
Amen
Some internet-grabbed scriptures all about God and wisdom and understanding:
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.” – Job 12:13
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” – Romans 11:33
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” – Psalm 147:5
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” – Isaiah 40:28
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” – Psalm 139:1-2
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:7
“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” – Matthew 6:8
“If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” – 1 John 3:20
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” – Isaiah 46:10
