DAZE

I Was Just Thinking About – DAZE.

On November 8, 1965, the first broadcast of a soap opera -  The Days of Our Lives – began on the NBC Network. It continues as a telecast that shares a wide-range of life experiences – love triangles, murder, divorce, etc. The story line is set in the town of Salem and explores the triumphs and tragedies of three families – the Hortons, Brady and DiMeras. The program, while fictional, nevertheless touches on real life circumstances. It does so through a secular point of view that seeks to find resolve from a solely humanistic approaches. In that sense, rather than it being viewed as The DAYS of Our Lives it might be more appropriate to think of it as The DAZE of Secular Living.

Synonyms for the word daze are varied. The alternative terms are to amaze, astound, stun, overwhelm, bewilderment, distraction, dazzle. When DAZE is used as a noun, it addresses confusion. When used as a verb, it conveys to confuse or to shock. The days of many lives are being lived in a daze due to several external factors that include, mood modifiers (alcohol and drug abuse). Sometimes it pertains to the misuse of medications as one seeks release from pain or attempts to thwart a physical deterioration. Regrettably (and unfortunately), there is a self-inflicted period where one is more in a daze than function in a more normal state of awareness.

Spiritually, DAZE can also become a self-inflicted state of mind and behavior. This happens when incorrect choices are made and obvious mandates of God’s Word are excused or avoided. Ecclesiastes touches upon the intricacies of the days of one’s life and outcomes based upon the life-choices one makes. The incorrect choices makes one’s days likened to daze. For instance, Ecclesiastes 10:12-15 (NLT) contrasts the wise and the foolish. The plight of the fool/foolish is: (1) fools are destroyed by their own words; (2) fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions; (3) a fool’s conclusions will be wicked madness; (4) fools chatter on and on; (5) fools are incapable of knowing/discerning what is going to happen (both the present and future); (6) fools are easily exhausted by a little work; and (7) fools become so disoriented that they can’t even find their way home. For the fool, he has chosen to live in The DAZE.

In Ecclesiastes 11:4-5 (NLT), life in general is explored. Some conclusions drawn are: (1) Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they will never harvest. (2) Verse 5 is profound: ”Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its Mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.” (Some manuscripts read: “Just as you cannot understand how breath comes to a tiny baby in its Mother’s womb”).

The questions that need to be asked and answered by the Biblical Christian include: How do we understand life and what it is (James 4:14)? What does it mean for us to walk day by day in the light as He (Jesus Christ) is in the light (actually He IS The Light)? Do we clearly understand His precepts and will for our lives? Does the Lord order and direct our steps (Psalm 37:23) or do we insist on doing what we want to do and how we want to do it? It makes the important difference of whether or not The Days of Our Lives are being lived in The Light of God’s Word and in accordance with His Will for us. If we insist on our own way rather than His way, our days remain as The DAZE of Our Lives.

Some of the words written in a Hymn by E.E. Hewitt (1890) serve one well as a goal and prayer for The Days of One’s Life…

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Trying to follow our Savior and King;
Shaping our lives by His blessed example,
Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.

Pressing more closely to Him who is leading,

When we are tempted to turn from the way;
Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,
Happy, how happy, our praises each day.

Chorus:

How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Stepping in the light, stepping in the light;
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Led in paths of light.

May each of you be delivered from The DAZE (Darkness) to The LIGHT for the remainder of The Days of Your Life.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.