Gang Aft Agley

So. Here it is Monday, 30 March anno domini Two thousand and fifteen. A week after I had decided and announced that I would post on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clairy Browne & the Bangin Rackettes in the earbuds.

I may get this out as the Tuesday edition. If I’m lucky.Then again, you could be reading this come next Thursday. Or Friday.

The title of this post comes from Scotsman Robert Burns’ poem, To A Mouse. And it gave John Steinbeck the title of his book, Of Mice and Men.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compared wi' me!

The present only toucheth thee:

But och! I backward cast my e'e,

On prospects drear!

An' forward, tho' I canna see,

I guess an' fear!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The story goes that as Burns was ploughing his fields he plowed up a mouse nest. And in a fit of remorse or pity or both, one story goes, Burns’ wrote the poem as he held onto the plough looking down upon the wee beastie.

The modern translation of Burns’ poem (well, the last two verses) goes like this:

But little Mouse, you are not alone,

In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes of mice and men

Go often askew, (Scots: Gang aft agley)

And leave us nothing but grief and pain,

For promised joy!

Still you are blessed, compared with me!

The present only touches you:

But oh! I backward cast my eye,

On prospects dreary!

And forward, though I cannot see,

I guess and fear!

Sometime back in February, in the early morning hours - around 4’ish or so, I wrote a prayer to the Father in the back of my current journal. Kind of stream of consciousness schtick, or more appropriately, the Holy Spirit expressing Herself for my benefit.

I ask for another 24 years of life. And among many, many other things, asked that He take away two of my greatest personal worries: my car and my money. Well, damn it! The best laid schemes of mice and men, Gang aft agley!

Here I sit, in my light gray gym shorts, terrified to leave the house. The car started having transmission problems a month or more ago. Also it sounds as if a ball joint is going out. As if to further terrify me, the Check Engine light has now come on.

The cost to repair all this will (and here’s where my worry of money enters in) be the approximate cost of my remaining dental work - my complete lower extraction and insertion of a lower set of dentures. Replacing a front end on a front wheel car is not cheap. Neither are oral surgeon fees.

So do I take back my fears, my worries now that I have given them to GOD? Do I say to the Tetragrammaton, the dread, terrible ineffable name of GOD, Sorry but you’re not capable - of keeping your word, of giving me peace? Or, as you see in the movies, in Rick’s Cafe Americain in Vichy Casablanca do I put all my chips, all my fears and worries, on black 22 and let it ride?

It annoys me to no end that people - some “Christian,” some not - have the temerity to put limitations on the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent creator of the Universe. The only being in the Universe that has life, in and of itself.

“Christians,” especially Americans, have so many worries and fears today, caught as they are by the lie, believing that somehow the government is their responsibility, that they know better than the career diplomats who run America’s foreign policy.

That Scripture is just a handbook to fix problems, generally petty ones. It is not intimate. It is not the breath of GOD.

That “worship” is something done rather than something lived and consequently, our responsibilities for one another are not a big deal.

That Love is impossible; unattainable for us wretched creatures.

Who haven’t the first clue how terrorizing it is to fall into the hands of the living GOD.

Who...well, look in the mirror and see for yourselves.

I am, then, in truth, annoyed with myself, with my weak faith.

When I had a radio show one of my favorite passages to read was Hebrews 12:1-2:

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of Faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD.

All of our sins, all of my sins are, so absolutely petty compared with what Jesus has endured for us. The sin(s) that so easily entangle us are exactly the sins we don’t think we commit. Worry, fear, and faithlessness to name but a few.

So, my chips are going on black 22 and babies, I am gonna let it ride! And no more worries, (at least for the next) hour or so. I would suggest you read the entirety of Hebrews Chapter 12 about discipline and suffering.

To live as Burn’s mouse, in the moment, in the present. Without worry of yesterday nor fear and guessing of tomorrow.

To trust the GOD, whom when Moses asked what he should call HIM to the Israelites, I’m guessing HE answered curtly, maybe a bit indignantly the Tetragrammaton, told Moses, “I AM THAT I AM”; so to trust a GOD so GREAT that HE has no name. At least none HE's willing to toss about willy nilly.

Somehow, some way, we must ignore the mistakes of our past, the worries of the present and the fears and uncertainties of the future. We must live as if HE is all and our Faith is in HIM - because it is in HIM.

Otherwise, our best laid schemes gang aft agley. .

Something to consider.

Until next time,

May the Peace of Christ be With You,

† Scott, V.D.M., ev  

And oh yeah! Gone is the badger sticking out his tongue at you in my profile photo. It has been replaced by the snarky prophet hisown bad self complete with the zebra faux skin robes. And yes, I took the picture in my bathroom - that's my shower curtain behind me.

And PLEASE sign up for email delivery. You'll love it. Really. Would I lie to YOU? Well...but not this.