Scripture: Psalm 34:11
Come, sickness my children, unhealthy listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Thought for the Day: We recently watched Clint Eastwood’s phenomenal movie “Gran Torino”.  He plays a Korean War veteran, grounded in a strict moral code from an era when children respected their elders. Well, from an era when everyone generally respected everyone.

He is disgusted with the behavior of his children and grandchildren. They’re only interested in money, completely self-involved and out of touch with their patriarch. His grandkids have learned their bad behavior from their parents.

After his character’s wife dies, Clint finds himself alone in a neighborhood that has become largely populated by Asian immigrants. One day as he’s sitting on his porch, an elderly woman who lives across the street drops her groceries all over the driveway. A few Caucasian boys pass by, and rather than helping her, they make lewd remarks and laugh. Clint grunts in disgust. Then to his surprise, his young Asian neighbor crosses the street, helps the poor lady pick up her groceries, and carries them inside for her.

I don’t want to imply that the movie is making any racial statements, because it pretty evenly portrays people of all races as rude and selfish, and that the behavior is learned. The real problem in Clint’s neighborhood, and in the lives of his kids, turns out to be that there are simply no role models. There is nobody (except Clint) to teach the young people respect and reverence—the true meaning of “fear of the Lord.”

Most of us today understand fear as a bad thing—something we feel when we are threatened. As described in the Bible though, “fear of the Lord” is a deep, heartfelt reverence for God—a feeling so overwhelming that it guides our moral code, and teaches us compassion and respect for God, and for everyone on the planet.

Prayer: May Jesus be my role model, teaching me respect, reverence, and relationship with God and all existence. Amen.