Improvisation & "the rules"

Dear Reader,

There are rules in life!  I know, I know...  I've always thought it was just an ugly rumor and that anarchy was, in fact, the norm except when I'm at my parents' home.  Perhaps I've been a bit out of touch but I've begun to notice street signs, various required permissions on the weird software I use, special contracts for this, particular expectations for that, new restrictions on those things, tighter limitations on the other stuff...  Where does it all end?

I'm not convinced it will end.  Neither am I convinced that anarchy is all it's cracked up to be.  Still, I'm not much interested in or excited by a world where someone else makes up all the rules and I'm expected to be stuck in their box.  I don't think I'd do very well in corporate America nor do I think I'd like to find out.  There's a reason I didn't pursue a career in the military; I don't like to follow orders just because someone thinks I should. 

As you might suspect, I'm not much impressed by the right-wing politicians and noisy religio-wackos who are touring our country at this time.  It seems they've got rules enough for all of us and even some special rules for those who haven't decided to show up yet.  Nor am I thrilled with mega-church this or mega-church that which will try to tell you how to be successful if you'd like to be a cookie-cutter believer in their bill of goods.  I don't particularly need or want their brand of "how-to" cluttering up my world with additional guilt, remorse, angst, and religious fervor.  I've chosen a faith path that is working out alright and I think I've done more than satisfactory studying, along with trial and error, to be pretty sure that my path will work out for me.  I've no idea if it would work for you.  I'll happily share my ideas with you if you'd really like to hear them.  But, unlike the religious punditry of the modern American church and its religio-wackos, I'll not waste my time hitting you over the head with them.

So, what about "the rules"..?  I've spent a lot of time thinking about rules simply because I don't like rules very much.  I don't care for the rules imposed by cultural hold-overs (or is that hangovers?).  I don't really like the rules set up to "protect" us from everything and its evil brother.  I'll wear helmets and seat belts when it seems wise or appropriate and I won't put my hands where they don't belong.  But when people waste my time and theirs regulating all those things I wonder who's being served.  "The rules" seem to be something put in place so people have something to do.  If there were less of "the rules" we'd have far fewer professional busy-bodiness workers trying to "mother hen" our private lives.  There would likely be less attempts to police our bedrooms to make sure everyone is "nice" and no one is "naughty" - I'd suggest we leave that nonsense to Santa - for whatever good that might do.

So, what about "the rules"..?  Oh yeah, I already wrote that - I hope there are no rules about writing things twice...

About the only set of rules I think we really need is the set that Jesus talked about in Matthew 12:18-34.  Contained in this passage are these words of Jesus, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength... and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these." 

When I spend time thinking about this version of "the rules" I'm impressed with the simplicity, the breadth or reach, and the functionality that Jesus laid out.  If we actually tried to follow "the rules" as Jesus suggested (or was that a command?), we'd be far more likely to find that our lives were more nearly in harmony with those around us.  I know it's probably silly, but wouldn't it be better if we tried to love folks into harmony instead of beating them into conformity?  I'm just sayin'...

So... As for "the rules", I'll try to live by the laws of love.  Y'all can mess with other laws if it amuses you, but don't expect me to rubber stamp your efforts in those arenas.  I'd rather love and be loved than spend my time trying to rule others.  I hope some of our world's right-wing politicians and religio-wackos will give it a try as well!

Randy