There was in time in American history when most of its’ citizens would cross their i’s and dot their t’s. This was considered normal, a byproduct of rugged individualism. Unfortunately, those days have passed, leaving 2 extremes on either side of the spectrum: anal or apathetic.
Someone who is anal tends to be meticulous, a stickler for the rules, paying close attention to details. A negative connotation of anal are individuals who are OCD, suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. Meanwhile, those who seem disinterested, emotionless or half-hearted are associated with apathy. Thus, there is a growing generation of people who either care too much or are tuning out society, lukewarm at best about life.
Jesus wasn’t a fan of politics, but he did speak out and against religious leaders who allowed ideology to trump God’s Word. Essentially, the anal are similar to self-righteous souls who look down at the flaws, mistakes and sinners around them without looking at themselves in the mirror. Whereas the apathetic realize their condition, yet like the prodigal son, most keep on going down a path toward destruction. Whether you are anal, apathetic or somewhere in between, may the parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32 straighten you out to develop a Christ like life.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 