Weekly Photo Challenge: Habit
November 8, 2013 5 Comments
This week’s there is: Habit. The stuff of the everyday — places we go, things we do, people we see.
We don’t often think of habitual acts as photo-worthy occasions — after all, they happen all the time. But it’s because they happen frequently that they’re worth documenting; these moments and people are constants in your life and deserve to be commemorated.
This week, show us something that’s a HABIT. If could be your daily walk to the bus stop, or your daily paper lying on the doorstep. Maybe it’s the guy behind the counter at the deli you always visit for lunch, the stuffed bunny your child must have at bedtime, or the view from your desk as you sit down to blog.
Every morning I like to read our city’s local newspaper. The perhaps most famous 20th century Protestant theologian, Karl Barth, once is quoted as saying: “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” Adding to Barth, I’d say that as Christians we are citizens of two kingdoms-the kingdom of this world (i.e. in particular your nation in which you hold citizenship, and in general as a human being on planet earth), and the kingdom of God/heaven. As I think further on this theme and our calling as citizens in two kingdoms, I also am reminded of the following song by Simon and Garfunkel, “7 O’Clock News-Silent Night.” Check out the other entries here.
Reading the newspaper is a habit that’s dying out with the internet around. I like the quote about how to interpret the news. That goes for interpreting everything in our lives. 🙂
janet
I know a lot of social commentators make the claim that hard copy newspaper reading is diminishing, however some papers, on the other hand, claim that they still have a healthy, if not growing readership. And yes, the Bible does help us to interpret the meaning of our lives and our world.
most of the news i read is online. i still remember the smell of the newspaper that used to be delivered to my childhood home, though.
what a poignant rendition of Silent Night. apparently the news of the day were recorded and included, unedited. There really was no good news that day – only a reminder of a day long ago when shepherds heard some incredibly good news, the story reflected upon in the song, ‘Silent Night’.
i like your thoughts about dual citizenship….
Thanks for your comments. I think the Simon & Garfunkel song succeeds in juxtaposing the two realms/kingdoms. Jesus was born into this world as a human being like us to lead us into the world to come/the kingdom of God/heaven. The song makes us realise, I think, our need of God in light of all the problems, sufferings, conflicts, etc., in the world.
In one hand and in the other hand…. beautiful podcast