#115 Dear Abner ( 7 nov 06)

Man that is born of a woman. Is of few days, and full of trouble'
Job 14:1

Its been a while since I read a Dear Abner or its more famous Dear Abby or dear whatever syndicated columns.
It always intrigued me as to how one could share one's personal concerns in such graphic details with a stranger, albeit not an unknown name, but also in the public glare of a wider audience of anyone who happened to pick up that newspaper or magazine.
Of course, the internet has make it acceptable for many to lose that sense of propriety, as one can let loose one's persona, for the world to lap up from the comfort of wherever they are.

The cynical part of me also question if some of these are true issues or mere concoctions of the writer(s), of what the emotional doctors will call 'attention deficient seekers' or could it be simply commercial considerations that led to some appointed 'ghost writers' mixing that potent cocktail of sex, scandal and gossip, to help improve circulation of some of the less reputable run of the mill tabloids.

'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven'
Ecclesiastes 3:1

In the natural order of things, the temperate countries have 4 seasons in a year, while the tropical countries will have their hot and wet seasons. In the finite human life cycle, common to all of us, be it a fresh faced youth or a weather-beaten veteran and in fact everything possible human facet, we could encounter such seasonal changes in circumstances and its concomitant emotional swings at any different points of our lives and possibly even in a single day(no different from the famous vagaries of the Melbourne weather).

Some of us start the day, bright and early, with a little spring in our walk, after a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, all raring to go to make something not just out of the the day, but for the forseeable future.
With the passage of time, the heat picks up, and we are not just talking about the sun, and one struggles under the sweltering strain as a summer of discontent sets in, as we find ourselves having to deal with the many issues of lives, be it difficult situations, even more difficult people and no easy solutions.
In the grey autumn colours, as our sombre mood and mental mix parallels the bleakness of our situation, when things look depressive and at risks of all but spiralling out of control, the warm glow of the world's material pursuits now decidedly look cold, as we enter into possibly a long and cold winter of woes.

In the Wikipedia free encyclopedia, it is quoted that the publishers of the Dear Abby column trumpeted the unique reason for this column's popularity, since the 1950s.
The column is known for its uncommon common sense and youthful perspective and is read by more people than any other newspaper column worldwide.

One should never take away due credit from what is obviously a very successful venture that has answered the searching needs of many over the years.

But the Word of God says

'Who is the wise man, that may understand this?
And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it...'
Jeremiah 9:12

Many find it hard to believe or understand our Sovereign God. Many prefer to look to fellow men or anything else but God, for men are looking for a 'god or 'gods' to give them their desired solutions, answers that will fill up the niches of understanding and desires that they have already created.

"Rather than praying for a change of circumstances, pray for a change of heart"
(Daily Bread Nov 30th, 2006)

God knows our needs. He make us. For our lives to be right, our hearts must be right, to be right with Him, we must come into the light of His presence and grace.

God Blesses

Eng Hieang