Fuming

FUMING


Four meanings of this word in my dictionary....the third one: to show irritation or anger. The others - having to do with emitting an irritating vapor, smoke. (in an almost funny way, these seem to relate closely)

You fume?

I can
...started with the chance to observe at my grandmother's fuming. She fussed and fumed over life, and food, and what "they" were or were not doing to her, and the traffic and did I tell you about the weather?...and that government!

Fuming - filling the air with noxious words, thoughts, looks, gestures, eyes cast heavenword (and not in prayer) ....robbing energy from the good stuff that could be done and being overcome by the bad. Totally absorbed in self and what I consider to be fair and good...especially as it affects me.

So when I got into "Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey - IVP, 2008 - a book I bought in Phoenix, at the XA conf - well, when I got into it and got to a section headed: "Joseph's Fuming." I was a bit surprised. It is Baily's exploration of the Jesus' narratives...and what a treasure chest of insight and fresh thought it is. He lived a lifetime in the middle east and is a linguistic scholar.

Bailey explores what the language means, when, of Joseph's learning of the coming of Jesus..."he considered this" and Bailey says two meanings are possible: 1) considered or pondered and 2) "he became angry." (See Matthew 1:18-25)

Bailey weighs in for the latter.

Not surprising.

How would we react, really, if our plans for a nice home and marriage to a wonderful lady were crashed by an unexpected pregnancy...and we found ourselves caught in the interplay between Jesus, God the Father, Mother Mary and a few angels?

Unfair to the max!!

Reason to fume...lots of smoke out of nostrils, ears and eyes.

But
Joseph is truly a first hero of the Jesus' story. Not that he doesn't fume but that he does. It is not his human emotion that disqualifies him, but his right responses in spite of all his feelings that make him wise, before the "wise men" ever show up.

So, today's thought. What have you and I been fuming about? What "just isn't fair?"
And what is the right thing to do anyway?

Shake it off. And move forward.

Joe just might be peering down, shaking his head and cheering you on.

Selah.

David