Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.
There’s a method to my madness.
You’ve probably heard this saying before, but did you know that it was derived from a quote from a Shakespearean play?
“Though this be madness yet there is method in it.”
Hamlet, act 2 scene 2
It’s also something my mother used to say. It was a way of her letting me know that just because I didn’t understand what she was doing or why, there was an intelligent, thought-out reason. I should have faith. I could trust her. She was my mother and she loved me and therefore had my best interests at heart. There was a method to her madness and knowing that gave me security, confidence in her wisdom and knowledge. And by her excellent example I was blessed to grow up learning to mimic her manner, her poise, her kindness. Of course I am nowhere near the stature she attained - but I am thankful for the guidelines and example she set for me to try to follow. And as a mom, that was probably part of her mission. Because of her love for me I learned to love and to show love for others.
“For every man has business and desire,
Such as it is; and for mine own poor part,
Look you, I’ll go pray.”Hamlet, act 1 scene 5
We may not understand God’s ways, his actions, or the resulting circumstances in our lives. But there is a method. A reason. A purpose often beyond our meager, limited realm of understanding. But of course we should have faith. We can trust him. He is our Father and he loves us and desires good things for his children. Christ did give us a good example to follow, and we are blessed if we can learn by his guidelines of love and kindness. Christ’s one purpose, his raison d’être , was to die on the cross so that we might have eternal life. And I am nowhere close to being a decent representation of that kind of love, but it’s something that as his child I should strive for, try to do, work towards - and I am so thankful for what he has done for me.
To think about
Hamlet and his mother were opposites - she was not a good example for him to follow and he did not trust her. What are some Bible verses that point us toward certainty in our love and trust in Christ?
Hamlet had a mission - a purpose about which he was wishy-washy, wavering, troubled, unsure. How can we have confidence and be sure about the purposes God has put before us?
Are our words and actions reflecting Christ in our hearts?
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”Hamlet, act 3 scene 3