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4A ®[)£ Im'alti <©a?£tt£ Tuesday, January 5,2021 Opinions Ruffin's Renderings: The song of the ruthless BY MIKE RUFFIN ruffinml@gmail.com “The song of the ruth less” is a phrase found in chapter 25 of the book of Isaiah. The full sentence reads, When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruth less was stilled (w. 4b-5). The prophet has in mind a mighty city that God has brought down because of its oppressive practices. The ruthless oppressors had been making a lot of noise and doing a lot of dam age, but God silenced and stopped them. In so doing, God has given shelter to the poor and needy (v. 4). The prophet doesn’t say what city he is talk ing about. The best guess is Babylon, which eventu ally becomes a symbol for oppressive empires (the name Babylon is used in place of Rome in the book of Revelation). But there are oppres sive forces in every age. Not all of them are em pires, but some of them are. And even those that may at first glance seem to operate independently usually do so with the approval and support of entrenched systems. The economic, political, and legal scales are tilted in favor of the rich and powerful. Many of them will do anything to maintain their riches and power and to acquire more. If they must op press others to do so, they will. They do. Here’s the thing, though: the consistent witness of the Bible is that God isn’t on the side of the powerful oppres sors. Babylon, Nineveh, Rome, and many more empires throughout history have eventually crumbled. Perhaps they collapsed of their own weight. But the biblical proph ets don’t hesi tate to say that the powerful oppressors collapse under God’s judg ment. They also don’t hesitate to say that God will bring down the power ful and lift up the lowly. In fact, that’s what Mary said when she praised God for the child she was going to bear (Lk 1:51- 53). Jesus came to fulfill God’s purpose of revers ing the fortunes of the powerful and the weak, of the arrogant and the humble, and of the rich and the poor. The prophet speaking in Isaiah 25 also looks forward to the great banquet that God will throw when God makes all things as God wants them to be. When that time comes, the song of the ruthless will be stilled forever. Their taunts will cease. Their revelry will end. That time is yet to come. But it is coming. What do we do in the meantime, until the song of the ruthless is stilled? We sing a more beautiful song. It is the song of the redeemed. It is the song of those who join God on the side of the poor, the oppressed, the disenfran chised, and the marginal ized. What do we do in the meantime, until God throws the great banquet in which all God’s people will be included? We hold the best and biggest banquets we can. We welcome all to our table who will come. We host the poor, the oppressed, the disenfranchised, and the marginalized. We live in ways that re flect the great future that is coming. We practice love, grace, and mercy. Mike Ruffin is a Barnesville native who lives in Yatesville and works in Macon. His new book, Praying with Matthew, is available at helwys.com and at Amazon. 2020 was “The Year That Was,” Or Wasn’t KAY S. PEDROTTI kayspedrotti@gmail.com No doubt about it - we survived events in 2020 that had not been seen before, at least in the lives of most of us. Extraor dinary or discour aging, enlighten ing or depressing, could all be descriptive words about 2020. There are the doom- sayers who say 2021 will be worse. That’s for people who have lost all faith or hope. But if 2021 does not bring about uni fication of efforts in the U.S. to hold all elected officials strictly account able, to help people who need help (not those who can go to the bank and get million-dollar loans), to be kind and consider ate and helpful in our families, with our friends and even with strangers: 2021 could then indeed be worse if the unity doesn’t happen. Speaking from the view of a 50-year veteran reporter, I see the main issue as the absolute lack of truth in the national news. Maybe it’s because people can pick and choose what to believe from the networks, the internet and social me dia. Then they are able to say, “Okay, I’m right and you’re wrong,” because the other guy reads or watches or listens to something else - which of course is then be lieved also to be truth, whether it contradicts the other information or not. That problem is not going to be solved anytime soon, as long as there are people who don’t care about big is sues (the environment and crushing national debt), or the little issues like how many people are hungry and homeless in my own community, what can be done to gather willing mentors and tutors for young students who have fallen behind during 2020, whether we can stop the “good ol’ boy” network from prevailing whether we think it exists and is still a viable way to govern. That sentence re ceives the Howard Cosell Award for looonngg sentences. There’s too much to talk about - and maybe that’s our main problem. We aren’t talk ing to each other. We would rather vilify Demo crats if we’re Republican, or cast all Republicans into a vat of corruption if we’re Democrats. Speak ing for me, I have friends and loved ones on “both sides of the aisle,” and that alone makes me think of what a cousin once said in a lively political discussion at a family reunion: “If little ordinary people like us can see what’s wrong, and what could be done about it, why can’t the educated and experienced folks in Washington and Atlanta see that too?” Food for thought in the New Year - will we do what we can, or let things roll the way they always have? Regardless, I hope you all do have a Happy New Year. Kay S. Pedrotti has spent some 50 years writing for newspapers. She is active in the Lamar County community and currently serves as the president of Lamar Arts. She lives in Milner with her husband Bob Pedrotti. • New Life Anointed Ministries will hold a New Year’s Eve service Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m. The service will be conducted remotely on Zoom. The passcode is 061087. The link is https://us02web. zoom.us/j/82226239190?p wd=cFlKWkcxY0hhMElh NHJsRUVEdlBOUT09. • Barnesville First United Methodist Church invites you to worship online Sunday morning. Worship with others on the church Facebook page at 10 a.m. or anytime Sunday at barnesvillefumc.org. Listen to worship by telephone at 10 a.m. by calling 1.646.876.9923 and using Meeting ID: 417 726 8613. Also on Face- book: Children’s online storytime weekdays at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday 6:15 p.m. evening prayer and devotion. Additional opportunities for online small group discussions are available at Barnes- villeFUMC.org. • Rock Springs Church: log on to rock- springsonline.com and watch live services Sundays at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednes day evening activities at 7 p.m. • Lilia Memorial Baptist: Sunday School starts at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., Wednesday night worship at 7 p.m. Information: Pastor Rex Kessler, 404.509.9366. 802 Hwy. 36 E., Barnesville. PSSSST! WANTYER COVIDSHOT NOW? 555555555^5^^53 ■-V. -.ViAS.V. hn •.ViH.S.H S.-T-J LETTER TO THE EDITOR Hope Tree Ministry thanks community The Hope Tree Minis try was able to provide toys and food to 23 families this Christmas thanks to the generosity of the community, local churches, and local busi nesses. In all, 46 girls and 30 boys received pres ents. Thank you again to everyone who contrib uted to help those in our community! REV. JIMMY FAMBR0 SPORTS 1-1 New Year’s week Trojans go The Lamar County Trojans split two games sandwiched around the New Year’s Day holiday. On Dec. 30, LC topped Strong Rock 65-61 at the local gym. Rantavious Fluellen had 20 points to pace the Trojans. Also in double figures were Josh Driver and CJ Allen with 10 points each. Other scorers were Reco Walker (7), Devin Bateman (5), Ty Head (4), Braden Masoinet (4), Ravick Talmadge (4) and Jamarian Bentley (1). On Jan. 2, LC lost a heartbreaker to Mary Persons here 5048. Fluellen again led LC with 17 points while Bateman had 11. Other scorers were Talmadge (5), Walker (4), Allen (4), Bentley (3), Masoinet (2), and Driver (2). Lady Trojans split two games The LC Lady Trojans split two games played at the local gym last week. On Wednesday, Lamar fell to a Spalding Lady Jaguars team which filled in for Strong Rock’s girls at the last minute 54-51. Tamya Blasingame had 16 points to lead LC. Also in double figures was Zaria Fletcher with 13. Other scorers were Shakiria Foster (9), Za- kiria Foster (9), Janiyah Akins (2) and Journi Har ris (2). The locals got back on the right side of the scoreboard Saturday when they walloped Mary Persons 6340. Blasingame went off for 28 points to lead all scor ers. Shakiria Foster also hit double figures with 14 points. Other scorers were Za- kiria Foster (7), Fletcher (6), Harris (4), Akins (2) and Lauren Wilcher (2). LC was to host Locust Grove Monday night and travel to Bleckley County today. The schedule is subject to change due to COVID. Call the high school at 770.358.8641 to verify scheduling. THE HERALD GAZETTE/WALTER GEIGER Driving the lane LC freshman Zakiria Foster drives the lane for two of her nine points in last week’s loss to Spalding High. FLASHBACK In honor of Elizabeth Sellers Jan. 3-9 10 years ago The county commis sion was looking for a way to put an end to its controversial fire fees charged to property own ers. The much cussed and discussed fees had riled up the citizenry to the point of near revolt. The county collected $190,000 in fees during 2010 but nearly every dollar paid in was com plained about. 25 years ago Walter Kent Lyons, 38, of Thomaston was killed during a shootout New Year’s Eve at Holloway’s Lounge on 10th Street. Moses Jerome Banks, 25, of Barnesville was charged with murder. The argument was over money and a gold brace let. Banks was convicted of voluntary manslaugh ter and sentenced to serve 20 years. He was released on Dec. 30, 2015. 50 years ago Sheriff J.C. Waller re ported two local homes had been burglarized and ransacked. The home of Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Landry right on the county line was hit on New Year’s Eve. The log cabin home of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Tarpley on Hwy. 41 South was hit on Jan. 4. There were no arrests or sus pects identified. 100 years ago The people of Barnes ville, Lamar and Pike counties and the entire surrounding sections were shocked and deeply grieved Thursday morn ing when informed of the death of Judge S.S. Barrett at his home in Meansville at 5 o’clock of pneumonia. The illness of Judge Barrett was not generally known and therefore the announce ment of his death came as a distinct surprise to people generally. Zi)t Heraltr #a^tte barnesville.com 770.358.NEWS P.0. Box 220 Publishers Staff SUBSCRIBE DEADLINES 509 Greenwood Street Walter Geiger Nolan George $30 per year in Lamar and sur- The deadline for public notices Barnesville, Ga. 30204 Laura Geiger Rachel McDaniel rounding counties; $40 outside is noon Thursdays; news and 770-358-NEWS Tasha Webster the local area. advertising before noon Fridays. barnesville.com General Manager Includes 24/7 access to Early submission is appreciated. E-mail: news@barnesville.com Missy Ware barnesville.com