Posted by
peripheral on Friday, December 18, 2009 7:46:37 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Syncopation addresses the metrical variances within a musical score.
The Encyclopedia Britannica has this notation about Syncopation: “in
music, the displacement of regular accents associated with given
metrical patterns, resulting in a disruption of the listener's
expectations and the arousal of a desire for the reestablishment of
metric normality…” Years ago, a popular melody was: The Syncopated
Clock. The way it was scored made it pleasant to hear for a short
period of time. The narrow definition for Syncopation is: “a shifting
of the normal accent, usually by stressing the normally unaccented
beats; the use of rhetorical stress at variance with the metrical
stress of a line of verse.” Basically, the normal flow, beat and tempo
has been altered and the chords and musical tones become detached from
each other.
Allowing an extended application of Musical Syncopation to life, one
can readily observe that the normal ebb and flow of life for many has
become syncopated at best, and discordant at worst. This Christmas
Season is different for many. In one County in Alabama, more than 25%
of the people are unemployed and the prospect for those individuals and
families is bleak. When industries shut down and have no plan to start
back up again – that is dismal and disruptive. As the National
unemployment figure moves above 10% (more like 17% if those who have
given up looking for employment are included), hope is replaced with
despair, and gifts become unaffordable! On top of this syncopation in
life, an Associated Press Headline is: “NEW CREDIT CARD HAS 79.9% INTEREST RATE.”
The report states: “It's no mistake. This credit card's interest rate
is 79.9 percent. The bloated APR is how First Premier Bank, a sub-prime
credit card issuer, is skirting new regulations intended to curb
abusive practices in the industry…Typically, the First Premier card
comes with a minimum of $256 in fees in the first year for a credit
line of $250. Starting in February, however, a new law will cap such
fees at 25 percent of a card's credit line. In a recent mailing for a
pre-approved card, First Premier lowers fees to just that limit -- $75
in the first year for a credit line of $300. But the new law doesn't
set a cap on interest rates. Hence the 79.9 APR, up from the previous
9.9 percent. It's the highest on the market. First Premier targets
people with bad credit who likely can't get approved for cards
elsewhere. It's a group that tends to lean heavily on credit too,
meaning they'll likely incur the steep financing charges. So for a $300
balance, a cardholder would pay about $20 a month in interest. In a
mailing sent to prospective customers in October with the revamped
terms, First Premier writes: "...you might have less-than-perfect
credit and we're OK with that." The letter also states there are no
hidden fees that aren't disclosed in the attached form. That's where
the 79.9 percent interest rate and $75 annual fee are listed. There's
also $29 penalty if you pay late or go over your $300 credit limit.”
Some desperate people may accept that risk and pay those fees – just to
have something special for Christmas. Admittedly, this nation is far
from being a Theocracy. However, God’s Rules and Principles for those
who are coping with a Syncopated Life are applicable – especially with
this new approach of sub-prime lending. In Exodus 22:22-27
is a Biblical Law about Usury: “You shall not mistreat any widow or
fatherless child…If you lend money to any of My people with you who is
poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not
exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in
pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that
is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else
shall he sleep? And if he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am
compassionate.” A summary regarding Usury is given in Proverbs 28:8,
“Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for
him who is generous to the poor.” Another interesting statement is made
in Ezekiel 22:12-13,
“…they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make
gain of your neighbors by extortion; but Me you have forgotten,
declares the Lord GOD. Behold, I strike My hand at the dishonest gain
that you have made…” In whatever way we can, try to look kindly on
those whose Syncopated Lives leave them vulnerable, helpless and
hopeless. Try to make a difference in the name of the God Who gave us
His Only-Begotten Son one Christmas many years ago. Consider these
things with me!