Bailout the Newspapers...'cuz that's the future of America's economy...
Seriously...why?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Have a Happy New Year!
Believing that next year will be better than this last. Happy New Year friends!
Friday, December 26, 2008
It Was Only a Matter of Time
I had a fairly stable home life as a kid. All growing up, you could count on several things as a part of my family.
Mom and Dad loved each other, and wouldn't give up, even when things got hard (and they DID get hard!).
We moved a lot, but my parents always tried to help us kids make the best of it.
Dad made chili and spaghetti, and the best shredded beef burritos you've ever tasted. Mom made pretty much everything else.
Sundays were family days.
Christmas was the best time of the year.
We'd take big vacations rather than save every penny for the future.
And whenever my Dad was with his brothers, he would instantly forget his children's names.
It wasn't a problem most of the time. Sure, Dad had some issues when we had pets...one of our dogs was named Butterscotch, and she had a knack for getting out of the yard. One day my dad was chasing her down the street and was bumbling over her name..."Come HERE Zach...Cilla...Chris..., um, uh...GOLDENROD!" Our dog actually stopped in the middle of the road and turned to look at him, before continuing her escape.
From time to Dad would call us kids by the wrong names, something I am certain happens in most families.
But nothing compared to when my dad was with his brothers. He couldn't call us by name if his life depended on it. It was truly amazing...once the effect occured while they were half a world away; we had a phone call with my uncles, and I became Adam, my dad's youngest brother for hours.
We would make fun of Dad, mock him and the inevitable confusion that would result from proximity of any kind with his brothers.
I should have known better.
We have (at present) only one kid, and so I have been able to avoid the challenge of remembering his name. That may change come August...but in the meantime, we've already added to the equation with Ody.
Aiden and Ody. Ody & Aiden.
Last night during prayers, I was asking for the Lord's blessing on...wait for it...Odin. Laughing, I tried to correct my mistake...and promptly asked the Lord to bless Aidy.
The curse has been passed down to me. Sigh.
Mom and Dad loved each other, and wouldn't give up, even when things got hard (and they DID get hard!).
We moved a lot, but my parents always tried to help us kids make the best of it.
Dad made chili and spaghetti, and the best shredded beef burritos you've ever tasted. Mom made pretty much everything else.
Sundays were family days.
Christmas was the best time of the year.
We'd take big vacations rather than save every penny for the future.
And whenever my Dad was with his brothers, he would instantly forget his children's names.
It wasn't a problem most of the time. Sure, Dad had some issues when we had pets...one of our dogs was named Butterscotch, and she had a knack for getting out of the yard. One day my dad was chasing her down the street and was bumbling over her name..."Come HERE Zach...Cilla...Chris..., um, uh...GOLDENROD!" Our dog actually stopped in the middle of the road and turned to look at him, before continuing her escape.
From time to Dad would call us kids by the wrong names, something I am certain happens in most families.
But nothing compared to when my dad was with his brothers. He couldn't call us by name if his life depended on it. It was truly amazing...once the effect occured while they were half a world away; we had a phone call with my uncles, and I became Adam, my dad's youngest brother for hours.
We would make fun of Dad, mock him and the inevitable confusion that would result from proximity of any kind with his brothers.
I should have known better.
We have (at present) only one kid, and so I have been able to avoid the challenge of remembering his name. That may change come August...but in the meantime, we've already added to the equation with Ody.
Aiden and Ody. Ody & Aiden.
Last night during prayers, I was asking for the Lord's blessing on...wait for it...Odin. Laughing, I tried to correct my mistake...and promptly asked the Lord to bless Aidy.
The curse has been passed down to me. Sigh.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Familial Reflections on a Christmas Night
Christmas brings to the surface those affections for our family and friends that may go unexpressed a lot of the time throughout the year. We dare to show people the love we hold for them, following the example of God Himself. Of course, the interesting thing about acts of love is that they tend to stoke our affections to heights that we were not aware existed.
I am my father's son, and the result of my mother's patience and constant love. I am the product of a handful of mentors and teachers who did not merely punch a clock when they came to school...but who chose to invest in me their time, wisdom, care, concern, discipline, and knowledge of God and His universe. I have been marked and defined by the friends that I have been honored to develop relationships with, over years and across the world. I am the man I am today in large part because of the woman I fell in love with, and the son that we share.
All these are the gifts of God...unquantifiable, immeasurable, and priceless.
This Christmas has been different for us. This Christmas, we went no-where. We invested in some few, larger, family oriented gifts (such as Odysseus), and ultimately, I had exactly one present with my name under the tree (my dear wife feels bad about this...I don't mention it to suggest that I feel unloved or overlooked, as I will explain in a moment...and besides, as the keeper of the check-book, it is difficult to avoid the feeling that I am buying myself a present--even though she makes more than I do!). I opened exactly two presents, allowing my wife to open the other couple of presents we received jointly as a family.
I cannot express how blessed I feel this Christmas.
This, perhaps, sounds cheesy and forced. I am not putting on a show. I have not always regarded actual presents under the tree with nonchalance; I love toys, I have a list of expensive ones I'd love to get, and we'd be better off if I cared less about stuff. I enjoy the whole gifting process: the getting, the giving, the receiving, the enjoying; it is ALL good.
I say this because I believe God, in His grace, has allowed me to transition into a fuller part of Dad-hood gracefully this past year. I used to wonder how my Dad could endure getting so few really good presents for his birthday and Christmas...let's face it, there are only so many times you can get cheese, or salami, or socks, or a home-made "whatever" before the gifts start to lose their novelty, right? My dad never seemed to mind, and I could never really understand it. Even when I pretended not to care about how good the haul was, I cared.
Until now. I cannot explain it...it sounds too cheesy, and a little prideful. Suffice to say...I am actually, surprisingly, content.
Why this tangent about gifts and Christmas? Glad you asked. See, one of the realities that has impressed itself upon me this Christmas is the great joy of giving gifts to those that we love. It is those people we love that I have been thinking about.
What I am thinking about, more than anything else, is the not so subtle ache that has been building since last night for friends and family that I have not seen, and perhaps won't really get to see again. Fortunately, that doesn't include most of my family...but too many friends to count are "gone" and I miss them. The missing is, if anything, punctuated by the occasional presence of those friends who are on the fringes (all too common at this time of the year), slipping out of regular contact, and becoming members of that class of friend that it takes real effort to be connected to.
Friendship is a difficult and important thing...but, oddly, missing friends and family is a good part of life. It is natural, it is appropriate...and it keeps us hoping for tomorrow, when maybe, just maybe, our old friends will once again be by our sides. It is the call of Heaven, when there will be no more goodbyes.
Until then, Christmas stirs in our hearts the need to show those that we can how important they are to us. To give as we have received to those that we have with us, to cherish them with the time that we have been given, and to reflect on how our temporal relationships are but images of the love that abides between our Creator and us.
Merry Christmas.
I am my father's son, and the result of my mother's patience and constant love. I am the product of a handful of mentors and teachers who did not merely punch a clock when they came to school...but who chose to invest in me their time, wisdom, care, concern, discipline, and knowledge of God and His universe. I have been marked and defined by the friends that I have been honored to develop relationships with, over years and across the world. I am the man I am today in large part because of the woman I fell in love with, and the son that we share.
All these are the gifts of God...unquantifiable, immeasurable, and priceless.
This Christmas has been different for us. This Christmas, we went no-where. We invested in some few, larger, family oriented gifts (such as Odysseus), and ultimately, I had exactly one present with my name under the tree (my dear wife feels bad about this...I don't mention it to suggest that I feel unloved or overlooked, as I will explain in a moment...and besides, as the keeper of the check-book, it is difficult to avoid the feeling that I am buying myself a present--even though she makes more than I do!). I opened exactly two presents, allowing my wife to open the other couple of presents we received jointly as a family.
I cannot express how blessed I feel this Christmas.
This, perhaps, sounds cheesy and forced. I am not putting on a show. I have not always regarded actual presents under the tree with nonchalance; I love toys, I have a list of expensive ones I'd love to get, and we'd be better off if I cared less about stuff. I enjoy the whole gifting process: the getting, the giving, the receiving, the enjoying; it is ALL good.
I say this because I believe God, in His grace, has allowed me to transition into a fuller part of Dad-hood gracefully this past year. I used to wonder how my Dad could endure getting so few really good presents for his birthday and Christmas...let's face it, there are only so many times you can get cheese, or salami, or socks, or a home-made "whatever" before the gifts start to lose their novelty, right? My dad never seemed to mind, and I could never really understand it. Even when I pretended not to care about how good the haul was, I cared.
Until now. I cannot explain it...it sounds too cheesy, and a little prideful. Suffice to say...I am actually, surprisingly, content.
Why this tangent about gifts and Christmas? Glad you asked. See, one of the realities that has impressed itself upon me this Christmas is the great joy of giving gifts to those that we love. It is those people we love that I have been thinking about.
What I am thinking about, more than anything else, is the not so subtle ache that has been building since last night for friends and family that I have not seen, and perhaps won't really get to see again. Fortunately, that doesn't include most of my family...but too many friends to count are "gone" and I miss them. The missing is, if anything, punctuated by the occasional presence of those friends who are on the fringes (all too common at this time of the year), slipping out of regular contact, and becoming members of that class of friend that it takes real effort to be connected to.
Friendship is a difficult and important thing...but, oddly, missing friends and family is a good part of life. It is natural, it is appropriate...and it keeps us hoping for tomorrow, when maybe, just maybe, our old friends will once again be by our sides. It is the call of Heaven, when there will be no more goodbyes.
Until then, Christmas stirs in our hearts the need to show those that we can how important they are to us. To give as we have received to those that we have with us, to cherish them with the time that we have been given, and to reflect on how our temporal relationships are but images of the love that abides between our Creator and us.
Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Canis Lupis Gaseous
We have a dog!
He's wonderful.
He's a Basset Hound/Mix puppy, and when we got him, he had just turned 11 weeks, and weighed 21 lbs.
He is white with orange-ish brown spots.
He is quiet, he is gentle, he sleeps a lot (at different intervals, he's fallen asleep leaning against a large stuffed animal, on one of our couch pillows, resting his head on a book I was reading and had left on the floor, etc...all picture perfect if only our camera was working), and he is already using the "doggie door" (in quotes, because it is actually a cat door...but it functions as a doggie door until he grows...we'll try to replace it before then, but for now, we're broke and it works...).
When he walks, his naturally odd build makes him really funny to watch.
He loves Aiden, Sheri and me, and is very happy to curl up and sleep next to us in the living room.
He's a perfect addition to the family.
His name is Odysseus...and we call him "Ody" for short.
We love him a lot...and there's only one area in which we wish our special guy was different.
The books mention that Bassets can be...overly prone to clear a room when they get a little too relaxed...they let their guard down...and a silent cloud of death quickly spreads throughout the immediate area.
Ody is no exception to this rule.
Wow, is he NOT an exception.
It gives a new meaning to the idea of a stinky dog. When not afflicting us in this manner, Ody smells pretty good (we did just give him a bath, but still...he's soft and nice smelling...unless he's destroying your sense of smell with an SBD...)
Still...he's awesome. We have a Christmas puppy! So exciting!
He's wonderful.
He's a Basset Hound/Mix puppy, and when we got him, he had just turned 11 weeks, and weighed 21 lbs.
He is white with orange-ish brown spots.
He is quiet, he is gentle, he sleeps a lot (at different intervals, he's fallen asleep leaning against a large stuffed animal, on one of our couch pillows, resting his head on a book I was reading and had left on the floor, etc...all picture perfect if only our camera was working), and he is already using the "doggie door" (in quotes, because it is actually a cat door...but it functions as a doggie door until he grows...we'll try to replace it before then, but for now, we're broke and it works...).
When he walks, his naturally odd build makes him really funny to watch.
He loves Aiden, Sheri and me, and is very happy to curl up and sleep next to us in the living room.
He's a perfect addition to the family.
His name is Odysseus...and we call him "Ody" for short.
We love him a lot...and there's only one area in which we wish our special guy was different.
The books mention that Bassets can be...overly prone to clear a room when they get a little too relaxed...they let their guard down...and a silent cloud of death quickly spreads throughout the immediate area.
Ody is no exception to this rule.
Wow, is he NOT an exception.
It gives a new meaning to the idea of a stinky dog. When not afflicting us in this manner, Ody smells pretty good (we did just give him a bath, but still...he's soft and nice smelling...unless he's destroying your sense of smell with an SBD...)
Still...he's awesome. We have a Christmas puppy! So exciting!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Widsom of the Papacy
Though I am not a Catholic, I have watched with interest over the years as the Catholic church has wrestled with its identity as the original church; as a disclaimer, I must acknowledge that I am an Evangelical Protestant, and my perspective is thus somewhat tainted on this subject. While Church authority matters to me, I approach the question from a completely different frame of reference, and so choose to recuse myself from discussions on the internal handling of institutions such as the Anglican church, the Catholic church, etc, for the simple fact that I am not helpful as I do not accept some of the given basic principles for the discussion. However, when the leadership of the "High" church addresses the world at large, everything is fair game.
That said, bravo to the Pope.
He has, of course, spoken on this issue before. What has remained consistent in his challenge is the argument that man is certainly not less important than any other part of creation, and as such, deserves the same (if not more) efforts to protect it and see it thrive according to what is natural. In a world filled with environmentalists, and amidst the growing concerns about how we are thwarting what is natural for the planet, this tactic seems particularly well aimed.
As usual, the recoil from the Gay/Lesbian advocates is disproportional to the offense.
Did the Pope say that we should fear homosexuals? No.
Did the Pope suggest that we should hate homosexuals, or that the church or Christ hates homosexuals? No.
What did the Pope do to earn him the scorn and derision of Gays, Lesbians, and their advocates? He had the audacity to suggest that homosexuality is not the natural or best manifestation of human relations.
For the opponents of Prop 8 et al, to suggest that homosexuality is not good is to support hate, more than that, to in fact BE a hatemonger. Instead of being open to consider the possibility that we can believe that homosexuals deserve respect and equal social rights and protection under the law but still also believe that homosexuality is not actually a good thing, and that practicing homosexuality is a sin, we are presented with an unfortunate dilemma; give them unqualified approval, or be branded ignorant, fearful, bigots.
Discussion is important, and encouraging when people are willing to engage rather than merely rant. At the end of the day, it is also important to realize that Christians cannot condone Homosexuality as a natural good that produces what is best for man. The Pope reminded us of that reality, and through his words continues to be a wise leader for the church and Christians around the world, Catholic or otherwise.
As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, in the midst of these difficult and heated discussions, the whole message of the Papacy is so vital: that God created us for a real and definite good, and we are not free to redefine that as we see fit. The same arguments we makes for the conservation of the planet and the protection of nature for the sake of God's other creations challenge us to pause before we attempt to reorder the natural world for our own purposes. There is love in this message; it may be difficult for those that struggle with homosexuality, but in some ways no less difficult than the struggle of those us heterosexuals who struggle against the desires of our appetites to have relations outside of marriage, the only appropriate place for the out-working of those appetites. Christ understood that...yet still He came to redeem us and offers us the grace and strength we need to overcome our inordinate desires.
He came to us, and brought redemption with Him. Recognizing our need for His salvation is the first step to receive the forgiveness He offers. It is not out of hate that sinners are called to repent; the call goes out to us all, so that all might be saved. This is the heart of Christmas, and the very soul of the Gospel.
That all might be saved.
Good Christian men rejoice! Christ is born today, Christ is born today!
That said, bravo to the Pope.
He has, of course, spoken on this issue before. What has remained consistent in his challenge is the argument that man is certainly not less important than any other part of creation, and as such, deserves the same (if not more) efforts to protect it and see it thrive according to what is natural. In a world filled with environmentalists, and amidst the growing concerns about how we are thwarting what is natural for the planet, this tactic seems particularly well aimed.
As usual, the recoil from the Gay/Lesbian advocates is disproportional to the offense.
Did the Pope say that we should fear homosexuals? No.
Did the Pope suggest that we should hate homosexuals, or that the church or Christ hates homosexuals? No.
What did the Pope do to earn him the scorn and derision of Gays, Lesbians, and their advocates? He had the audacity to suggest that homosexuality is not the natural or best manifestation of human relations.
For the opponents of Prop 8 et al, to suggest that homosexuality is not good is to support hate, more than that, to in fact BE a hatemonger. Instead of being open to consider the possibility that we can believe that homosexuals deserve respect and equal social rights and protection under the law but still also believe that homosexuality is not actually a good thing, and that practicing homosexuality is a sin, we are presented with an unfortunate dilemma; give them unqualified approval, or be branded ignorant, fearful, bigots.
Discussion is important, and encouraging when people are willing to engage rather than merely rant. At the end of the day, it is also important to realize that Christians cannot condone Homosexuality as a natural good that produces what is best for man. The Pope reminded us of that reality, and through his words continues to be a wise leader for the church and Christians around the world, Catholic or otherwise.
As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, in the midst of these difficult and heated discussions, the whole message of the Papacy is so vital: that God created us for a real and definite good, and we are not free to redefine that as we see fit. The same arguments we makes for the conservation of the planet and the protection of nature for the sake of God's other creations challenge us to pause before we attempt to reorder the natural world for our own purposes. There is love in this message; it may be difficult for those that struggle with homosexuality, but in some ways no less difficult than the struggle of those us heterosexuals who struggle against the desires of our appetites to have relations outside of marriage, the only appropriate place for the out-working of those appetites. Christ understood that...yet still He came to redeem us and offers us the grace and strength we need to overcome our inordinate desires.
He came to us, and brought redemption with Him. Recognizing our need for His salvation is the first step to receive the forgiveness He offers. It is not out of hate that sinners are called to repent; the call goes out to us all, so that all might be saved. This is the heart of Christmas, and the very soul of the Gospel.
That all might be saved.
Good Christian men rejoice! Christ is born today, Christ is born today!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
On the Otherhand...
I took the opportunity to praise what I think is a healthy interpretation of the decision to have Rick Warren speak at the Inauguration.
Unfortunately...for every one step forward, there are those who would prefer to take as many steps backwards as possible...
It is hardly necessary to refute each of the ridiculous arguments behind his understanding of scripture, in part because he cites wikipedia as his knowledgable source for supposedly outing David and Jonathan, and in part because he's already dismissed any discussion that might be offered to clarify his deep confusion...however, I believe it does bear pointing out that this is the sort of discourse which won't lead to a better nation, a more successful society.
We may disagree with the reasons we come to the political conclusions we do...but having a fundamental respect for those on the other side of the aisle is vital if we'd like to see anything other than carnage left in our wake. Cenk Uygur and the many, many, many who post similar thoughts on HuffPo (scroll down to see the long list of other bloggers with their thoughts) should reflect on the thoughts of the author I praised in my previous post. Lee Stranahan has, I think, a solid head on his liberal shoulders.
Unfortunately...for every one step forward, there are those who would prefer to take as many steps backwards as possible...
It is hardly necessary to refute each of the ridiculous arguments behind his understanding of scripture, in part because he cites wikipedia as his knowledgable source for supposedly outing David and Jonathan, and in part because he's already dismissed any discussion that might be offered to clarify his deep confusion...however, I believe it does bear pointing out that this is the sort of discourse which won't lead to a better nation, a more successful society.
We may disagree with the reasons we come to the political conclusions we do...but having a fundamental respect for those on the other side of the aisle is vital if we'd like to see anything other than carnage left in our wake. Cenk Uygur and the many, many, many who post similar thoughts on HuffPo (scroll down to see the long list of other bloggers with their thoughts) should reflect on the thoughts of the author I praised in my previous post. Lee Stranahan has, I think, a solid head on his liberal shoulders.
Surprised and Pleased
I am, obviously, a political opponent of this man and his party/comrades/agenda.
But bravo for seeing the point of politics, and following a good step from our soon to be leader. America may give up it's heritage as a Christian nation...but I think it is important, as we work against that, that we don't surrender it's heritage as a society of discourse and dialog.
It's not the only thing; it's not even close to being the most important thing...but our nation is a valuable thing, and I hope to see it prosper, not languish. I believe that seeing us come together to discuss the ideas that we value is a much more hopeful and ultimately productive form of unity than some of the alternatives. If this is what happens as a result of this past election cycle, then I will go beyond even my affirmation of the election process and say that it is good that Mr. Obama was elected President. I hope he continues to work towards discourse in the public square, and to draw us away from the phantoms we believe the other side to be, and to face the realities of our political opponents.
Conservatives: it is, I think, possible to live with in harmony with those we disagree with politically and not abandon the heritage and legacy of our faith.
Liberals: fighting for morality in government doesn't mean that we are trying to make the government part of the church.
But bravo for seeing the point of politics, and following a good step from our soon to be leader. America may give up it's heritage as a Christian nation...but I think it is important, as we work against that, that we don't surrender it's heritage as a society of discourse and dialog.
It's not the only thing; it's not even close to being the most important thing...but our nation is a valuable thing, and I hope to see it prosper, not languish. I believe that seeing us come together to discuss the ideas that we value is a much more hopeful and ultimately productive form of unity than some of the alternatives. If this is what happens as a result of this past election cycle, then I will go beyond even my affirmation of the election process and say that it is good that Mr. Obama was elected President. I hope he continues to work towards discourse in the public square, and to draw us away from the phantoms we believe the other side to be, and to face the realities of our political opponents.
Conservatives: it is, I think, possible to live with in harmony with those we disagree with politically and not abandon the heritage and legacy of our faith.
Liberals: fighting for morality in government doesn't mean that we are trying to make the government part of the church.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Patience of Christmas
As a teacher, I am daily confronted with the need for and the general lack of patience.
I do not limit this to my students, but they do demonstrate this problem quite vividly; they are young and they are growing...and growth can be difficult at the best of times, and all the more in a society that tell us constantly that we shouldn't be content with what we are. They wrestle with learning to persevere through the hard times, to strive when there are easier ways to accomplish the same "goal" of graduating from school and going off into the world...they struggle with learning to trust me and be patient, even when they don't understand why Mr. Leigh is so excited about Book 12 of the Iliad.
They are attempting to navigate the difficult waters of growing up without falling victim to the traps of a culture obsessed with being 18 years old. For them, the danger lies in growing up too fast. One of the aspects of my school that I appreciate is that the students are encouraged to preserve their innocence as they grow (hopefully) wiser.
It is my task, in part, to prepare them and to educate them regarding the need to prepare themselves before venturing out to the waiting world. To teach them the virtue of patience.
Patience is one of those virtues that can only be learned the hard way: through the practice of waiting.
I was reflecting on this the other day, and while reading the Doctor's thoughts on the importance of history, it occurred to me that the promise of Christmas is a lesson in the value of patience.
The season is predicated, in part, on waiting. It's why children have to learn to wait to open their presents until Christmas Day. It's why Advent comes before the joyous Christmas morning. It's why we waited through the years for the time to be ripe for the coming of the Christ. And it is, in part, why we wait now for Him to come again. Waiting allows us to learn to be patient.
Why is patience so important?
Through patience we learn to be content in God's timing. By patience, we access the peace of God in every circumstance. Patience allows us to endure the slow grind which so frequently typifies sanctification. Our God, the actualizer, chooses to allow us to wait for His perfect time, instead of pushing us forward by the sheer force of His awesome will.
Learning patience is a gift. It can be grueling, it may drive us to the ends of ourselves, but along the way we have the opportunity to see God's plan for us unfold.
Adam and Eve were the first to hear the promise. They died with only the hope that salvation would someday come from one of their own children.
Abraham endured time and again, only seeing his hope begin to be realized at the end of his long life.
Generations of Israel suffered in slavery, endured the wilderness, won and lost themselves a homeland...until, while under the brutal subjugation of Rome, Christmas dawned on them and the world.
Look for the dawn to follow the darkest moments of the night. Christmas comes in the midst of winter; life promised in the middle of the barren cold.
I do not limit this to my students, but they do demonstrate this problem quite vividly; they are young and they are growing...and growth can be difficult at the best of times, and all the more in a society that tell us constantly that we shouldn't be content with what we are. They wrestle with learning to persevere through the hard times, to strive when there are easier ways to accomplish the same "goal" of graduating from school and going off into the world...they struggle with learning to trust me and be patient, even when they don't understand why Mr. Leigh is so excited about Book 12 of the Iliad.
They are attempting to navigate the difficult waters of growing up without falling victim to the traps of a culture obsessed with being 18 years old. For them, the danger lies in growing up too fast. One of the aspects of my school that I appreciate is that the students are encouraged to preserve their innocence as they grow (hopefully) wiser.
It is my task, in part, to prepare them and to educate them regarding the need to prepare themselves before venturing out to the waiting world. To teach them the virtue of patience.
Patience is one of those virtues that can only be learned the hard way: through the practice of waiting.
I was reflecting on this the other day, and while reading the Doctor's thoughts on the importance of history, it occurred to me that the promise of Christmas is a lesson in the value of patience.
The season is predicated, in part, on waiting. It's why children have to learn to wait to open their presents until Christmas Day. It's why Advent comes before the joyous Christmas morning. It's why we waited through the years for the time to be ripe for the coming of the Christ. And it is, in part, why we wait now for Him to come again. Waiting allows us to learn to be patient.
Why is patience so important?
Through patience we learn to be content in God's timing. By patience, we access the peace of God in every circumstance. Patience allows us to endure the slow grind which so frequently typifies sanctification. Our God, the actualizer, chooses to allow us to wait for His perfect time, instead of pushing us forward by the sheer force of His awesome will.
Learning patience is a gift. It can be grueling, it may drive us to the ends of ourselves, but along the way we have the opportunity to see God's plan for us unfold.
Adam and Eve were the first to hear the promise. They died with only the hope that salvation would someday come from one of their own children.
Abraham endured time and again, only seeing his hope begin to be realized at the end of his long life.
Generations of Israel suffered in slavery, endured the wilderness, won and lost themselves a homeland...until, while under the brutal subjugation of Rome, Christmas dawned on them and the world.
Look for the dawn to follow the darkest moments of the night. Christmas comes in the midst of winter; life promised in the middle of the barren cold.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saving the American Car
Sometimes, going backwards is the best way to go forward.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not mechanically inclined. I am perpetually paying more for stuff handier people could take care of themselves. I have accepted that my unhandiness is part of my life...I am what I am, and I have accepted it. I have other talents...not ones that make me particularly popular on man-night (I have zero ball-handling skills--you do NOT want me on your basketball team, am clumsy when it comes to carpentry or mechanics, and I am not wild about any football team, college or pro...I have some preferences, but I adopted those in part to avoid being a leper amongst my fellow men). I am working on amending the problem...I am proud to say my drink of choice is scotch (Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch...I like Scotch...) and I really enjoy a good cigar (I had my first Cubans this summer...amazing). I enjoy poker and meat...I like eating meat while playing poker. And I have what might almost be called lust for the muscle car.
Which is really odd...since I am not the car-type. I don't care much about cars, nor have I ever been moved to learn much about cars.
But I cannot resist the old Muscle Cars. Even when they're not restored, I think they're just about the sexiest things on the road. I know I am doomed to never own one...you cannot one one unless you can take care of it, and I know I couldn't take care of it...but that doesn't stop the longing.
SO...with this in mind, I propose my solution to the dilemma facing Detroit. American cars cannot compete with Japanese cars. I know it is not entirely because of the product...but the product doesn't help. Compare a Focus with the Civic. Although the Focus is the closest Ford comes to competing, it cannot close the deal...it's just not as nice as the Civic. American Car's R&D departments just cannot muster the energy to put a stop to the foreign cars' dominance.
What is the answer? Look to the past! Get rid of the R&D departments, the focus groups that are obviously missing the mark, and the innovation that continues to produce cars that nobody wants to buy.
STOP!
Start making the old shells again. Put your Ford Focus into a classic Mustang body. No, it won't be an actual "Muscle Car" but who really cares? Get a nice loud muffler on that baby, a fresh, bright coat of gumball red...no more talk of a bailout.
Bring back the classics...those of us who don't want to spend every day this summer taking apart an engine (and wouldn't know where to begin even if we did want to!) will flock to your stores, and buy the cars we have loved since we were old enough to hold the Hot Wheel versions.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not mechanically inclined. I am perpetually paying more for stuff handier people could take care of themselves. I have accepted that my unhandiness is part of my life...I am what I am, and I have accepted it. I have other talents...not ones that make me particularly popular on man-night (I have zero ball-handling skills--you do NOT want me on your basketball team, am clumsy when it comes to carpentry or mechanics, and I am not wild about any football team, college or pro...I have some preferences, but I adopted those in part to avoid being a leper amongst my fellow men). I am working on amending the problem...I am proud to say my drink of choice is scotch (Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch...I like Scotch...) and I really enjoy a good cigar (I had my first Cubans this summer...amazing). I enjoy poker and meat...I like eating meat while playing poker. And I have what might almost be called lust for the muscle car.
Which is really odd...since I am not the car-type. I don't care much about cars, nor have I ever been moved to learn much about cars.
But I cannot resist the old Muscle Cars. Even when they're not restored, I think they're just about the sexiest things on the road. I know I am doomed to never own one...you cannot one one unless you can take care of it, and I know I couldn't take care of it...but that doesn't stop the longing.
SO...with this in mind, I propose my solution to the dilemma facing Detroit. American cars cannot compete with Japanese cars. I know it is not entirely because of the product...but the product doesn't help. Compare a Focus with the Civic. Although the Focus is the closest Ford comes to competing, it cannot close the deal...it's just not as nice as the Civic. American Car's R&D departments just cannot muster the energy to put a stop to the foreign cars' dominance.
What is the answer? Look to the past! Get rid of the R&D departments, the focus groups that are obviously missing the mark, and the innovation that continues to produce cars that nobody wants to buy.
STOP!
Start making the old shells again. Put your Ford Focus into a classic Mustang body. No, it won't be an actual "Muscle Car" but who really cares? Get a nice loud muffler on that baby, a fresh, bright coat of gumball red...no more talk of a bailout.
Bring back the classics...those of us who don't want to spend every day this summer taking apart an engine (and wouldn't know where to begin even if we did want to!) will flock to your stores, and buy the cars we have loved since we were old enough to hold the Hot Wheel versions.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Drawing Us Out of Ourselves
An undeniable reality of our current age is that there is real distress about how tomorrow will turn out. We worry about how we're going to manage rising prices, lower salaries, buying Christmas presents, paying for new clothes, affording the car, saving for college, and putting aside a little bit for retirement.
Noticeably missing from this list is any mention of charity.
Now...I did just make up this list...so it is possible that the vice is merely my own. However, I'd venture to guess that most institutions that draw their primary support from the gifts of their community are hurting, and/or worrying about how they will survive in the midst of economic down-turn.
It can sound ridiculous to suggest that hardship is really a blessing, yet the Christian world has, since the beginning, argued this very thing. Which, of course, begs the question...Why should we relish the lean times? Why welcome periods of trials and tribulations? It cannot be a good thing to see others suffer...nor should we take joy in the downfall of our friends and neighbors.
Yet it can seem that hard times are the only times that show us the things that really matter...or, for that matter, the times when we see most clearly what we value and what sort of people we really are.
Which is why this season of tightened belts can be a good thing. It can remind us of those needs which are greater than our own; it can draw us out of ourselves and reach out to our community to show the kind of love and hope that attends the promise of Christmas.
Watch It's a Wonderful Life and think about what kind of a community we might have if we all strove to uphold one another in the midst of potential disaster.
Noticeably missing from this list is any mention of charity.
Now...I did just make up this list...so it is possible that the vice is merely my own. However, I'd venture to guess that most institutions that draw their primary support from the gifts of their community are hurting, and/or worrying about how they will survive in the midst of economic down-turn.
It can sound ridiculous to suggest that hardship is really a blessing, yet the Christian world has, since the beginning, argued this very thing. Which, of course, begs the question...Why should we relish the lean times? Why welcome periods of trials and tribulations? It cannot be a good thing to see others suffer...nor should we take joy in the downfall of our friends and neighbors.
Yet it can seem that hard times are the only times that show us the things that really matter...or, for that matter, the times when we see most clearly what we value and what sort of people we really are.
Which is why this season of tightened belts can be a good thing. It can remind us of those needs which are greater than our own; it can draw us out of ourselves and reach out to our community to show the kind of love and hope that attends the promise of Christmas.
Watch It's a Wonderful Life and think about what kind of a community we might have if we all strove to uphold one another in the midst of potential disaster.
A Full Christmas
We've had a lot of blessings. It is bizzare to reflect on the last 4 years, and to have my son tackle me every day when I get home...of late, Aiden has taken to spontaneously expressing his affection for both Sheri & I.
What more could I want...but, well, more?
What more could I want...but, well, more?
August will be a good month.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men
With two weeks to Christmas, it is easy to get completely snowed in by the hustle and bustle and forget to stop and reflect on the meaning of the season.
A potential new favorite film for me is Joyeux Noel, the story of the ceasefire of December 1914. In a terrible war that cost the world the untold promise of generations, Christmas almost ended the war before it could really get going.
I love this story for a variety of reasons.
1. It is a true story...perhaps not the personal stories added for human interest, but the events did occur. Gotta love it when real life is as good as any fairytale; in the Winter of 1914, in the fields of France, we saw a fairytale unfold, before a self-imposed reality reasserted itself.
2. Christmas nearly ends one of the worst wars in history. I am a major Christmas fan...that makes it sound like a sporting event or something trite...I am a firm believer that much of the good that we have experienced in the last 2000 years started with the promise of Christmas, and the world languished as it waited for the first Christmas. This story is just another example of how the hope which inherently abides with the season can be life changing, reaching across all sorts of boundaries.
This is the very message of Christ, which no amount of strife or self-inflated cause of man can ever fully quell.
3. As I mentioned, it's a real story. I am also a fan of the period...the possibilities of the young Century were still unknown, and the strife of the Old World final came to a head in a calamitous wreck of war and carnage...in the finest traditions of tragedy, we can only read and wonder what might have been if any one of a myriad of possibilities had happened instead...
4. The final thought of the story is not a happy one. The officers (and in the film, even members of the church) must actually work hard to get their men to get back to the business of war. While it is not a joyful thought, I think it is important to reflect on the deliberate choice to embrace vice and pain is a consistent theme in the tale of man. This stands in stark contrast with the hope and promise of Christmas...which is, I think, the point. We cannot save ourselves; in fact, left to ourselves, we will actually work hard to choose death and war rather than peace.
Christmas promises a hope which has not yet been entirely fulfilled. While the salvation of Christ is something we can appreciate, we are left to struggle in Middle Earth and have not yet known the joy of the deathless land, where peace and love are the law of the land. Christians should be careful, as we preach the peace of God that we recognize that this world is not and will not be free from strife. Tomorrow will be better than yesterday, but only because tomorrow brings us closer to the Lord, and further from ourselves.
The promise of Peace on Earth, and Good will Towards Men was both fulfilled 2000 years ago, and yet remains to be completed. Take joy in this season, and reflect on the depth of the promised redemption. Find peace, as we live a reality that is still to be realized in full, and love as we look to a day that completes an act of love that altered all of creation.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A War Like No Other
I am reading Victor Davis Hanson's "A War Like No Other" as I prep for teaching my 8th graders about the Peleponnesian War, and am very much enjoying his narrative. If you're looking for a book to help you relate extricate the morals of history and aid you in connecting with the ghosts of the past, I would certainly recommend it.
I am still in the beginning, but it is already an absorbing read. His explanation of Athens connection to modern America is enlightening, and examines some realities that I have often reflected on, without a proper frame of reference to guide me, not least of which is the question of why America is opposed by so many in the world.
I have long had my suspicions; growing up in a foreign country (especially one with a long history of colonization, both with and without the US) that it generally centers around envy: many who are not us wish they could be us, and since they cannot, hate us for being us.
Although this is something even VDH recognizes, also in play are the factors of the liberality of our society, and the unpredictable nature of a Free Government. We are an unknown quantity, and that is distressing to a world of known sums. Since WWII, America has filled the void of our potential with specific and material examples of our might and our ability to influence the world as we see fit.
For this, we are loathed. Which is odd, given how much good we do in the world.
And, odder still, those who stand as stark opponents to us are lauded. Chavez, Castro, Che (posthumously), Ahmadinejad...even Putin. They are celebrated as free thinkers and champions of a world that will not be ground under an American heel.
It is not because most of the world actually wants these individuals to be their leaders; if this were true, America would cease to be the center of so much of the world's power. But in the absence of another superpower (and sometimes even despite of another superpower...the Soviets were not unpopular during the Cold War in many elite circles, and are frequently spoken of with a certain amount of pseudo-admiration today) allows critics to fantasize that the freedoms and excesses of America are the cause of the world's ills.
I think it is the cost of being free. Freedom is alarming, and difficult to control. Citizens of a free society see tomorrows with potentials other citizens cannot begin to comprehend. This very fact creates an environment that puts others at odds with freedom.
Not unlike being a parent or a teacher or anyone responsible for growing children. The more they grow...the more they need to have responsibility for their own choices and lives, if they are to grow into fully functioning adults. Letting them experiment and learn how to make the right choices can be worrisome, to say the least...but without it, growth never happens.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Inevitable and Hilarious
This makes me laugh...a lot.
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As a brief explanation, let me ask a few questions of the Dems/Left leaner's that cannot stand Bush and were so excited about getting him out of office:
Do President's like to be liked?
Could Bush have been liked if he had wanted to be liked?
My answers to those questions are, respectively, yes, and yes.
So why did he hang his entire legacy on issues that contributed directly to his status as the whipping boy of the world? Simple hubris? Greed? Stupidity? Ignorance of the general growing discontent with his leadership? Or, as Oliver Stone ridiculously suggested, Daddy Issues?
Any or all of these are possibilities. The one possibility that the Left seems incapable of accepting is that we do not (and cannot) know all of the issues that impact the decisions the President must make. A President who is not self-serving first will not please everyone, and may end up not pleasing anyone (at least, any of the people who "matter").
As Obama's agenda and cabinet bring a harsh reality to the Leftist utopia envisioned by the subscribers of HuffPo, ask yourself this question: what has Obama learned, since winning the election, that has changed his perspective on so many issues?
******************************************************************************
As a brief explanation, let me ask a few questions of the Dems/Left leaner's that cannot stand Bush and were so excited about getting him out of office:
Do President's like to be liked?
Could Bush have been liked if he had wanted to be liked?
My answers to those questions are, respectively, yes, and yes.
So why did he hang his entire legacy on issues that contributed directly to his status as the whipping boy of the world? Simple hubris? Greed? Stupidity? Ignorance of the general growing discontent with his leadership? Or, as Oliver Stone ridiculously suggested, Daddy Issues?
Any or all of these are possibilities. The one possibility that the Left seems incapable of accepting is that we do not (and cannot) know all of the issues that impact the decisions the President must make. A President who is not self-serving first will not please everyone, and may end up not pleasing anyone (at least, any of the people who "matter").
As Obama's agenda and cabinet bring a harsh reality to the Leftist utopia envisioned by the subscribers of HuffPo, ask yourself this question: what has Obama learned, since winning the election, that has changed his perspective on so many issues?
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Mysterious Providence
It can be hard to find the right words to say when we see a fellow brother or sister in need. We frequently remark that "the Lord works in mysterious ways" whenever we encounter a problem that is too great for our own problem solving techniques. Prayer is offered vaguely, and rarely as real, tangible help, in and of itself.
We have been struggling to find the way to make ends meet recently...I will freely admit we have not been the best stewards of what the Lord has given us, and we are working to try and amend that problem...but the fact remains that our bills have exceeded our income for the last few months. As a result, new problems arise, and then we get even more worried about it.
This week, I was getting so distracted by it that I was having a hard time concentrating on much else in a spare moment. I hadn't checked our mailbox for about two weeks, because I didn't want to see the bills...a "see no evil" sort of thing...
Coincidentally, I also chose this week to start reinserting prayers into our morning routine in class, a practice that got neglected as my tunnel vision for our lesson plans forgot the importance of prayer in the morning. We have been reading from the Book of Common Prayer, and I have been teaching the kids about the value of communal prayer, and lifting each other up. In these prayers, I have actually not prayed for my own concerns (which is somewhat odd, given how much they were stressing me out...perhaps part of the denial tactic...) but have prayed strictly for others.
About mid-week, I suddenly relaxed and decided that I would pay what I could and work out how to take care of the rest as we could. We would cut out all unnecessary spending (eating out, eating gourmet, fun toys for Aiden, new clothes, etc), and do what it took to get out of the hole we had gotten ourselves in. More importantly, we would take up the practice of tithing again, something that has once again gone by the wayside because it was convenient.
I was content with this solution...it wasn't a complete answer, but I could make it work. We would focus on loving each other, and not on satisfying every want and desire with things and money.
I went to the mailbox this morning...facing the music, finally.
After fighting to get my mail out of the box for about 2 minutes (the postman must be a genius...I have no idea how he got it all in there...) I got it home and started sorting.
One imediately caught my attention...in the envelope window it said "Pay to the Order of Christopher Leigh..."
We received a notice a few weeks ago that our house had recently decreased in value from the time that we had purchased it (to roughly exactly what we had paid for it, so that was fine...). I didn't think much of it at the time, but apparently we had paid taxes on the house when its value was higher.
The envelope contained a refund for the extra taxes we had paid, essentially exactly what I have reasoned out that we needed to put ourselves out of the trouble that we had gotten into.
Not saying that every time you have a need you'll get a letter with a windfall (although this has been our experience...), but I do want to point out the overwhelming provision and grace for those that turn to the Lord in their need. I had already received what I consider to be an answer to my problem...I had peace, and a plan, which is what I had so desperately needed. This last is wonderful, and unlooked for...and more than what I had even thought to ask for. The mysterious providence of our Lord really does challenge all of our preconceived notions of the nature of things.
We have been struggling to find the way to make ends meet recently...I will freely admit we have not been the best stewards of what the Lord has given us, and we are working to try and amend that problem...but the fact remains that our bills have exceeded our income for the last few months. As a result, new problems arise, and then we get even more worried about it.
This week, I was getting so distracted by it that I was having a hard time concentrating on much else in a spare moment. I hadn't checked our mailbox for about two weeks, because I didn't want to see the bills...a "see no evil" sort of thing...
Coincidentally, I also chose this week to start reinserting prayers into our morning routine in class, a practice that got neglected as my tunnel vision for our lesson plans forgot the importance of prayer in the morning. We have been reading from the Book of Common Prayer, and I have been teaching the kids about the value of communal prayer, and lifting each other up. In these prayers, I have actually not prayed for my own concerns (which is somewhat odd, given how much they were stressing me out...perhaps part of the denial tactic...) but have prayed strictly for others.
About mid-week, I suddenly relaxed and decided that I would pay what I could and work out how to take care of the rest as we could. We would cut out all unnecessary spending (eating out, eating gourmet, fun toys for Aiden, new clothes, etc), and do what it took to get out of the hole we had gotten ourselves in. More importantly, we would take up the practice of tithing again, something that has once again gone by the wayside because it was convenient.
I was content with this solution...it wasn't a complete answer, but I could make it work. We would focus on loving each other, and not on satisfying every want and desire with things and money.
I went to the mailbox this morning...facing the music, finally.
After fighting to get my mail out of the box for about 2 minutes (the postman must be a genius...I have no idea how he got it all in there...) I got it home and started sorting.
One imediately caught my attention...in the envelope window it said "Pay to the Order of Christopher Leigh..."
We received a notice a few weeks ago that our house had recently decreased in value from the time that we had purchased it (to roughly exactly what we had paid for it, so that was fine...). I didn't think much of it at the time, but apparently we had paid taxes on the house when its value was higher.
The envelope contained a refund for the extra taxes we had paid, essentially exactly what I have reasoned out that we needed to put ourselves out of the trouble that we had gotten into.
Not saying that every time you have a need you'll get a letter with a windfall (although this has been our experience...), but I do want to point out the overwhelming provision and grace for those that turn to the Lord in their need. I had already received what I consider to be an answer to my problem...I had peace, and a plan, which is what I had so desperately needed. This last is wonderful, and unlooked for...and more than what I had even thought to ask for. The mysterious providence of our Lord really does challenge all of our preconceived notions of the nature of things.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
The 5 Films You Need To Watch This Christmas
I'm not a terribly original film connoisseur, but choosing a classic is hardly something to be ashamed of. My list, from bottom to top, for your Christmas viewing is as follows:
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. More for its sentimental value than for the story (although the story itself is also a treasure), this cartoon ranks a spot on my list of Christmas "must sees" because it wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't get to see the Grinch's heart grow three sizes that day.
4. Love Actually. This is the most modern of my selections, and if you are taking my list as a guide, you should be warned: there is foul language and nudity in this love story. However...it paints a vivid picture of the effect that Christmas has on the world, even a world that is not particularly centered on Christ. We love, we risk, we cherish...because that's what you do at Christmas. Great story, fun movie.
3. Jesus of Nazareth. This is not a strictly "Christmas Movie" per se, however it does involve a great section on the birth of Christ. Franco Zeffirelli treats you to a powerful (and long) telling of the life of Christ, from beginning to end. Not to be missed is the story of the Prodigal Son, or the redemption of Mary Magdalene. Find it, set aside a weekend, and reflect on the grace of God and the reason for Christmas.
2. The Christmas Carol. In keeping with my long established disdain for the rules of any game, I will use this opportunity to list three movies as one: my favorites three versions of The Christmas Carol.
The 1951 Alastair Sim "Scrooge" in black and white is a classic, and includes some fantastic scenes of Scrooge at Marley's deathbed which every other version skips over. Scrooge is particularly abusive of his fellow man in this one, which makes his conversion all that much more joyful.
The Muppet Christmas Carol, fun and brilliant. My son can watch it, and I never get tired of hearing the song from the Ghost of Christmas Present, or the jokes from Gonzo and Rizzo.
And finally, the George C Scott Christmas Carol; if pressed, this is my favorite version of the story. George C Scott plays Scrooge as cold, calculating, and untouchable by the world, until prodded from his isolation by the ghosts, culminating in the sheer terror of the Future. His redemption is tender, sincere, and moving. If you haven't seen this version, run to the store and do yourself a favor.
And finally...
1. It's a Wonderful Life. As I say, not terribly original. But I challenge you to yawn as George Bailey struggles against his destiny as a responsible man. If there is a movie we need to think about more in this day and age, I cannot think of it. This movie also lays claim to some of my favorite lines..."The police are way on the other side of town--they'd be on my side too!" "I think I'll go find the girl and have some passionate necking." Ultimately, as a man who is struggling to be good while watching his dreams pass him by, George stands as an example to every man in this age of self indulgence. I aspire to be George Bailey, and Christmas is not Christmas without the reminder of the role of sacrifice in our lives.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. More for its sentimental value than for the story (although the story itself is also a treasure), this cartoon ranks a spot on my list of Christmas "must sees" because it wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't get to see the Grinch's heart grow three sizes that day.
4. Love Actually. This is the most modern of my selections, and if you are taking my list as a guide, you should be warned: there is foul language and nudity in this love story. However...it paints a vivid picture of the effect that Christmas has on the world, even a world that is not particularly centered on Christ. We love, we risk, we cherish...because that's what you do at Christmas. Great story, fun movie.
3. Jesus of Nazareth. This is not a strictly "Christmas Movie" per se, however it does involve a great section on the birth of Christ. Franco Zeffirelli treats you to a powerful (and long) telling of the life of Christ, from beginning to end. Not to be missed is the story of the Prodigal Son, or the redemption of Mary Magdalene. Find it, set aside a weekend, and reflect on the grace of God and the reason for Christmas.
2. The Christmas Carol. In keeping with my long established disdain for the rules of any game, I will use this opportunity to list three movies as one: my favorites three versions of The Christmas Carol.
The 1951 Alastair Sim "Scrooge" in black and white is a classic, and includes some fantastic scenes of Scrooge at Marley's deathbed which every other version skips over. Scrooge is particularly abusive of his fellow man in this one, which makes his conversion all that much more joyful.
The Muppet Christmas Carol, fun and brilliant. My son can watch it, and I never get tired of hearing the song from the Ghost of Christmas Present, or the jokes from Gonzo and Rizzo.
And finally, the George C Scott Christmas Carol; if pressed, this is my favorite version of the story. George C Scott plays Scrooge as cold, calculating, and untouchable by the world, until prodded from his isolation by the ghosts, culminating in the sheer terror of the Future. His redemption is tender, sincere, and moving. If you haven't seen this version, run to the store and do yourself a favor.
And finally...
1. It's a Wonderful Life. As I say, not terribly original. But I challenge you to yawn as George Bailey struggles against his destiny as a responsible man. If there is a movie we need to think about more in this day and age, I cannot think of it. This movie also lays claim to some of my favorite lines..."The police are way on the other side of town--they'd be on my side too!" "I think I'll go find the girl and have some passionate necking." Ultimately, as a man who is struggling to be good while watching his dreams pass him by, George stands as an example to every man in this age of self indulgence. I aspire to be George Bailey, and Christmas is not Christmas without the reminder of the role of sacrifice in our lives.
Friday, December 05, 2008
On the Lighter Side of Life
Some friends of ours introduced us to "That Mitchell and Webb Look" a little while ago...
A warning...they can use foul language. Still...they're amazing. Look for their vids on youtube.
A warning...they can use foul language. Still...they're amazing. Look for their vids on youtube.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Speak to Us in Our Pain
In the face of tragedy and violence, all too common in an age of violent men who resort to violence when their arguments fail to convince, it is easy to respond in kind. It would be easier, we tell ourselves, if the God allowed us to hate terrorists. Why should grace extend to those who allow hate to justify their murderous actions?
I have certainly wrestled with these questions. In the wake of 9/11, I spent many days and nights wondering about the justice of God in the deaths of so many whose only crime had been being American, prosperous and free. We may not have gotten along with all those that perished...but since when does that justify such violence? What should a man do in response to such an attack on innocents?
It is only reasonable that the tragedy in Mumbai has elicited similar questions.
Pain is intended to cause us to pause. When we become closely acquainted with grief, we are forced to ask...is there a point? I echo the great souls of Christian tradition when I confidently assert, yes! There is a point to our pain. We do not suffer at God's whim, nor do we suffer without hope of a ultimate redemption. Not least among the reasons we suffer is that suffering affords us a unique opportunity to display a confidence in the divine plan that God has for the world. To show that God's forgiveness and grace exists especially for those that choose to put themselves at odds with their fellow man, and in opposition to the God that created them.
Vengeance is the Lord's we are told, though that might be a concept seems repugnant in our search for justice. We have the might and therefore the responsibility to defend the helpless; it seems only reasonable that we would be vested with the responsibility of punishing those guilty of the inhuman acts of slaughtering the innocent and defenseless. After all...aren't we the hands of God in this world? At the very least we can condemn in the strongest language and in the most absolute terms the actions of those monsters, and even the monsters themselves; their path leads to hell, and the righteous wrath of God is their reward. And if we can send them there a little sooner, then so much the better for the rest of us.
I admit that these have been my thoughts from time to time as I have wrestled with the ramifications of the crimes perpetrated against civilians by terrorists. To see my justice fall on the heads of the animals that see children as targets. To see the terror they would use as a weapon destroy them.
And yet...even as wrath begins to fill my heart, the Spirit whispers, "This is not righteousness the Lord requires."
If God's forgiveness is extended to me, I must give as I have received. As He recognizes no limits in forgiving me, how can I put a limit on what I forgive? As one of my favorite questions from the best Christian movie of recent times puts it, "At what price mercy?" The legacy I have inherited tells me that I should show mercy and forgiveness, even if it costs me my life.
So what then? Do we collectively "turn the other cheek" and ignore the evil actions of butchers and villains? Is the wrath and righteous anger we feel in response to the crimes that were perpetrated in Mumbai impotent?
In a word, no.
This does not mean that the only option is pacifism. If God had not closed the door, I would presently be serving in our armed forces, and I gratefully support those men and women who sacrifice to protect and serve those of us who are not on the line with them. I do believe that there is an appropriate apparatus for bringing terrorists to justice, and for defending the helpless. It can be maddening that we must trust in something as clumsy as our government to champion us against such evil, but I also believe that the government exists to protect us from the inevitable harm that comes from the necessary task of dealing with those criminals. A reality of war is that even being in the "right" doesn't protect you from the harm that comes from taking life.
For those of us who are not responsible for holding that line, the task is less exciting, certainly frustrating, but necessary; we must pray for our enemies. Pray that their hearts would be broken by the Spirit of God, and pray that they would repent of their evil deeds before their final judgement is upon them. Pray that in the midst of this pain, we would hear the voice of God, speaking to us of the plan that was laid down with the foundations of the earth, to bring us to our Creator in a world that will finally be free from the weight of pain.
I have certainly wrestled with these questions. In the wake of 9/11, I spent many days and nights wondering about the justice of God in the deaths of so many whose only crime had been being American, prosperous and free. We may not have gotten along with all those that perished...but since when does that justify such violence? What should a man do in response to such an attack on innocents?
It is only reasonable that the tragedy in Mumbai has elicited similar questions.
Pain is intended to cause us to pause. When we become closely acquainted with grief, we are forced to ask...is there a point? I echo the great souls of Christian tradition when I confidently assert, yes! There is a point to our pain. We do not suffer at God's whim, nor do we suffer without hope of a ultimate redemption. Not least among the reasons we suffer is that suffering affords us a unique opportunity to display a confidence in the divine plan that God has for the world. To show that God's forgiveness and grace exists especially for those that choose to put themselves at odds with their fellow man, and in opposition to the God that created them.
Vengeance is the Lord's we are told, though that might be a concept seems repugnant in our search for justice. We have the might and therefore the responsibility to defend the helpless; it seems only reasonable that we would be vested with the responsibility of punishing those guilty of the inhuman acts of slaughtering the innocent and defenseless. After all...aren't we the hands of God in this world? At the very least we can condemn in the strongest language and in the most absolute terms the actions of those monsters, and even the monsters themselves; their path leads to hell, and the righteous wrath of God is their reward. And if we can send them there a little sooner, then so much the better for the rest of us.
I admit that these have been my thoughts from time to time as I have wrestled with the ramifications of the crimes perpetrated against civilians by terrorists. To see my justice fall on the heads of the animals that see children as targets. To see the terror they would use as a weapon destroy them.
And yet...even as wrath begins to fill my heart, the Spirit whispers, "This is not righteousness the Lord requires."
If God's forgiveness is extended to me, I must give as I have received. As He recognizes no limits in forgiving me, how can I put a limit on what I forgive? As one of my favorite questions from the best Christian movie of recent times puts it, "At what price mercy?" The legacy I have inherited tells me that I should show mercy and forgiveness, even if it costs me my life.
So what then? Do we collectively "turn the other cheek" and ignore the evil actions of butchers and villains? Is the wrath and righteous anger we feel in response to the crimes that were perpetrated in Mumbai impotent?
In a word, no.
This does not mean that the only option is pacifism. If God had not closed the door, I would presently be serving in our armed forces, and I gratefully support those men and women who sacrifice to protect and serve those of us who are not on the line with them. I do believe that there is an appropriate apparatus for bringing terrorists to justice, and for defending the helpless. It can be maddening that we must trust in something as clumsy as our government to champion us against such evil, but I also believe that the government exists to protect us from the inevitable harm that comes from the necessary task of dealing with those criminals. A reality of war is that even being in the "right" doesn't protect you from the harm that comes from taking life.
For those of us who are not responsible for holding that line, the task is less exciting, certainly frustrating, but necessary; we must pray for our enemies. Pray that their hearts would be broken by the Spirit of God, and pray that they would repent of their evil deeds before their final judgement is upon them. Pray that in the midst of this pain, we would hear the voice of God, speaking to us of the plan that was laid down with the foundations of the earth, to bring us to our Creator in a world that will finally be free from the weight of pain.
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