I Haveta Laugh

I like sunshine and coffee. I like a good conversation and I really like to laugh...

Oops, can I say things like this during Lent?

We worry about this stuff sometimes, don't we? Even those of us who are not so mindful of the Christian calendar. We want to make sure that we strike that critical balance between elation and sorrow... That the projection of our inner spirit fits the environment into which it is spilling.

Of course, this makes sense to a degree. It's really not helpful to be giggling at funerals or singing dirges at weddings. But at the same time, it can be hard sometimes--keeping pace with all those limits and expectations.

For example, not long ago I had a conversation with a woman who has had a fairly difficult stretch. Pretty much every area of her life has been tweaked or twisted in the last year or so. She has suffered some level of dislocation or pain in just about every meaningful aspect of her life including the triumvirate of health, work and relationships.

As we were talking, I was struck by how well she seemed to be handling all this. On the one hand, she didn't want to burden anyone with her hardships but she also sensed that she needed someone to talk to. It turned out to be one of those unique moments when I actually got to feel like I was doing my job--not because I had some great answer to her problems but because I had the time to listen to her story and share a cup of coffee on a sunny day. We also had the opportunity to laugh. Of course, part of what we were laughing at were the circumstances--the challenges that this woman was facing and some of the ways that she has been coping with them.

As we continued to talk, I became more and more aware of how nice a day it was outside. At one point, I literally had to move my chair because the sun was shining so brightly through the window next to our table. This seemed like a perfect metaphor--not only for our conversation but for so much of our lives. A lot of the time, it's both, isn't it? We have elements of pain and elements of joy around us. The blessings do not necessarily deliver us from our circumstances but they remind us that life is wonderful though not necessarily perfect. Of course, another way to put this is to say that God is near us even when it feels like we are alone.

As a pastor, who believes firmly in the Christian calendar, I work hard to invite people to embrace, experience and feel the seasons of the faith. But sometimes there are things going on in our lives that may or may not perfectly fit the season. And even when they do, it's still a challenge to maintain a perfectly somber Lent and then magically wake up joyful come Easter morning.

This doesn't mean that the seasons are unhelpful or that we should not try to embrace them. It rather means that we need to be mindful--both of what is going on inside of us as well as beyond us. Moreover, if we've had a particularly difficult stretch, we might want to take those moments of joy where we can find them... After all, we lift up The Great Thanksgiving every Sunday, even in Lent. So it really is a good and joyful thing to give our thanks and praise...

BTW, the picture above is from The Tokyo Laughter Club. How cool is that?

Did you hear that!

I just finished listening to the sermon preached by Matt Smith at St. Francis on March 14th. If you were not able to hear it, you can go to http://www.stfrancischarlotte.org and click on the multimedia link. Beware of the irony here though because the action will be an employment of electronic media--the very subject that Matt addresses in his excellent sermon. Matt's sermon is remarkable on many levels and I will let it speak for itself. As for the challenge that electronic media presents, I imagine that it is far greater than we can yet perceive.

Mixed Metaphors

Last night I saw the film "Knowing." I had seen the previews and, as a Sci Fi fan, there was little chance that I was going to miss a movie like this. However, before I committed to buying the tickets, I consulted Rotten Tomatoes [http://www.rottentomatoes.com] The site is sort of a clearinghouse for all things movie. Specifically, it gathers reviews, compiles the commentary and declares a particular film either "fresh" or rotten." At the time of my consultation, the fresh-o-meter was weighing Nicolas Cage's latest movie 24% fresh. That is, 3 out of every 4 expert had judged "Knowing" not really worth seeing.

In addition to a general distaste for science fiction, several critics were put off by the inclusion of divergent worldviews to tell the story. The critics resisted the director's employment of scientific and mathematical explanations along with religious and spiritual elements. They seemed offended by what appeared to be a crossing of borders. I found this a curious criticism for a science fiction film but I was not altogether surprised.

There is a common assumption within our society. It is the misguided belief that science and religion are diametrically opposed--that one can either have a scientific view of the world or a religious view of the world. The assumption probably has its roots in the early modern era when some philosophers and scientists believed that it was possible for human beings to discover and know external truth. The movement, commonly called, The Enlightenment, promoted a path to knowledge that was based not on existing authorities (such as the Church or culture or various governments) but through "objective inquiry." This model continues to be the prevailing methodology for human knowledge today. However, most scientists now understand that there is a significant problem with the initial assumption of The Enlightenment. Specifically, there is a problem with objectivity. As long as human beings remain part of the very world that they are seeking to know, true objectivity is simply impossible.

This is not to say that science is wrong. It is rather to say that any claims to truth that we make, even those based on scientific inquiry, are bound by our human condition and the languages that we use to describe the world in which we live. For example, atomic theory or quantum mechanics are not really definitive explanations for the universe. These are rather helpful--and currently the most helpful--ways for us to explain the world around us. Some scientists rightly call them "best guess." In this way, science is actually a religion--not in the traditional sense of worshiping a deity but in terms of it's basic purpose of supplying meaning to the world.

Now some people find this offensive. Curiously, they find it offensive in exactly the same kinds of ways that some Christians once found the The Enlightenment offensive. This is because we build our lives upon the beliefs we hold. We engage the world through the metaphors that we trust. It is only when we perceive them to be under attack that we typically bother to consider the foundations upon which we are standing. In this way, hearing about the limitations of human knowledge always feels at least a little threatening. This is true for traditional religion. But it is also true for modern explanations of the world such as secularism, atheism and even modern science. The irony here is that most of the Church has already gone through this. Our universal claims have long since been relegated to one, now very small, corner of the room. So it's sort of funny to watch the people who stuck us there come to grips with that demeaning refrain, "well that's just religion."

Of course, I doubt little of this history went into the making of "Knowing." I suspect that it is more like the director wanted to tell an interesting story and felt free to use various metaphors to do so. At the same time, this freedom is probably a sign that things have changed. Science is no longer the iron-clad metaphor that it once was. Again, this is not good or bad. It is just a reminder that human knowledge remains an ongoing conversation.

Is "Knowing" a good film? I don't know. I like science fiction so I liked it. From a religious perspective I certainly found it engaging. What is perhaps most engaging is how well the film captures the limits of human knowledge. While this can be a threatening consideration, it can also be an insightful moment of growth for us.

The Bible consistently calls for the importance of faith. Perhaps the importance here is not so much about blind obedience as it is an acceptance of the limitations of the human condition. It is a good thing to seek and learn and know. Scientific inquiry is a critically important part of this. In the same way, it is wise and good to seek and know beyond the mechanics and processes.

Curiously, toward the end of Einstein's life and work, this became his most urgent question. Although he could not yet identify it, he firmly believed that there must be a singular, unified theory of the universe. The question remains: are human beings capable of comprehending such a thing from our current perspective? In the end, if and when we actually do come to "know," are we not likely to find that the explanation is indeed unified? That the truth finally includes the best of what we call science and religion?

Tournament Time

"Are you kidding me!" Perhaps nothing denotes the excitement and fun of college basketball like the familiar commentary of Dick Vitale. Dick is a true lover of the game and it shows every time we hear him speak. For Vitale, it doesn't matter who's playing; if it's college basketball, something worthwhile is going to happen. And anyone paying attention is in for a treat.

Of course, this time of year, it's particularly poignant. There is nothing bigger. March Madness has become a phenomena rivaling the Super Bowl. For some of us, it's far bigger. Everyone's got a favorite team. Everyone takes some time out to watch the grace and intrigue of young men and women giving it all they got for their school. Soon it will be down to the Final Four but for now--during the conference tournaments and the first round of the NCAA and NIT, everyone's got some kind of a chance. Students, alumni and townsfolk from places like North Dakota and Northern Iowa get the opportunity to cheer for their team. [My wife and one of my best friends went to Northern Iowa by the way. They're the Panthers so it should be easy for most of us to root for them.]

Several years ago, things were kind of tough in the good ole USA. Gas was scarce, interest rates were high and there was a heavy feeling in the air. And then, the most unlikely thing happened. Herb Brooks pulled together a group of college kids from places like Minnesota and Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Michigan. These young men became the 1980 US Hockey team. I was fourteen years old at the time and I actually played hockey when I wasn't playing basketball.

I remember people taking time out for a couple of weeks that winter just to watch these kids play those games in Lake Placid. It turned out that they beat the a Russian team that was considered far and away the best in the world. The Russians were eight and ten years old then our college players and by all measure professional athletes. [Remember when the Olympics were a little more pure?] Against all odds, the US team won the gold medal in hockey in 1980. It seemed like the entire country was on that team and the experience coincided elegantly with a turnaround in our land.

Yet even if it hadn't turn out the way, it still would have been a good thing. It is always a good thing to find the joy around us--to take time out, to take our minds of our troubles, if just for a while, to enjoy something as simple and yet graceful as a bunch of kids chasing their dreams.

If you have never seen the film, "Miracle," I highly recommend it. It tells the story in a very compelling way, reminding us that athletics can still be pure. Just make sure you wait until your team's been knocked out of the tournament.

Go Duke!

Organic Leadership

Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
'An enemy did this,' he replied.
'The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' (Matt. 13:24-30)

Jesus tells a number of parables that point toward the natural world. One of the reasons for this is that most of the people who were listening were familiar with the land and the growing seasons. The people were farmers or shepherds of one kind or another who understood the cycles of sowing, growing and harvesting. But Jesus may have used these metaphors for another reason. Perhaps people themselves are not unlike the natural world in which they inhabit. They are born, grow and die. They do well under certain condition (good soil) and not so well under others (rocky, weedy, etc.).

A word that we may have heard tossed about here and there is “organic.” We hear of organic foods or organic environments. The word refers to the natural world as well as to a certain purity associated with it. Organic produce is supposed to be more natural because it is grown in non-toxic or, at least, less toxic conditions. They are supposed to be free of added chemicals typically used to enhance the productivity of the plants. The inclusion of chemicals, steroids and other human efforts to direct the growth process might make the produce easier to manage and perhaps even more desirable to the eye but these things often include unwanted side-effects as well. Chemicals used to enhance the growing process can introduce pollutants that may, in fact, be worse than the challenges of simply allowing things to grow on their own. Some say that we are literally being poisoned by the food that we eat.

Jesus' parable concerning the weeds and the wheat might seem a bit risky for gardeners or pastors or parents or anyone who has a stake in a growth process. It can be uncomfortable at times to allow things to grow naturally. But at the same time, perfectly shaped and colored store-bought tomatoes taste horrible compared to the ones that grow next to my house.

The lesson? I am not sure. There are probably many lessons here—but the first one seems to have something to do with trust. It takes a degree of faith to stop weeding out everything that doesn't look like whatever it is that we are trying to grow. It takes faith to trust the growing process. It takes humility to admit that despite the intentions, sometimes all those control efforts turn out to be carcinogenic. God knows how to grow things even in hostile environments.

Difficult Personalities

A friend of mine has a pet term that he uses to describe a wearying force in the world. He likes to say, "It is not right to let the mission of the Church be driven by the difficult personalities in our midst." Anyone who has spent much time working or serving in an organization of humans understands what my friend is talking about. Although there may not be an official definition of a difficult personality, most of us could probably point to one or two.

In the workplace, difficult personalities have time-lives. They last until they destroy themselves or until cooler minds prevail. If people tear-up more than they produce or complicate more than they contribute, sooner or later the market speaks to the matter. Either the voice of the boss or the sheer pain of the environment demands intervention on behalf of the organization itself. In the workplace, difficult people are being compensated for some good or service that they provide. So if all else fails, removing the paycheck generally takes care of the problem.

Volunteer organizations such as local churches operate somewhat differently. Not only is it hard to fire volunteers, the example of Jesus sort of demands that we treat even difficult personalities with a higher degree of compassion and respect. But herein lies a dangerous challenge. Because we recognize the volunteer nature of the Church and because we understand that Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, difficult personalities enjoy positions among us that would be completely unacceptable elsewhere. Bullies, whiners and otherwise very destructive people can be allowed to run roughshod over the body of Christ.

Of course, this is not God's will. But addressing the issue can still be a considerable challenge. The likely candidate to deal with the problem is the pastor--the same pastor who has been called to care for all members of the church, including the difficult personalities. So by addressing the abuse, the pastor is caring for the body but at the same time, he/she is risking the relationship and trust of some of the members. So what is the church to do? It is certainly wrong to allow the difficult personalities to stifle the mission and ministry of the Church but how can we risk speaking the truth to one another--even when it is in love?

I believe that the answer is in the worship life of the Church. As the community gathers for worship, it hears the Gospel. Cool minds and difficult personalities alike are confronted with the truth that we are all sinners saved by the grace of Christ. In this way, the truth about our behavior comes to us not by way of the pastor or some other leader within the Church but through the Gospel itself and the communal activity of the body. Bullying, whining and otherwise mean-spirited activity is unacceptable behavior for people who claim to be followers of Jesus.

In this way, the Church is not so different from a workplace--except to the extent that our work is carried out largely by volunteers. The purpose of the organization (in this case, to make and nurture disciples of Christ) becomes the accountability that might otherwise be lacking. Those who would undermine the Church's central task to make and equip disciples are therefore called to account not merely by the voice of the pastor but by the critical vision of the Church--because the work of the organization is just too important to allow mean people to abuse their position within the body.

Generally speaking this applies not only to the workplace and the Church but to much of our lives. There are always going to be difficult personalities around us. However, it is critically important to our own joy that we do not let these voices determine the mission and ministry of our lives. As our mothers have long ago taught us--life is just too short for that.