To those who might have missed my entries over the last several months, I apologize. The fact is that I just didn't have the strength--or at least the needed strength to overcome the inertia. I do now.
I have been reading a lot lately--mostly material that will never be printed in books or material that was printed long ago and kept in just a few volumes. It has helped me see. I think that there is something else helping me as well. I do not yet see well, not by a long-shot. But I believe that I am seeing better. And I want this to continue.
In the midst of this recent journey, I have discovered something about learning and, perhaps, about knowledge itself. I have found that it easy to focus on the wrong side. Discovering the glass, taking note of its contents, and the fact that it is so little filled, we can easily be drawn into lament. And such lament is not without justification. When our eyes begin to open, there is plenty to be angry or sad about.
Call it evil or darkness or negativity... We see this and its capacity to sour and destroy and it's hard to resist overly regarding it. A friend of mine once put it this way, we need to acknowledge the evil in the world without glorifying it.
You see, in our anger and sadness, we can actually come to worship evil, if only accidentally. This happens when we become overly fascinated by the capacity of wickedness to woo the world and impose its will upon it. The result is terror and a great feeling of helplessness. Consequently, our focus turns less toward asking God for help or deliverance. Rather, we spend all our time and energy simply mesmerized by the enormity of the darkness.
One thing that I have come to consider is that the pain and suffering in the world might be coming from a source other than that which seems the most obvious. Christians are generally taught to take great, personal responsibility for sin. And this is probably a good thing. But most of the people that I know do not really want to bring pain and suffering upon the world. Consider the level of war and strife and slavery that we have in the world today. Do you know anyone who is sincerely excited about all this? (BTW, if you do, you may want to look for some new friends!)
What if it really is not us--at least not at the foundation anyway. Of course, we certainly can get co-opted into some pretty horrible things. But most of the people I know--even the very worst people that I know--don't sit up nights thinking about ways to bring terror and hardship upon the earth. (BTW, if they do, then I need some new friends!)
The thing is that it doesn't have to be this way. Evil does not have to hold our attention. But we DO have to find a way to turn away from it--to set our eyes and hearts to something else. When we do that, we find that darkness is not the only game in town. As we turn our hearts toward the good, the light, the positive, we indeed find that things like hope and peace and love are very real and very powerful. Nothing dispels darkness like light. Nothing overcomes evil like good. Nothing shows negativity for what it is better than something truly positive.
A few days ago, I looked up a song that I have always liked and discovered that there is a video that goes along with it. Take four minutes and watch this in its entirety. I think it explains what I am trying to say here in a far clearer and more beautiful way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6pODq8_FxE&ob=av2e
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Of Life and Basketball
For those who read my blog, I sincerely apologize for taking a couple months off. I love to write and think and converse (if only with myself--ha) For whatever reason, I had neither the energy nor the passion to write much recently. I hope to return to my regular weekly writings. I begin here with a heart-felt commentary on two things that I am truly passionate about basketball and humanity.
Early this week, ESPN ran a documentary entitled, "The Fab Five." If you have not seen the special, I highly recommend it. It tells the story of the five great basketball players who came to the University of Michigan in the early 1990's. The documentary includes interviews with four of the five players who are now grown men, retired from the NBA and working in various careers. The interviews are strikingly honest, powerful and a great testament to many things such as racism, materialism and how people grow over time.
During the interviews, some harsh things are said. Specifically, there are some harsh things said about how the Michigan players perceived Duke's basketball program and the men who were playing at the time. At one point, Jalen Rose states that he thought that the black players who played for Duke were "Uncle Tom's." I firmly believe that he said this to speak honestly about his perception at the time. I didn't not get the idea that Jalen still believes this today. But, of course, we live in a time when the media is going to do anything possible to sensationalize something like this. In the days following the documentary, there were several references to the story as well as the disparaging comments that were made.
Then, yesterday, Grant Hill, a player from Duke wrote a response to the film, the rivalry between Duke and Michigan at the time and, especially, Jalen's comments. The article is very well written and I commend it to you. I will include a link to Hill's article at the bottom of my blog entry.
I am Duke graduate and a great fan of Duke basketball. So what I feel that what I have to say here is important. I can honestly say that I thought that documentary was very well done. I was especially impressed by the players and how they shared both their memories of being "The Fab Five" and their present feelings about all this. I was moved by Jalen's honesty in sharing his story even though he was saying some unhappy things about his youthful perception of my Alma Mater.
In fact, I heard in his voice a painful expression of how we as human beings we sometimes judge things that we know little or nothing about. Of course, Jalen and his teammates were judged as well. They were stereotyped and received criticism for simply being something other than what people were used to seeing in college basketball at the time. This was partly about race but a lot of it had more to do with changing attitudes in our culture.
The really tough part in all of this is seeing how we as people come to resent and distrust one another simply because we appear to be different. In this case, a young black man from a poor community apparently resented a young black man from an affluent community. Of course, today, Jalen Rose is very wealthy. And I believe that he sees the irony here. In that, the very things that he might have once thought about Grant Hill and his parents could now be said about his own family.
My hope is that these two men speak to one another and soon. I suspect that everything that we have seen and heard over the last few days is just another example of how the media twists things into serving its own interest. Nevertheless, these are the very opportunities where we as people need to be clear. Even though this has probably been a very stressful week for past players from both Duke and Michigan, I suspect that it might be a unique time for a teaching moment.
Young people can learn something from all this. We all can. The fact is that Grant Hill and Jalen Rose are not so different. The same goes for our own rivals. I think often of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. These two men probably despised one another on the court. They played hard against one another and certainly wanted to win. But in the end of the day, they respected one another greatly. They each appreciated where the other had come from and what they had accomplished. Mutual respect is one of the great contributions of athletic competition. It is also a fundamental building block in a decent society.
Here is the link to Grant Hill's response to Rose's comments:
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/grant-hills-response-to-jalen-rose/
Early this week, ESPN ran a documentary entitled, "The Fab Five." If you have not seen the special, I highly recommend it. It tells the story of the five great basketball players who came to the University of Michigan in the early 1990's. The documentary includes interviews with four of the five players who are now grown men, retired from the NBA and working in various careers. The interviews are strikingly honest, powerful and a great testament to many things such as racism, materialism and how people grow over time.
During the interviews, some harsh things are said. Specifically, there are some harsh things said about how the Michigan players perceived Duke's basketball program and the men who were playing at the time. At one point, Jalen Rose states that he thought that the black players who played for Duke were "Uncle Tom's." I firmly believe that he said this to speak honestly about his perception at the time. I didn't not get the idea that Jalen still believes this today. But, of course, we live in a time when the media is going to do anything possible to sensationalize something like this. In the days following the documentary, there were several references to the story as well as the disparaging comments that were made.
Then, yesterday, Grant Hill, a player from Duke wrote a response to the film, the rivalry between Duke and Michigan at the time and, especially, Jalen's comments. The article is very well written and I commend it to you. I will include a link to Hill's article at the bottom of my blog entry.
I am Duke graduate and a great fan of Duke basketball. So what I feel that what I have to say here is important. I can honestly say that I thought that documentary was very well done. I was especially impressed by the players and how they shared both their memories of being "The Fab Five" and their present feelings about all this. I was moved by Jalen's honesty in sharing his story even though he was saying some unhappy things about his youthful perception of my Alma Mater.
In fact, I heard in his voice a painful expression of how we as human beings we sometimes judge things that we know little or nothing about. Of course, Jalen and his teammates were judged as well. They were stereotyped and received criticism for simply being something other than what people were used to seeing in college basketball at the time. This was partly about race but a lot of it had more to do with changing attitudes in our culture.
The really tough part in all of this is seeing how we as people come to resent and distrust one another simply because we appear to be different. In this case, a young black man from a poor community apparently resented a young black man from an affluent community. Of course, today, Jalen Rose is very wealthy. And I believe that he sees the irony here. In that, the very things that he might have once thought about Grant Hill and his parents could now be said about his own family.
My hope is that these two men speak to one another and soon. I suspect that everything that we have seen and heard over the last few days is just another example of how the media twists things into serving its own interest. Nevertheless, these are the very opportunities where we as people need to be clear. Even though this has probably been a very stressful week for past players from both Duke and Michigan, I suspect that it might be a unique time for a teaching moment.
Young people can learn something from all this. We all can. The fact is that Grant Hill and Jalen Rose are not so different. The same goes for our own rivals. I think often of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. These two men probably despised one another on the court. They played hard against one another and certainly wanted to win. But in the end of the day, they respected one another greatly. They each appreciated where the other had come from and what they had accomplished. Mutual respect is one of the great contributions of athletic competition. It is also a fundamental building block in a decent society.
Here is the link to Grant Hill's response to Rose's comments:
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/grant-hills-response-to-jalen-rose/
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
When in Rome
And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Luke 12:19-20
All in all, it was a pretty good Super Bowl this year. The game was good. The team that has recently won a lot of these things played well but ultimately the victory went to the more likable Packers. This is not, btw, a slight on Pittsburgh. I was a big Terry B fan back in the day but the Steelers of late have enjoyed a lot of success and with all the Brett Farve drama, it just seemed fair that Aaron Rodgers and the Pack should win this one.
The Super Bowl is, of course, the great American event now. The game is not so unlike the finals in some ancient Roman gladiator series, except that the number of people who now watch this thing is staggering by comparison. The Coliseum in Rome was a marvel, and very much a symbol. It was a symbol of Rome's glory as well as the ultimate symbol of its downfall. Legend has it that people would gather there to watch the great contests even as the city itself was burning.
Comparing modern America to ancient Rome has become something of cliche'. I won't spend a lot of time here because I honestly don't mind the the once-a-year extravaganza that we get in January (oops I guess it's February now).
On the other hand, while the Super Bowl might be just good ole fashion carnival, the whole "Life as Spectacle" thing seems telling. Could there be anything more Romanesque than our fascination with watching one another? Real-life TV is just plain odd and our dedication to it seems to reveal a vacuous moment in human history. I have no idea what the final days of the empire will ultimately look like but it seems that a hundred million people staring at human dolls for hours on end might make for a reasonable guess.
All in all, it was a pretty good Super Bowl this year. The game was good. The team that has recently won a lot of these things played well but ultimately the victory went to the more likable Packers. This is not, btw, a slight on Pittsburgh. I was a big Terry B fan back in the day but the Steelers of late have enjoyed a lot of success and with all the Brett Farve drama, it just seemed fair that Aaron Rodgers and the Pack should win this one.
The Super Bowl is, of course, the great American event now. The game is not so unlike the finals in some ancient Roman gladiator series, except that the number of people who now watch this thing is staggering by comparison. The Coliseum in Rome was a marvel, and very much a symbol. It was a symbol of Rome's glory as well as the ultimate symbol of its downfall. Legend has it that people would gather there to watch the great contests even as the city itself was burning.
Comparing modern America to ancient Rome has become something of cliche'. I won't spend a lot of time here because I honestly don't mind the the once-a-year extravaganza that we get in January (oops I guess it's February now).
On the other hand, while the Super Bowl might be just good ole fashion carnival, the whole "Life as Spectacle" thing seems telling. Could there be anything more Romanesque than our fascination with watching one another? Real-life TV is just plain odd and our dedication to it seems to reveal a vacuous moment in human history. I have no idea what the final days of the empire will ultimately look like but it seems that a hundred million people staring at human dolls for hours on end might make for a reasonable guess.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Of Bulls and Elephants
I want to begin with an apology. I would like to apologize to the handful of folks that regularly read my blog. It has been several weeks since I have written anything. I am sorry about that. Moreover, I might need to apologize in advance for what follows. After the hiatus, I would hope to offer something inspiring or, at least engaging. I suspect that what follows is more likely food for thought.
I am sure that many of us are following the escalating situation in Egypt. While the media is offering what is probably a very limited picture of what is going on over there, it is still enough. I suspect that a lot of people around the world sense the tension and see what looks increasingly like a rising dial on a pressure cooker.
I have noticed that in recent accounts, the Egyptian Army is mentioned again and again. The media seems compelled to assure the world that the Army is close by and that, at least to this point, has been generally supportive of the protesters. Contrasting this is the image of the police. Apparently, the police has historically been firmly in support of the regime and this has served as a menacing influence and a catalyst to the anger of the people. I wonder what it means when an Army is somehow the most prominent sign of hope.
I am no expert on what is going on in Egypt. But what I do see in all of this is a familiar theme. It is a story about people and people can be fickle. Sometimes we want freedom and autonomy and other times we want order and security. It's an incredible challenge for us to find the appropriate balance between these two competing interests. As I watch the clips from Egypt and listen to the comments offered by the protesters, I cannot help but hear the tell-tale sound of danger. We are seeing that these people have felt oppressed. Yet, are we also seeing a fragile capacity for restraint? What is it that calls freedom so often go hand in hand with looting? What does it mean when people violently call for freedom?
While it might appear that I am suspicious of freedom, it is quite the contrary. When it comes to the age-old debate between liberty and order, I am pretty sure that I am a liberty guy. I don't like rules. I don't like rulers and I figure that I can discipline myself pretty well. I am just not so sure about your capacity to do the same...
See what I mean? There is a hidden caveat in all this. I think that it is generally called hypocrisy. We say that power corrupts but we generally mean everybody else. If someone has to be in charge, we figure it best be us. And to be fair, there might be something to this. It may be that freedom is something that people have to learn over time. Maybe Americans are somehow more capable of liberty because we have been at it for a while. Of course, the sad part here is that it would seem that our society is far less free than it was a couple of decades ago.
Anyway, keep an eye open to what is happening in Egypt. We haven't seen anything like this for a while. If people are going to kill and die over all this, it would be good for the rest of us to at least learn something in the process...
Finally, I would like to conclude with a less serious, and potentially, more informative story. My son recently told me that the Mythbusters took on a couple of age-old assumptions.
The first was the proverbial Bull in a China Shop. Apparently, they turned a bull loose, dumped him right in there with all the dishes and glassware. The results? Not a thing. Apparently, the old boy just strolled through the aisles as though he might be an Englishman looking for a new tea set. Go figure.
The Mythbusters then took on the ole' Elephant and the Mouse question. You know, the cartoons--elephants deathly frightened of tiny little mice? Well, it turns out that one is apparently not a myth. Different elephants were tested. And time and time again, they would consistently change course upon encountering a mouse. They would see the repulsive thing and immediately avoid it all cost. What is that? Are they afraid they will turn an ankle or something? Is there some ancient elephant-lore involving that kangaroo that Sylvester kept mistaking for a mouse? Or are they just a little further down the evolution road and see something that we simply cannot yet understand?
Here is Paul's take on the whole Freedom-Liberty issue:
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Galatians 5:13-14
I am sure that many of us are following the escalating situation in Egypt. While the media is offering what is probably a very limited picture of what is going on over there, it is still enough. I suspect that a lot of people around the world sense the tension and see what looks increasingly like a rising dial on a pressure cooker.
I have noticed that in recent accounts, the Egyptian Army is mentioned again and again. The media seems compelled to assure the world that the Army is close by and that, at least to this point, has been generally supportive of the protesters. Contrasting this is the image of the police. Apparently, the police has historically been firmly in support of the regime and this has served as a menacing influence and a catalyst to the anger of the people. I wonder what it means when an Army is somehow the most prominent sign of hope.
I am no expert on what is going on in Egypt. But what I do see in all of this is a familiar theme. It is a story about people and people can be fickle. Sometimes we want freedom and autonomy and other times we want order and security. It's an incredible challenge for us to find the appropriate balance between these two competing interests. As I watch the clips from Egypt and listen to the comments offered by the protesters, I cannot help but hear the tell-tale sound of danger. We are seeing that these people have felt oppressed. Yet, are we also seeing a fragile capacity for restraint? What is it that calls freedom so often go hand in hand with looting? What does it mean when people violently call for freedom?
While it might appear that I am suspicious of freedom, it is quite the contrary. When it comes to the age-old debate between liberty and order, I am pretty sure that I am a liberty guy. I don't like rules. I don't like rulers and I figure that I can discipline myself pretty well. I am just not so sure about your capacity to do the same...
See what I mean? There is a hidden caveat in all this. I think that it is generally called hypocrisy. We say that power corrupts but we generally mean everybody else. If someone has to be in charge, we figure it best be us. And to be fair, there might be something to this. It may be that freedom is something that people have to learn over time. Maybe Americans are somehow more capable of liberty because we have been at it for a while. Of course, the sad part here is that it would seem that our society is far less free than it was a couple of decades ago.
Anyway, keep an eye open to what is happening in Egypt. We haven't seen anything like this for a while. If people are going to kill and die over all this, it would be good for the rest of us to at least learn something in the process...
Finally, I would like to conclude with a less serious, and potentially, more informative story. My son recently told me that the Mythbusters took on a couple of age-old assumptions.
The first was the proverbial Bull in a China Shop. Apparently, they turned a bull loose, dumped him right in there with all the dishes and glassware. The results? Not a thing. Apparently, the old boy just strolled through the aisles as though he might be an Englishman looking for a new tea set. Go figure.
The Mythbusters then took on the ole' Elephant and the Mouse question. You know, the cartoons--elephants deathly frightened of tiny little mice? Well, it turns out that one is apparently not a myth. Different elephants were tested. And time and time again, they would consistently change course upon encountering a mouse. They would see the repulsive thing and immediately avoid it all cost. What is that? Are they afraid they will turn an ankle or something? Is there some ancient elephant-lore involving that kangaroo that Sylvester kept mistaking for a mouse? Or are they just a little further down the evolution road and see something that we simply cannot yet understand?
Here is Paul's take on the whole Freedom-Liberty issue:
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Galatians 5:13-14
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Fear itself
...The only thing we have to fear is fear itself...
FDR's inaugural speech remains one of the most remarkable moments in American history. These were the right words at exactly the right time. Of course, what a lot of people don't remember--or perhaps don't even know--is that Roosevelt took office in 1933. In other words, his statement about fear actually came before things got really bad.
The point here doesn't make the speech any less powerful or any less true. But it does, perhaps, dry some of the fog of our sensibilities. We sometimes imagine that things should happen exactly at the moment we want them to. And when they don't, we sometimes give up on them altogether. Things didn't "get wonderful" in America for several years after FDR spoke those words. But I wonder... did some folks begin to leave fear behind right then and there? Were some (many?) able to let go of the fear, even though there were still many trials and tribulations to come?
I saw a curious thing this morning. I turned my computer on and began reading the headlines on Google's news page. One of the headlines was about a new anti-cancer pill. The word "miracle-drug" was actually used in the article. Just three headlines later was an announcement that Elizabeth Edwards was gravely "ill" and that she was stopping her treatments. I wonder how she is doing? Is she afraid or is she past all that?
The thing about fear is that it is terribly debilitating. It's perhaps the most debilitating of all emotions. When we are afraid we do not function as well as we might. When we are very afraid, we can barely function at all. This was, of course, one of the critical lessons of Roosevelt's speech. Whether it was Roosevelt himself or Eleanor or a speech writer or just the voice of God trying to break in at just the right moment, someone understood that the only way out was up. As long as the people remained focused on all the frightful signs around them, things were not going to get better and there was a real chance that additional fear would actually make things a whole lot worse.
And it was at that point that FDR did something amazing. He shifted the focus of many people and, thereby, shifted the very direction of the nation. Again, this didn't happen overnight. But the seed had been planted. The word (or words) had in a very real way set people free.
Of course, some will say nothing really changed--that words cannot really do anything. But I would definitely disagree here. Words can do great things and, in this case, just a few words did amazing things for many, many people. To consider, if even for a moment, that our real enemy is not all the things that we set to worrying about but the very worrying itself--this is a remarkable consideration. Moreover, to accept that this might actually be true--this is a life-changing event.
Many are familiar with that phrase, "The truth shall set you free." It comes from John 8 where Jesus is having a discussion with those who do not trust him. The full line is this, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ According to Jesus, the truth that sets us free is what we learn from him. The conversation goes on there in chapter 8 and it appears to come down to a matter of what is inside a person:
Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
Pretty sharp words here from Jesus and we might be offended. But again, if what he is saying is true, then we should not let our offense get in the way. Perhaps our devotion to fear comes from something other than our own minds. Perhaps what we need is not merely new ideas but a different center--a transformed heart.
We have all seen the difference--the difference between a person whose life is driven by fear and a person whose life is driven by grace and love and hope. Such people can scarcely be shaken. They are somehow free from the kinds of things that plague so many others. We sometimes call them courageous and they certainly are that. But it is also something more. I think what we are seeing here are people that have been set free. Perhaps these are people in whom the very Word of God dwells.
FDR's inaugural speech remains one of the most remarkable moments in American history. These were the right words at exactly the right time. Of course, what a lot of people don't remember--or perhaps don't even know--is that Roosevelt took office in 1933. In other words, his statement about fear actually came before things got really bad.
The point here doesn't make the speech any less powerful or any less true. But it does, perhaps, dry some of the fog of our sensibilities. We sometimes imagine that things should happen exactly at the moment we want them to. And when they don't, we sometimes give up on them altogether. Things didn't "get wonderful" in America for several years after FDR spoke those words. But I wonder... did some folks begin to leave fear behind right then and there? Were some (many?) able to let go of the fear, even though there were still many trials and tribulations to come?
I saw a curious thing this morning. I turned my computer on and began reading the headlines on Google's news page. One of the headlines was about a new anti-cancer pill. The word "miracle-drug" was actually used in the article. Just three headlines later was an announcement that Elizabeth Edwards was gravely "ill" and that she was stopping her treatments. I wonder how she is doing? Is she afraid or is she past all that?
The thing about fear is that it is terribly debilitating. It's perhaps the most debilitating of all emotions. When we are afraid we do not function as well as we might. When we are very afraid, we can barely function at all. This was, of course, one of the critical lessons of Roosevelt's speech. Whether it was Roosevelt himself or Eleanor or a speech writer or just the voice of God trying to break in at just the right moment, someone understood that the only way out was up. As long as the people remained focused on all the frightful signs around them, things were not going to get better and there was a real chance that additional fear would actually make things a whole lot worse.
And it was at that point that FDR did something amazing. He shifted the focus of many people and, thereby, shifted the very direction of the nation. Again, this didn't happen overnight. But the seed had been planted. The word (or words) had in a very real way set people free.
Of course, some will say nothing really changed--that words cannot really do anything. But I would definitely disagree here. Words can do great things and, in this case, just a few words did amazing things for many, many people. To consider, if even for a moment, that our real enemy is not all the things that we set to worrying about but the very worrying itself--this is a remarkable consideration. Moreover, to accept that this might actually be true--this is a life-changing event.
Many are familiar with that phrase, "The truth shall set you free." It comes from John 8 where Jesus is having a discussion with those who do not trust him. The full line is this, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ According to Jesus, the truth that sets us free is what we learn from him. The conversation goes on there in chapter 8 and it appears to come down to a matter of what is inside a person:
Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
Pretty sharp words here from Jesus and we might be offended. But again, if what he is saying is true, then we should not let our offense get in the way. Perhaps our devotion to fear comes from something other than our own minds. Perhaps what we need is not merely new ideas but a different center--a transformed heart.
We have all seen the difference--the difference between a person whose life is driven by fear and a person whose life is driven by grace and love and hope. Such people can scarcely be shaken. They are somehow free from the kinds of things that plague so many others. We sometimes call them courageous and they certainly are that. But it is also something more. I think what we are seeing here are people that have been set free. Perhaps these are people in whom the very Word of God dwells.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Awkward and Imprecise
[This is a reprint from a recent newsletter]
I recently filled out a self-evaluation as part of my work here as the pastor of Saint Francis. Probably like many of you, I was asked to list my strengths and weaknesses. I thought hard about the question and ended up naming “faith” as one of my strengths. I explained this by stating, “I really believe that God’s ways are better than ours.”
I consider faith as one of my greatest strengths. But the truth is I don’t always practice it. This is a paradox, isn’t it? On the one hand, I have some faith. And what little I have is as important to me and my work as a Christian leader as anything else. But at the same time, I don’t trust God as much as I believe I should. Yet, even here—even in my lack of faith and lack of its employment—I still desire that God’s work and will be done in my life and in the life of the churches that I serve. I live in the world through a hope that springs from a seed of imperfect faith; yet I long for it to grow.
Now that was an awkward and imprecise paragraph. But faith—at least faith on this side of the veil—is awkward and imprecise. And this, I think, is an appropriate way to step into the season of Advent.
The readings, the songs, the poetry—these all point to something that is desired but not yet known, at least not fully. To sing, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” is to take what faith we have and lift it heavenward. To say, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” is to offer a hope-prayer that we do not yet fully understand. Yet, there remains something within us that moves us to trust and to seek an even greater depth of trust.
If we do not know the value of trust… if we do not appreciate the beauty of hope… if we do not have a longing for deliverance… then, chances are, Advent will mean little to us. It will be little more than a countdown to Christmas. On the other hand, if we do treasure the seed of faith growing within—no matter how small it might seem—then Advent is perhaps the greatest of seasons. Advent nurtures the awkward and imprecise faith of pilgrims. It blessed the trust of the patient and the longing of the hopeful.
So come again to light the candles as we await the coming of the Savior. Be with others who’s awkward and imprecise faith is their greatest strength. Join those who’s half-lives are longing to be made whole. And you will find that the seed within you can grow…
Grace and Peace,
Mark
I recently filled out a self-evaluation as part of my work here as the pastor of Saint Francis. Probably like many of you, I was asked to list my strengths and weaknesses. I thought hard about the question and ended up naming “faith” as one of my strengths. I explained this by stating, “I really believe that God’s ways are better than ours.”
I consider faith as one of my greatest strengths. But the truth is I don’t always practice it. This is a paradox, isn’t it? On the one hand, I have some faith. And what little I have is as important to me and my work as a Christian leader as anything else. But at the same time, I don’t trust God as much as I believe I should. Yet, even here—even in my lack of faith and lack of its employment—I still desire that God’s work and will be done in my life and in the life of the churches that I serve. I live in the world through a hope that springs from a seed of imperfect faith; yet I long for it to grow.
Now that was an awkward and imprecise paragraph. But faith—at least faith on this side of the veil—is awkward and imprecise. And this, I think, is an appropriate way to step into the season of Advent.
The readings, the songs, the poetry—these all point to something that is desired but not yet known, at least not fully. To sing, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” is to take what faith we have and lift it heavenward. To say, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” is to offer a hope-prayer that we do not yet fully understand. Yet, there remains something within us that moves us to trust and to seek an even greater depth of trust.
If we do not know the value of trust… if we do not appreciate the beauty of hope… if we do not have a longing for deliverance… then, chances are, Advent will mean little to us. It will be little more than a countdown to Christmas. On the other hand, if we do treasure the seed of faith growing within—no matter how small it might seem—then Advent is perhaps the greatest of seasons. Advent nurtures the awkward and imprecise faith of pilgrims. It blessed the trust of the patient and the longing of the hopeful.
So come again to light the candles as we await the coming of the Savior. Be with others who’s awkward and imprecise faith is their greatest strength. Join those who’s half-lives are longing to be made whole. And you will find that the seed within you can grow…
Grace and Peace,
Mark
Monday, November 29, 2010
Mangers and Tombs
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
We had the annual meeting of our church last night. In Methodism, this is called Charge Conference and charge conferences are typically dreaded by pastors and churches alike. They are probably dreaded by district superintendents as well, although they are less inclined to admit this.
The reason for this is simply the predictability of it all. This is a lot like the regional manager come to check in with the branch office. But a critical element of the Church is the fact that it is NOT a business. And because of this, whenever a clearly corporate activity is applied to the community of faith, there is always a degree of awkwardness and discomfort. Of course, it doesn't help when the district superintendent approaches the gathering with the same tone that Paul speaks to the faithful in places like Corinth... I commend you for this but you really need to work on these things... There is nothing wrong with the district superintendent doing this. It is actually his/her job to speak the truth to the local church. It's just that this only adds to the feeling that all this has more to do with numbers than Jesus. Hence the dread...
So imagine our surprise when we actually felt that Spirit moving and speaking last night. Despite the fact that it was a business meeting of the church... Despite the fact that we did hear a bit of I commend you here but... Despite the fact that the superintendent did seem to look like he has been to a few of these things already this fall... Despite all these things there were nevertheless clear signs that God is present and actively working at Saint Francis United Methodist Church.
These signs were most evident in the stories that were told by the Saint Francis faithful. Men and women of various ages and even youth with the congregation shared sincere testimonies about how they have seen God at work in the ministries and missions of the church. There were many different kinds of stories involving many different groups both in and beyond the local church. However, there were two common denominators in each of these stories. The first was a clarity on behalf of each speaker that God was clearly involved. The second was the fact that authentic human relationships were front and center in each of these testimonies.
As the gathering came to a close, I was reminded of something about the Christian faith. Time and again, the Scriptures testify that God is often found where we least expect. When God looks upon the plight of the Israelites, he summons Moses, essentially an Egyptian prince. When God looks for an appropriate King, he sets his eyes upon Jesse's youngest son, David. Mary is essentially an unknown woman. The Savior is born not in Jerusalem but in a modest manger in Bethlehem. The Son of God is revealed not on a throne but on a cross and an empty tomb. Time and again, the Lord comes to modest places to accomplish amazing things.
That makes me feel pretty good about where I am right now. I'm humbled and grateful to find my home among the modest folks of Saint Francis.
God bless us every one...
We had the annual meeting of our church last night. In Methodism, this is called Charge Conference and charge conferences are typically dreaded by pastors and churches alike. They are probably dreaded by district superintendents as well, although they are less inclined to admit this.
The reason for this is simply the predictability of it all. This is a lot like the regional manager come to check in with the branch office. But a critical element of the Church is the fact that it is NOT a business. And because of this, whenever a clearly corporate activity is applied to the community of faith, there is always a degree of awkwardness and discomfort. Of course, it doesn't help when the district superintendent approaches the gathering with the same tone that Paul speaks to the faithful in places like Corinth... I commend you for this but you really need to work on these things... There is nothing wrong with the district superintendent doing this. It is actually his/her job to speak the truth to the local church. It's just that this only adds to the feeling that all this has more to do with numbers than Jesus. Hence the dread...
So imagine our surprise when we actually felt that Spirit moving and speaking last night. Despite the fact that it was a business meeting of the church... Despite the fact that we did hear a bit of I commend you here but... Despite the fact that the superintendent did seem to look like he has been to a few of these things already this fall... Despite all these things there were nevertheless clear signs that God is present and actively working at Saint Francis United Methodist Church.
These signs were most evident in the stories that were told by the Saint Francis faithful. Men and women of various ages and even youth with the congregation shared sincere testimonies about how they have seen God at work in the ministries and missions of the church. There were many different kinds of stories involving many different groups both in and beyond the local church. However, there were two common denominators in each of these stories. The first was a clarity on behalf of each speaker that God was clearly involved. The second was the fact that authentic human relationships were front and center in each of these testimonies.
As the gathering came to a close, I was reminded of something about the Christian faith. Time and again, the Scriptures testify that God is often found where we least expect. When God looks upon the plight of the Israelites, he summons Moses, essentially an Egyptian prince. When God looks for an appropriate King, he sets his eyes upon Jesse's youngest son, David. Mary is essentially an unknown woman. The Savior is born not in Jerusalem but in a modest manger in Bethlehem. The Son of God is revealed not on a throne but on a cross and an empty tomb. Time and again, the Lord comes to modest places to accomplish amazing things.
That makes me feel pretty good about where I am right now. I'm humbled and grateful to find my home among the modest folks of Saint Francis.
God bless us every one...
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