Mahatma Ghandi admired Christ. He quoted him often and the noted Christian, Earl Stanley Jones, asked him why he so adamantly rejected following him. "Oh," Ghandi replied, "I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ." Christ, in Ghandi's view, was passionate, but his followers were not; Christ was obedient even unto death, his followers aren't. In the hands of his followers, Christ's light doesn't shine, and the biggest basket that they hide it under... is the way in which they live. When asked what non-believers expect from Christians, the French philosopher, Camus said it plainly: "we expect Christians to speak out, loud and clear, so that never a doubt, not the slightest doubt, could rise in the heart of the simplest man. Christians should get away from abstractions and confront the blood-stained face that history has taken on today." Christ's voice is seldom heard, Camus thought, from the mouths of his followers, and it is muffled mostly by their desire to fit in with the world. Soren Kierkegaard put it this way long ago: "The Bible is very easy to understand, but we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend that we don't understand it because we know very well that the minute we do, we will be obliged to act accordingly."
The the problem, then, seems to be one of motivation rather than education. We don't imitate Christ because we don't want to... and this is killing us. Kierkegaard noted that, "There is something frightful in the fact that the most dangerous thing of all, playing at Christianity, is never listed among the heresies." To which we can only say, "amen." Playing at Christianity. Pretending that we don't know what God wants from us. Pandering to the world. These are the reasons why the church is increasingly irrelevant. If the church was filled with passion, those who cannot help but give themselves to passion... would flock to it. If the church was filled with acceptance, if it was a place where people actually forgave one another, people would flock to it. We live in a world filled with critics... and if this church, or any church, offered a real difference, people would flock to it. If the church was a place of deep, life-changing thought, deep thinkers would flock to it because they so badly want to understand who and whose they are. If the church was a revolutionary center, people who would rise up and challenge "the man and his system"... would flock to it... because they are committed to making things right. If the church was filled with crosses, cross carriers would flock to it, and if the church's only goal was to be like Jesus, it would attract people who wanted to be like Jesus. But... if the church's main goal is to provide a comfortable place for the comfortable... it will be a place where nothing really... ever happens.
This is why the church is irrelevant today, whether we're talking about the big box entertainment centers (the so-called mega-churches) or the bland community centers (the so-called mainline churches,) where good people just come and go. It's a huge problem and we aren't likely to change the worldwide church here today...but we can commit ourselves to a more serious Christianity, right here, right now. We can commit ourselves to more intentional study- every elder and every serious deacon should be in Bible study... and to a broader and deeper prayer life. We can commit ourselves to a bolder presence in community... and to being a more vulnerable presence in this neighborhood. We can lift our church to a higher place... in which members become disciples, visitors become members... and where God is the ONLY spectator. If we become better Christians, our chances of growing will be much greater, and even if we aren't blessed in that way, we still would've touched lives by being better Christians. Friends, Christ has told us what to do. He said that the light that we've been given to shine... is powered by obedience and faith, and He has called us to love our neighbor and one another... sacrificially and completely. When Jesus walked among us, he revealed, in word and deed, the fullness of God's priorities. He showed us what to do, and much of what he did and said has been written in God's word.
Becoming a complete Christian is well beyond our scope today, but we can take a first step to be like Christ... and I can't think of a more powerful motivator that Paul's inspiring words in Philippians. If you want to be like Christ, Paul notes, give up gossip. Stay away from it. Challenge it, and reject it as something unChristian. Reject factions as well. Commit yourself to the common good... and consider others and their needs, not just your own. Let's train ourselves to ask, what does Christ want from our church... and how can I contribute to that goal? In this way, while we will still have honest differences, we will be of one mind... but Paul is calling us to something MUCH greater than simply agreeing to agree. Have the mind of Christ, he said, who felt that equality with God was not worth clinging to- not if God's people were sinning and dying. Embrace this same mindset- that superiority is not worth clinging to- and then become authentically vulnerable. Be of the same mind that Christ had when he voluntarily emptied himself of divinity... and came down, down, down to this sin-filled place, where he took on the form of a baby and laid helplessly in a cattle trough. If you want to grow in Christ, empty yourself of "self" and become vulnerable before God and this threatening world. Become a vulnerable and servant-oriented team player... by picking up the cross that Christ has already prepared for you. Get yourself out of the way. Lose the "I," and make Christ's foot-washing agenda your life's work! You will probably need a job to pay the bills... but make Christ's work... your work... and his people... your people. If we do this, if we do it together, and do it with humility, people will flock to our doors because it's hard to find heaven on earth! Amen.
...
PK IN SWEDEN
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Friday, September 26, 2014
RANDY SHEDENHELM-WE WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU!
Today I have my late brother, Randy, on my mind... and in my heart. He died of AIDS in September, 1994, and those of us who loved him will never forget him. He was bright, witty, and engaging. He was talented and competitive, but innocent and vulnerable at the same time. He died not long before they developed the "cocktail" that would've saved his life. He died before his boys grew into the men they are today... and he died without knowing the full joy of being a grandfather. If he had lived- if they would've had a cure- if he had been more cautious-there's no telling where his career would've gone. If he would've lived, I am sure that he would've won a thousand more board games... and shared thousands of more laughs. He would've also shared our grief when Larry died; and he would've both given and received more than his share of love. He would've brightened our days if he had lived...but he didn't... because he died of AIDS... in Anniston, Alabama ... way back in 1994. Twenty years have come and gone, and it is time to write him a love note.
Dear Randy, it has been 20 years since I've seen your face... but I will never forget it! I remember how you would run into my bedroom when the storms inside and outside of our home frightened you, and I remember how small you were when you were a kid. I remember the time when mom and dad inadvertently left you in a gas station in South Dakota... and Larry and I didn't bother to tell them (although they noticed you were missing 30 miles or so down the road)! I remember how proud you were of the store that you and Larry owned together, and I remember how close you were to Larry and his family. I remember the taco eating contest that you won, and all of us will always remember our vacation trip to the Grand Canyon. I remember the day when you nearly beat me in our marathon tennis match... and I will never forget how routinely you beat me at everything else. I will never forget how you compensated for the big slice you had off of the tee, and I will remember the day when you agreed to put your life back together... like it was yesterday. With delight, I recall the way that you and Linda played cribbage and all sort of games...and I remember the beautiful home that you and John had when you died. I remember the day when you and Larry and I went to the driving range in Plano... and how you could hardly hit a ball 50 yards. I will never forget how faithful your sons were when you were suffering... and I remember how Aaron and I played tennis to get your impending death off of our minds. With gratitude, I remember the wonderful care that hospice gave you... and I will never forget the "bulb garden" that you bought for Sherry and me. As you planned, it arrived after your death... and I am sorry to report that I planted several of the bulbs upside down. Still, many of them bloomed and they were standing tall when Easter came in 1995.
I remember when you told me that you were not afraid to die... and I remember the faith you expressed in your unchurch-like way. When Larry was dying, I asked him if he thought he would see you in heaven, and he said that, while he didn't know about "seeing you," he did think that he would recognize you. I pray this is true, and I want you to know, Randy, that my life has not been as full since you've been gone. I write this blog, and I opine on any number of topics. They are all very real to me. The joys and the sorrows of life- I've come to embrace them both- and I want you to know that losing Larry created a deep void in my life. He was my best friend and I was always so very proud of him... but I am sure that he would agree- you were our little brother! You were "the R," and we loved you with all of our hearts. Those of us who were left behind... still do. Ken,
Dear Randy, it has been 20 years since I've seen your face... but I will never forget it! I remember how you would run into my bedroom when the storms inside and outside of our home frightened you, and I remember how small you were when you were a kid. I remember the time when mom and dad inadvertently left you in a gas station in South Dakota... and Larry and I didn't bother to tell them (although they noticed you were missing 30 miles or so down the road)! I remember how proud you were of the store that you and Larry owned together, and I remember how close you were to Larry and his family. I remember the taco eating contest that you won, and all of us will always remember our vacation trip to the Grand Canyon. I remember the day when you nearly beat me in our marathon tennis match... and I will never forget how routinely you beat me at everything else. I will never forget how you compensated for the big slice you had off of the tee, and I will remember the day when you agreed to put your life back together... like it was yesterday. With delight, I recall the way that you and Linda played cribbage and all sort of games...and I remember the beautiful home that you and John had when you died. I remember the day when you and Larry and I went to the driving range in Plano... and how you could hardly hit a ball 50 yards. I will never forget how faithful your sons were when you were suffering... and I remember how Aaron and I played tennis to get your impending death off of our minds. With gratitude, I remember the wonderful care that hospice gave you... and I will never forget the "bulb garden" that you bought for Sherry and me. As you planned, it arrived after your death... and I am sorry to report that I planted several of the bulbs upside down. Still, many of them bloomed and they were standing tall when Easter came in 1995.
I remember when you told me that you were not afraid to die... and I remember the faith you expressed in your unchurch-like way. When Larry was dying, I asked him if he thought he would see you in heaven, and he said that, while he didn't know about "seeing you," he did think that he would recognize you. I pray this is true, and I want you to know, Randy, that my life has not been as full since you've been gone. I write this blog, and I opine on any number of topics. They are all very real to me. The joys and the sorrows of life- I've come to embrace them both- and I want you to know that losing Larry created a deep void in my life. He was my best friend and I was always so very proud of him... but I am sure that he would agree- you were our little brother! You were "the R," and we loved you with all of our hearts. Those of us who were left behind... still do. Ken,
Monday, September 22, 2014
LAST NIGHT I DREAMED ABOUT MY DOG
Last night I had a dream, and I don't know what it means. It's unusual for me to dream at all, and even more unusual for me to remember what it was. But, even though some of the details have slipped away, this dream was very vivid.
I was out with my dog, Nikki- the one with whom I walked and ran, almost daily, when we lived in Kalamazoo- and something chaotic came about. It's not clear what it was, but it was disorienting, and somehow, Nikki got free from her leash during the confusion. I don't know whether her leash broke or simply became disconnected from her collar, but she ran off just as fast as she could go. I called her, but she soon disappeared into the distance, and I couldn't help but recall those times when she ran away from me in Michigan, especially in the first year. We would be walking or jogging in the woods, or in the open fields behind our home, and I would unleash her, in part to give her a little freedom and in part to develop a sense of trust. Usually, she would simply wander along beside me... but if she spotted a squirrel or a rabbit, she would take off at a thousand miles per hour. Even though she didn't know what she would do if she actually caught one of them, she would run great distances in pursuit, knowing that I was duty-bound to bring her home safely.
She was right, or course. I always found her and brought her home, but in the course of time, she would come home on her own. Nikki and I walked nearly every day and we shared a lot of moments. Sometimes we would come across deer; sometimes we would find ourselves literally running in the rain; sometimes we would see a breath-taking sunset; and sometimes we would tromp through snow knee-deep. Most of the time, our walks were quite ordinary, and even when she "got away," she would always come back. Thus, I wasn't all that worried when she broke loose in my dream... but she never came back. Days passed. Weeks went by, and there was no Nikki. Day after day I stood outside and called her name, but she never appeared, and finally, I recruited (maybe they just volunteered) three other dogs to help me. I didn't know them. I had never met them, but they were quite sincere about helping me find Nikki, and they even seemed to know a little English. They were diligent and thorough in their searching. They looked far and wide. They talked with other dogs, and they gave it all that they had... but in the end, there was no Nikki.
I've been hoping to see Nikki's face ever since I held her in my arms at the Vet's office, and it was sad to see that she may have run off forever. One night, the three little dogs and I were commiserating about Nikki's disappearance... when we heard a dog barking on the front porch. We all heard it, and I was sure it was Nikki. The bark was Nikki's bark. I would know it anywhere. So we hurried to the front door and looked out... and sure enough. there was a dog wrapped in a blanket on the porch. It was a big and strong dog, just like Nikki was, and I reached down to remove her cover... only to see an Australian shepherd! It was an Australian shepherd, and I cried out in anguish... because Nikki was NOT an Australian shepherd! When we found her, the vet told us that she was part lab and part collie. We always thought she was mostly Border collie, except for her black tongue, but when we purchased an official DNA report, we discovered that Nikki was a composite of at least six breeds, including Samoyed. She was many things, but the dog on my porch was not Nikki, and my spirit cried out! A few minutes later, I made my early morning trek to the restroom, and when I returned, my wife asked if I was alright. Sure, I noted, why do you ask? "Because," she answered, "You cried out loud about 10 minutes ago. I couldn't understand what you said, but it sounded distressful and rather mournful. Did you have a dream?"
Yes, my dear, I had a dream, but I don't know what it meant. Maybe it was simply a reflection of how much I loved Nikki; maybe it was a recognition that losing a pet is unbelievably painful; maybe it was a cry of lament because the cost of love is so high; maybe it was a cry of anguish because life itself is slipping away. I don't know, but I do know that three little talking dogs that did their best to make things right. Amen.
I was out with my dog, Nikki- the one with whom I walked and ran, almost daily, when we lived in Kalamazoo- and something chaotic came about. It's not clear what it was, but it was disorienting, and somehow, Nikki got free from her leash during the confusion. I don't know whether her leash broke or simply became disconnected from her collar, but she ran off just as fast as she could go. I called her, but she soon disappeared into the distance, and I couldn't help but recall those times when she ran away from me in Michigan, especially in the first year. We would be walking or jogging in the woods, or in the open fields behind our home, and I would unleash her, in part to give her a little freedom and in part to develop a sense of trust. Usually, she would simply wander along beside me... but if she spotted a squirrel or a rabbit, she would take off at a thousand miles per hour. Even though she didn't know what she would do if she actually caught one of them, she would run great distances in pursuit, knowing that I was duty-bound to bring her home safely.
She was right, or course. I always found her and brought her home, but in the course of time, she would come home on her own. Nikki and I walked nearly every day and we shared a lot of moments. Sometimes we would come across deer; sometimes we would find ourselves literally running in the rain; sometimes we would see a breath-taking sunset; and sometimes we would tromp through snow knee-deep. Most of the time, our walks were quite ordinary, and even when she "got away," she would always come back. Thus, I wasn't all that worried when she broke loose in my dream... but she never came back. Days passed. Weeks went by, and there was no Nikki. Day after day I stood outside and called her name, but she never appeared, and finally, I recruited (maybe they just volunteered) three other dogs to help me. I didn't know them. I had never met them, but they were quite sincere about helping me find Nikki, and they even seemed to know a little English. They were diligent and thorough in their searching. They looked far and wide. They talked with other dogs, and they gave it all that they had... but in the end, there was no Nikki.
I've been hoping to see Nikki's face ever since I held her in my arms at the Vet's office, and it was sad to see that she may have run off forever. One night, the three little dogs and I were commiserating about Nikki's disappearance... when we heard a dog barking on the front porch. We all heard it, and I was sure it was Nikki. The bark was Nikki's bark. I would know it anywhere. So we hurried to the front door and looked out... and sure enough. there was a dog wrapped in a blanket on the porch. It was a big and strong dog, just like Nikki was, and I reached down to remove her cover... only to see an Australian shepherd! It was an Australian shepherd, and I cried out in anguish... because Nikki was NOT an Australian shepherd! When we found her, the vet told us that she was part lab and part collie. We always thought she was mostly Border collie, except for her black tongue, but when we purchased an official DNA report, we discovered that Nikki was a composite of at least six breeds, including Samoyed. She was many things, but the dog on my porch was not Nikki, and my spirit cried out! A few minutes later, I made my early morning trek to the restroom, and when I returned, my wife asked if I was alright. Sure, I noted, why do you ask? "Because," she answered, "You cried out loud about 10 minutes ago. I couldn't understand what you said, but it sounded distressful and rather mournful. Did you have a dream?"
Yes, my dear, I had a dream, but I don't know what it meant. Maybe it was simply a reflection of how much I loved Nikki; maybe it was a recognition that losing a pet is unbelievably painful; maybe it was a cry of lament because the cost of love is so high; maybe it was a cry of anguish because life itself is slipping away. I don't know, but I do know that three little talking dogs that did their best to make things right. Amen.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
ME AND OTHER 5 O'CLOCK SINNERS
As most organizational psychology students know, "Equity Theory" is one of the theories that attempts to explain employee motivation in a group setting. It asserts that each one of us maintains ratios in our heads... of our inputs and outcomes versus someone else's... and as long as these ratios stay in balance... we are satisfied. For instance, if you earn more than I do, I can live with that... IF there is a "legitimate" reason. If you work harder or longer than I do, or have more education or experience than I have, I'm okay with you receiving more. If you have a better batting average than I do, or run faster than I do, it makes sense that you should receive more compensation. I may even understand it if you are the boss' son or daughter... BUT if you are receiving more than me, or even less, for reasons that are illegitimate to me, I will be unsettled. It isn't fair. The input-outcome ratios are out of whack, and I am likely to feel guilty if they are out-of-whack in my favor... and downright angry if they are unfair in your favor!
It's not fair if you do less than me and receive more. Everyone knows this... except Jesus of Nazareth, who told this story for the entire world to hear. It was harvest time, and a landowner needed additional help to bring in the crop. So he went to the village... and hired a number of eager men at 6 in the morning. They were dedicated workers, the "early birds," but by mid-morning, he could see that he needed more help, and he hired more men at 9:00. This went on through the day, and he hired more men at noon, more again at 3:00, and finally, a few more at 5:00 pm (the 11th hour), even though he wondered why they had been idle all day. It was a good day for all, and at the owner's request, the men gathered to be paid. Well, for reasons of his own, the paymaster started with the last hired first. He approached the men who had been hired at the 11th hour... and (to everyone's delight) he paid them a full day's wage! It was very generous, and it bode well for everyone left. Surely, they thought, we will receive more because we worked longer... but the owner gave the same pay to those who had started work at 3 pm, at noon, at 9 am, and yes, to the men who had started working at 6 am.
Even the "Johnny-come-lately's" received the same pay that they received... and as every student of "Equity theory" would know, this made the workers in all the other groups angry. It especially outraged those who started at 6 am, and they cried "UNFAIR."THIS IS OUTRAGEOUSLY UNFAIR. The owner noted that he had paid them exactly what they had agreed to, but they were more concerned with what the others had received, and they complained bitterly. We've worked harder and longer...and we deserve more! Right? Right? Doesn't everyone know that they deserved more? Don't we all agree that those who have run longer and harder should receive more? Of course, we do! Everyone knows that! According to Equity Theory and all that is holy, the men who started at 6 am were right! But... the owner was perplexed and he said, "Do you begrudge my generosity?" Do you resent my grace? Do you talk about grace in church... and secretly pray that God has a scorecard so that you will receive what you have coming? Do you really believe you ought to be compensated for the good person you are and the great person you intended to be? Would you do whatever you had to do to make sure you get the rewards you deserve? Yes, yes, yes. It's been my experience that people will throw their best friend "under the bus" to get the rewards that they think they deserve.
They do this under the guise of being fair... but fairness is NOT a Biblical concept, and since we're all sinners, FAIRNESS is the last thing we need. Jesus' story must have upset his hearers, even as it upsets us, because it's about love, not equity. We live in a grace-less world, where there's no free lunch, and we know that nothing- not the game nor life itself- is worth doing without a score. 1) Effort and consequence- tit for tat- is all we know. This is one of the reasons that stories about grace confound us, but there's another. 2) We also have a perception problem! We have a tendency to place ourselves in the best and most faithful roles in every situation. We make ourselves the stars of every Biblical story, which we read as if it's written to someone else... when, in fact, the story is actually speaking TO US. When I hear the story of the Good Samaritan, for instance, I shake my head when the religious leaders walk by the man in need... but I have walked by more people in need that I can even count, and I have also walked to the other side of the street on many occasions. Likewise, when I read about the widow giving all that she has in faith, I shake my head at the religious types who are pretending to be generous by flashing twenty dollar bills. I roll my eyes... but in truth, I would rather flash a twenty dollar bill now and then... than give sacrificially... in faith.
And when I hear Jesus' story about the pay system in heaven, it makes me more angry than grateful... because I see myself as being part of the 6 am crowd! But who am I kidding? I'm not a good Samaritan. I'm not the widow with her mite. And most assuredly, I'm not part of the 6:00 o'clock crowd. Not even close! The 6 o'clock crowd died in faith centuries ago. They met in caves and they were martyred in arenas. The 9 o'clock crowd died... to give us Bibles in our own tongues and to reform our church. The noontime crowd left their homes and endured great hardships to found this land and to build it... on faith in God... and the 3 o'clock crowd held Bible studies in Nazi concentration camps because they knew that Jesus Christ and not Adolf Hitler... is Lord! No, I'm not one of these, not even close, and I haven't earned anything at all. On the contrary, I'm one of those who stumbled in at the last minute, and I need grace more than anything else in the world! YOU do to! Not sort of, not kind of, but really... and deep down! I need grace more than anything else. Me. A sinner who was blessed... to be called at all... has no business shedding a single tear about unfairness. I have no business worrying about what anyone else deserves or doesn't deserve. None at all. I must keep my eyes on my Lord, and utter words like this: Thank you, Lord, for having mercy on me. I know that I didn't deserve to be called at all, but now I ask simply this: that you show me my neighbor and mold me into the servant you want me to be. Amen.
It's not fair if you do less than me and receive more. Everyone knows this... except Jesus of Nazareth, who told this story for the entire world to hear. It was harvest time, and a landowner needed additional help to bring in the crop. So he went to the village... and hired a number of eager men at 6 in the morning. They were dedicated workers, the "early birds," but by mid-morning, he could see that he needed more help, and he hired more men at 9:00. This went on through the day, and he hired more men at noon, more again at 3:00, and finally, a few more at 5:00 pm (the 11th hour), even though he wondered why they had been idle all day. It was a good day for all, and at the owner's request, the men gathered to be paid. Well, for reasons of his own, the paymaster started with the last hired first. He approached the men who had been hired at the 11th hour... and (to everyone's delight) he paid them a full day's wage! It was very generous, and it bode well for everyone left. Surely, they thought, we will receive more because we worked longer... but the owner gave the same pay to those who had started work at 3 pm, at noon, at 9 am, and yes, to the men who had started working at 6 am.
Even the "Johnny-come-lately's" received the same pay that they received... and as every student of "Equity theory" would know, this made the workers in all the other groups angry. It especially outraged those who started at 6 am, and they cried "UNFAIR."THIS IS OUTRAGEOUSLY UNFAIR. The owner noted that he had paid them exactly what they had agreed to, but they were more concerned with what the others had received, and they complained bitterly. We've worked harder and longer...and we deserve more! Right? Right? Doesn't everyone know that they deserved more? Don't we all agree that those who have run longer and harder should receive more? Of course, we do! Everyone knows that! According to Equity Theory and all that is holy, the men who started at 6 am were right! But... the owner was perplexed and he said, "Do you begrudge my generosity?" Do you resent my grace? Do you talk about grace in church... and secretly pray that God has a scorecard so that you will receive what you have coming? Do you really believe you ought to be compensated for the good person you are and the great person you intended to be? Would you do whatever you had to do to make sure you get the rewards you deserve? Yes, yes, yes. It's been my experience that people will throw their best friend "under the bus" to get the rewards that they think they deserve.
They do this under the guise of being fair... but fairness is NOT a Biblical concept, and since we're all sinners, FAIRNESS is the last thing we need. Jesus' story must have upset his hearers, even as it upsets us, because it's about love, not equity. We live in a grace-less world, where there's no free lunch, and we know that nothing- not the game nor life itself- is worth doing without a score. 1) Effort and consequence- tit for tat- is all we know. This is one of the reasons that stories about grace confound us, but there's another. 2) We also have a perception problem! We have a tendency to place ourselves in the best and most faithful roles in every situation. We make ourselves the stars of every Biblical story, which we read as if it's written to someone else... when, in fact, the story is actually speaking TO US. When I hear the story of the Good Samaritan, for instance, I shake my head when the religious leaders walk by the man in need... but I have walked by more people in need that I can even count, and I have also walked to the other side of the street on many occasions. Likewise, when I read about the widow giving all that she has in faith, I shake my head at the religious types who are pretending to be generous by flashing twenty dollar bills. I roll my eyes... but in truth, I would rather flash a twenty dollar bill now and then... than give sacrificially... in faith.
And when I hear Jesus' story about the pay system in heaven, it makes me more angry than grateful... because I see myself as being part of the 6 am crowd! But who am I kidding? I'm not a good Samaritan. I'm not the widow with her mite. And most assuredly, I'm not part of the 6:00 o'clock crowd. Not even close! The 6 o'clock crowd died in faith centuries ago. They met in caves and they were martyred in arenas. The 9 o'clock crowd died... to give us Bibles in our own tongues and to reform our church. The noontime crowd left their homes and endured great hardships to found this land and to build it... on faith in God... and the 3 o'clock crowd held Bible studies in Nazi concentration camps because they knew that Jesus Christ and not Adolf Hitler... is Lord! No, I'm not one of these, not even close, and I haven't earned anything at all. On the contrary, I'm one of those who stumbled in at the last minute, and I need grace more than anything else in the world! YOU do to! Not sort of, not kind of, but really... and deep down! I need grace more than anything else. Me. A sinner who was blessed... to be called at all... has no business shedding a single tear about unfairness. I have no business worrying about what anyone else deserves or doesn't deserve. None at all. I must keep my eyes on my Lord, and utter words like this: Thank you, Lord, for having mercy on me. I know that I didn't deserve to be called at all, but now I ask simply this: that you show me my neighbor and mold me into the servant you want me to be. Amen.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
FORGIVE UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME
Have you ever been forgiven... in depth... and felt the emotional release that being forgiven gave you? When you are really sinning and your debts are really adding up, your spirit takes a weight that will crush it entirely. And as the debt grows, you become frantic...and add to it by lying, or stealing, or sinning in some other way. Your relationships become strained, especially with the one whom you owe the debt (or are sinning against)... and scheming, avoidance, and manipulation become trail signs of a deadly secret that is killing you. You go on, half wishing that you would be caught, and then one day- you are! Caught and held accountable by the boss, the wife, the friend, or the king. Where is the money you owe me? Where were you last night? Did you really tell all those lies about me? What is the meaning of this gambling debt? You're caught, and all you can do is beg for mercy... because you owe more than you can ever repay. So... you plead for leniency, even forgiveness. Give me a mulligan, let me start over again, I didn't mean to cheat, I wasn't in my right mind. I'll be a better servant, husband, employee, team member- I promise I will- if you give me another chance. And then... you hear the words that you know you don't deserve and which you didn't think you would hear- your debt is forgiven, You are free to go! My debt is forgiven? I don't owe you a thing? You can't believe what you've heard and your soul begins to sing for the first time in weeks, months, years! The weight has been lifted and you feel light and able. A new day has dawned, and you've been given the chance to be a new creation. Friends, many of us have experienced the transforming power of being forgiven, and I can tell you that there's nothing like it. The
older I get, the more I know that I don’t know much… but I do know that MY debt
was paid at Calvary . I know what it’s like to
carry the heavy burden of unrepentant sin. I know what it’s like to feel empty
and small. I know there is nothing on earth more exhilarating than
being forgiven, and I know that I'm not the only one.
In his book, “Listening to Your Life,” Frederick Beuchner captures the essence of ministry when he writes:“She doesn’t know God forgives her. That’s the only power you have- to tell her that. Not just that He forgives her the poor little adultery. But the faces she can’t bear to look at now. The man’s. Her husband’s. Her own, half the time. Tell her (God) forgives her for being lonely and bored, for not being full of joy with a houseful of children. Tell her that sin is forgiven because whether she knows it or not, that’s what she wants more than anything else- what all of us want. What on earth do you think you were ordained for?” Why do you think you were ordained- to judge others, to join committees? Surely, forgiveness lies at the core of the gospel, Christ came to forgive us, and when he showed himself to his disciples after his resurrection, he had forgiveness on his mind. Receive the Holy Spirit, He said, and forgive others! Free them from the bondage of guilt. Liberate yourself from the cancer of resentment. When he introduced his Supper and lifted the cup, he proclaimed that our sins are forgiven in the new covenant of grace, and when he hung on that dreadful cross and faced his killers, he said, “Father, forgive them.” He said this because forgiving us was His mission. When he taught about the ways in which his disciples ought to live, he mentioned forgiveness as well, and Peter said, tell me just how many times should I forgive a brother or sister. One time doesn’t work. Zero tolerance is not a heavenly theme. Three strikes isn’t enough, because life is not a baseball game. How about seven times? Seven times is more than most of us would give and it is also a Biblical number indicating “fullness” or “completeness,” but Jesus replied, 70 X 7… which doesn’t mean 490 times but forever! Jesus’ people forgive again and again and again, to the point where they are embarrassed by it, until the cows come home… because they've been forgiven a HUGE debt themselves… and because it is God’s nature to forgive! If we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we die to ourself and we are reborn as a new creation. None of us is able to forgive continually, and without God's help, some of us can’t forgive at all...and on our own, we never will! But a person who has surrendered to Christ and who is filled with the Holy Spirit… CAN forgive until the cows come home… because grace, love, and forgiveness will be his or her new nature! In Christ, we can be a forgiving people… and we must be because forgiving others is a great gift!
In his book, “Listening to Your Life,” Frederick Beuchner captures the essence of ministry when he writes:“She doesn’t know God forgives her. That’s the only power you have- to tell her that. Not just that He forgives her the poor little adultery. But the faces she can’t bear to look at now. The man’s. Her husband’s. Her own, half the time. Tell her (God) forgives her for being lonely and bored, for not being full of joy with a houseful of children. Tell her that sin is forgiven because whether she knows it or not, that’s what she wants more than anything else- what all of us want. What on earth do you think you were ordained for?” Why do you think you were ordained- to judge others, to join committees? Surely, forgiveness lies at the core of the gospel, Christ came to forgive us, and when he showed himself to his disciples after his resurrection, he had forgiveness on his mind. Receive the Holy Spirit, He said, and forgive others! Free them from the bondage of guilt. Liberate yourself from the cancer of resentment. When he introduced his Supper and lifted the cup, he proclaimed that our sins are forgiven in the new covenant of grace, and when he hung on that dreadful cross and faced his killers, he said, “Father, forgive them.” He said this because forgiving us was His mission. When he taught about the ways in which his disciples ought to live, he mentioned forgiveness as well, and Peter said, tell me just how many times should I forgive a brother or sister. One time doesn’t work. Zero tolerance is not a heavenly theme. Three strikes isn’t enough, because life is not a baseball game. How about seven times? Seven times is more than most of us would give and it is also a Biblical number indicating “fullness” or “completeness,” but Jesus replied, 70 X 7… which doesn’t mean 490 times but forever! Jesus’ people forgive again and again and again, to the point where they are embarrassed by it, until the cows come home… because they've been forgiven a HUGE debt themselves… and because it is God’s nature to forgive! If we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we die to ourself and we are reborn as a new creation. None of us is able to forgive continually, and without God's help, some of us can’t forgive at all...and on our own, we never will! But a person who has surrendered to Christ and who is filled with the Holy Spirit… CAN forgive until the cows come home… because grace, love, and forgiveness will be his or her new nature! In Christ, we can be a forgiving people… and we must be because forgiving others is a great gift!
In the 18th chapter of Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells a remarkable story about an unbelievably generous king (God) who forgave an impossible debt. The king is all-powerful, but he uses his power to forgive an unpayable debt- and his motive for forgiving the debtor seems to be loving kindness (hesed) and nothing more. Being forgiven is a life-changing gift that brings utter joy, but it also brings an obligation...to share that joy. We're all called to treat our fellows with the greatest respect, but when we know that we've been forgiven, our joy and gratitude drive us to be forgivers ourselves! It’s a spiritual truth- since forgiveness is God’s nature, we will forgive others... if we are in Christ. To do less is both unfaithful and revealing… so when the forgiven servant refuses to forgive a man who owes him a much lesser debt, he is called to account by his king! Being forgiven, then, is an unmerited gift, and forgiving others is an unshakable obligation- a new and joyful debt if you will. Thus, the cycle of being forgiven and forgiving goes around and around, and on and on, and it must be this way for all of us who are Christians. I know that many of you have not been burdened by the weight of sin that I carried… but you still need to be forgiven… and what is more, we all need to forgive ourselves and others. People say that they want to be like Jesus. They ask, what can I do that would be pleasing to God today? And I say, get out there and forgive someone! Set them free. That would be the most Christlike thing that you could do today...but remember these things about forgiveness as you go forward:
1) A person who thinks Jesus' thoughts on forgiveness can be summarized with catchy sayings like...forgive but never forget, or do it once shame on you, do it twice, shame
on me… is not taking forgiveness seriously; 2) forgiving ourselves and others means that we must let go of the past. All of our sins and those imposed on us... lie in the past. So, once we have dealt with them, LET THEM GO; 3) forgiving is never easy and without the power of God, it wouldn't even be possible. It is hard to forgive, and the more someone needs to be forgiven, the harder it is; 4) acting as if nothing happened is NOT forgiving. It is only denying; 5) forgiving others does not mean we should forsake justice or condone their sin; 6) forgiveness always has a face! We can never in the abstract; 7) Being forgiven is the greatest feeling I've ever known, but forgiving others feels good too. Both experiences are worth seeking; 8) being forgiven is NOT a license to sin, but rather an opportunity to repent and serve. Jesus often said, "Go and sin no more"; 9) resentment is a terminal spiritual cancer. Untreated, it will kill your soul; 10) forgiveness is blind to race, sexual orientation, gender,wealth, age, and all other barriers that divide us. The Bible says that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, not to
condemn it, but to save it. This he did on Golgotha... for all who receive him… and he also did it for you, no matter what you
look like, or how deeply you have fallen, or how badly you are lost! Friends, believe the good news: in Jesus Christ, we are
forgiven! Amen!
Saturday, September 6, 2014
A TRIP TO THE MALL
I took a trip to the mall yesterday- to the big one on the Iowa side of the river- and since I had to wait for our automobile tires to be rotated and aligned, I went to the Starbuck's inside of the Barnes and Noble store and worked on a sermon. On my way to the store, I passed a young woman who was "struggling" with two toddlers, one of whom was in a stroller, and a small group of disabled people on their way to the food court. They were moving slowly, some with a companion, one with a white cane, and my spirit rejoiced for them, even as I felt a burden for the young mother. When I entered the bookstore,I noticed a magazine cover featuring a man with "28 Day Abs," and it made me feel a little awkward because I've spent a lifetime without any visible abs. Then, as I approached the cafe, I noticed a special display featuring Starbuck's "Fall Blend." A "fall blend?" I wondered what it could be... as I ordered a "grande" coffee and a blueberry scone. I felt a little naughty ordering the scone, but in time, I finished it off, and my sermon as well, and I left the store... but not before I purchased a few books. I love history, religion, and language... so I just had to buy two copies of Phil Robertson's new book, a Duck Commander Devotional for women and a Duck Commander Devotional for men (one is pink), a clearance book on the "Lost Books of the Bible," a German language map, and a book entitled, "Learning German The Fast & Fun Way," on the way out.
Then I walked around the mall itself, and except for the two shirts I bought at Jos. A. Banks, I just walked and observed people. There were several other walkers, of course, elderly men and women, generally walking as couples. Some of them walked as if they meant it and some of them were moving so slowly that they probably didn't burn a single calorie. I walked past the "eyebrow weaving" boutique, and I wondered if I needed to have my eyebrows weaved (nobody likes the Andy Rooney look). I passed the area where they display vibrating chairs and it took me back to the time when (legitimate) motels featured vibrating beds. They cost a quarter or two- I can't remember- and they would give you a little tingle for a few moments before they shut off. The majority of the people that I saw at the mall were overweight- some of them considerably- and I wondered if they had made peace with their inner selves (which would be a good thing)... or simply lost track of their appearance along the way (which would be a bad thing). Watching people can be fun, but I confess that I was annoyed by all the men wearing shorts... and they were ALL wearing shorts! I've been annoyed by this for years now, but there they were! Old men, young men, fat men, skinny men, men with pale legs, men with tanned legs, men with ankle length socks, men with black socks- all wearing shorts- and I wondered... when and how did this happen? Fess Parker never wore shorts... and Matt Dillon didn't either. What's next? Will quiches replace steak at Johnny's Steakhouse? Pray that shorts are not the beginning of the end for men as we've known them.
As I walked the mall, I saw those who worked there, and I wondered how they made ends meet on their meager paychecks. I was a retailer for decades and I guess I still am. Besides, I'm something of a bleeding heart and I know how hard it is for working class families to get by. I passed the Victoria's Secret store and smiled... because there aren't many secrets anymore. Finally, I came to a small coffee shop next to the auto repair center and decided to wait there while they finished with our car. They had a modest menu, and I ordered a "It's Not Your Mom's" grilled cheese sandwich and another coffee. They were right. It wasn't my mom's grilled cheese sandwich and not nearly as good as my wife's. But the place was comfortable and it wasn't long before they called to tell me that the car was ready.
Young people, old people, poor people, rich people, black people, white people, disabled people, enabled people, believers, non-believers, innocent people, cynical people- each and every one of them a child of God- each with a secret or two, each with a hope or two, each with fears, and issues. Everyone with a story... and me- an aging sinner, a born-again Christian who doesn't rest easily in any group. It occurred to me how much I need all of these people (even the men in shorts) and how deeply we are in this life together! I walked up and down and around for an hour... and no one made eye contact with me. People are afraid to know and to be known, myself included... but it can't be a good thing. Pray that we will come to see just how much we have in common... and how much we really, really need one another.
Then I walked around the mall itself, and except for the two shirts I bought at Jos. A. Banks, I just walked and observed people. There were several other walkers, of course, elderly men and women, generally walking as couples. Some of them walked as if they meant it and some of them were moving so slowly that they probably didn't burn a single calorie. I walked past the "eyebrow weaving" boutique, and I wondered if I needed to have my eyebrows weaved (nobody likes the Andy Rooney look). I passed the area where they display vibrating chairs and it took me back to the time when (legitimate) motels featured vibrating beds. They cost a quarter or two- I can't remember- and they would give you a little tingle for a few moments before they shut off. The majority of the people that I saw at the mall were overweight- some of them considerably- and I wondered if they had made peace with their inner selves (which would be a good thing)... or simply lost track of their appearance along the way (which would be a bad thing). Watching people can be fun, but I confess that I was annoyed by all the men wearing shorts... and they were ALL wearing shorts! I've been annoyed by this for years now, but there they were! Old men, young men, fat men, skinny men, men with pale legs, men with tanned legs, men with ankle length socks, men with black socks- all wearing shorts- and I wondered... when and how did this happen? Fess Parker never wore shorts... and Matt Dillon didn't either. What's next? Will quiches replace steak at Johnny's Steakhouse? Pray that shorts are not the beginning of the end for men as we've known them.
As I walked the mall, I saw those who worked there, and I wondered how they made ends meet on their meager paychecks. I was a retailer for decades and I guess I still am. Besides, I'm something of a bleeding heart and I know how hard it is for working class families to get by. I passed the Victoria's Secret store and smiled... because there aren't many secrets anymore. Finally, I came to a small coffee shop next to the auto repair center and decided to wait there while they finished with our car. They had a modest menu, and I ordered a "It's Not Your Mom's" grilled cheese sandwich and another coffee. They were right. It wasn't my mom's grilled cheese sandwich and not nearly as good as my wife's. But the place was comfortable and it wasn't long before they called to tell me that the car was ready.
Young people, old people, poor people, rich people, black people, white people, disabled people, enabled people, believers, non-believers, innocent people, cynical people- each and every one of them a child of God- each with a secret or two, each with a hope or two, each with fears, and issues. Everyone with a story... and me- an aging sinner, a born-again Christian who doesn't rest easily in any group. It occurred to me how much I need all of these people (even the men in shorts) and how deeply we are in this life together! I walked up and down and around for an hour... and no one made eye contact with me. People are afraid to know and to be known, myself included... but it can't be a good thing. Pray that we will come to see just how much we have in common... and how much we really, really need one another.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
THE DEMANDING & LIBERATING LAW OF LOVE
"Shedenhelm's Law" maintains that all trails have more uphill sections than they have downhill sections. To which I would say, "Amen." Shedenhelm's Law, by the way, is a real thing- you can look it up- but there are a lot of laws, aren't there? There are famous laws, like Hammurabi's Code, and there are types of laws- criminal, civil, international, among them. There are laws that govern things- like gravity and thermodynamics-and there are outdated and silly laws. For instance, in MA., it is illegal to bathe on Sundays and/or to have intimate relations with a rodeo clown; and in KY, although I suspect it's frequently violated, every resident must take at least one shower per year! Yes, there are funny laws and living-giving laws... but there is one law that trumps them all... and that is the LAW OF LOVE... which is the most important of all of God's gifts and which also captures the very essence of ALL of God's commandments.
According to Paul, love has 15 traits. Two of them are part of the fruit of the Spirit- patience and kindness; two of them show the power of love- that it's not easily angered and NEVER keeps score; 6 of them are attitudes, and 5 of them are things love ALWAYS does... which is to rejoice with the truth (there is a truth you know), protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Love is all of this and more, but since we're discussing the Law of Love, we must focus on behavior! We live in a world where love may be a sentiment, a feeling, or just something we like to think about... but Biblical love is invariably an action word and the Law of Love demands action. This doesn't mean that there aren't any feelings involved... but God's love is a verb... and it shows its face in the things we do. As Jesus noted, the Law of Love is fulfilled when we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength... AND our neighbors as ourselves... and when we show our love for both of them in concrete ways. Love must be visible because good intentions and wishing are not enough. Some of the components of the royal law of love are well know to us. "Love one another," Jesus said, "as I have loved you"...which was in word and deed, Love one another as I have loved you. This is the 11th commandment... and through the light of our love for one another...others see God. Friends, let us work to let others see our love for God in the love we show to one another! If they don't see it that way, they won't see it at all, at least not from this church. "Love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus said, and when he was challenged, he told a story about a Samaritan and asked: which man was neighbor to the one who was beaten? His antagonist said, "the one who acted like a neighbor"... and Jesus replied, "Bingo. Go and do likewise."
Love is an action word, but our actions are NOT love if we play favorites. Love does not show partiality. It does not go out of its way to meet and seat someone who is rich and famous, and let a poor man wander around without saying a word, maybe hoping inside that he will feel rejected and leave. The Law of Love demands that we treat each person with the greatest respect because love is an action word!"Bear one another's burdens." This is yet another way of fulfilling the law of love, and we are blessed with members who actually make a practice of bearing other people's burdens, including mine, and we appreciate because bearing another's burdens can be tiring, costly, and maybe even frustrating. Love one another as I have loved you, love your God with every fiber of your being, love your neighbor as yourself; treat all people- each one- with respect; bear one another's burdens, knowing that your brother and your sister are NOT heavy, and forgive others... again and again and again...until the cows come home...until you feel like a fool. Forgive an actual person in real time for specific transgressions. Friends, we cannot forgive in the abstract... because the healing and releasing power of forgiveness comes when we let go of our real anger and resentments.
We could go on for some time, even have a sermon series on the Law of Love, but you have the idea. Love is a verb- an action- a behavior for God... to empower someone else, or to shoulder their burden, or to break the bonds that bind them. The Law of Love is the most important law there is. You can make your own specific list of things you can do that will show your love for one another, for your neighbor, and for your God... but I will close with a real example that caught my eye. At the close of the first day in the battle at Fredericksburg, hundreds of union soldiers were lying wounded on the battlefield... and their cries, pleas and prayers drowned out everything else, at least they did for Sgt. Richard Kirkland, who could no longer ignore their need. Kirkland was a Sgt in the Confederate Army- a man from SC- but he went to his commanding officer, and asked for permission to go onto the battle field and give the union soldiers who were suffering and dying some water to drink. The General hesitated,but finally said, "Kirkland, it is sending you to your death, but I can't refuse a motive such as yours. Go!" And he did. He stepped over the wall and in full view of both armies, he knelt down by the nearest sufferer and raised his head, as he gave him a drink of cool water. And not a single union soldier fired a shot. They didn't shoot either when Kirkland spent the next 90 minutes giving drink to the thirsty and the dying, straightening out cramped and mangled limbs, spreading army coats and blankets over the fallen enemy. Then, and I'm not sure if he ran out of time... or water, he returned to the safety of his bunker and went back behind the wall.
Richard Kirkland was not a preacher as far as I know, nor an elder... but he gave a concrete lesson in the Law of Love that day... and he showed the world that there really is NO black or white, or grey coat or blue coat... in God's eyes... just men and women, girls and boys... who are one day winning and the next day losing, one day running and the next day fallen... and that each one of us... poor man or rich man... ought to have a drink from the fountain of life. Kirkland could have been killed in an instance... and he may well have been killed the next day or the next week, maybe by one of the men whom he gave a drink of mercy to. I don't know, but I do know that practicing the law of love is its own reward and that sometimes... the Law of Love demands every ounce of grace, courage, and blood that we have to give. Amen.
According to Paul, love has 15 traits. Two of them are part of the fruit of the Spirit- patience and kindness; two of them show the power of love- that it's not easily angered and NEVER keeps score; 6 of them are attitudes, and 5 of them are things love ALWAYS does... which is to rejoice with the truth (there is a truth you know), protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Love is all of this and more, but since we're discussing the Law of Love, we must focus on behavior! We live in a world where love may be a sentiment, a feeling, or just something we like to think about... but Biblical love is invariably an action word and the Law of Love demands action. This doesn't mean that there aren't any feelings involved... but God's love is a verb... and it shows its face in the things we do. As Jesus noted, the Law of Love is fulfilled when we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength... AND our neighbors as ourselves... and when we show our love for both of them in concrete ways. Love must be visible because good intentions and wishing are not enough. Some of the components of the royal law of love are well know to us. "Love one another," Jesus said, "as I have loved you"...which was in word and deed, Love one another as I have loved you. This is the 11th commandment... and through the light of our love for one another...others see God. Friends, let us work to let others see our love for God in the love we show to one another! If they don't see it that way, they won't see it at all, at least not from this church. "Love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus said, and when he was challenged, he told a story about a Samaritan and asked: which man was neighbor to the one who was beaten? His antagonist said, "the one who acted like a neighbor"... and Jesus replied, "Bingo. Go and do likewise."
Love is an action word, but our actions are NOT love if we play favorites. Love does not show partiality. It does not go out of its way to meet and seat someone who is rich and famous, and let a poor man wander around without saying a word, maybe hoping inside that he will feel rejected and leave. The Law of Love demands that we treat each person with the greatest respect because love is an action word!"Bear one another's burdens." This is yet another way of fulfilling the law of love, and we are blessed with members who actually make a practice of bearing other people's burdens, including mine, and we appreciate because bearing another's burdens can be tiring, costly, and maybe even frustrating. Love one another as I have loved you, love your God with every fiber of your being, love your neighbor as yourself; treat all people- each one- with respect; bear one another's burdens, knowing that your brother and your sister are NOT heavy, and forgive others... again and again and again...until the cows come home...until you feel like a fool. Forgive an actual person in real time for specific transgressions. Friends, we cannot forgive in the abstract... because the healing and releasing power of forgiveness comes when we let go of our real anger and resentments.
We could go on for some time, even have a sermon series on the Law of Love, but you have the idea. Love is a verb- an action- a behavior for God... to empower someone else, or to shoulder their burden, or to break the bonds that bind them. The Law of Love is the most important law there is. You can make your own specific list of things you can do that will show your love for one another, for your neighbor, and for your God... but I will close with a real example that caught my eye. At the close of the first day in the battle at Fredericksburg, hundreds of union soldiers were lying wounded on the battlefield... and their cries, pleas and prayers drowned out everything else, at least they did for Sgt. Richard Kirkland, who could no longer ignore their need. Kirkland was a Sgt in the Confederate Army- a man from SC- but he went to his commanding officer, and asked for permission to go onto the battle field and give the union soldiers who were suffering and dying some water to drink. The General hesitated,but finally said, "Kirkland, it is sending you to your death, but I can't refuse a motive such as yours. Go!" And he did. He stepped over the wall and in full view of both armies, he knelt down by the nearest sufferer and raised his head, as he gave him a drink of cool water. And not a single union soldier fired a shot. They didn't shoot either when Kirkland spent the next 90 minutes giving drink to the thirsty and the dying, straightening out cramped and mangled limbs, spreading army coats and blankets over the fallen enemy. Then, and I'm not sure if he ran out of time... or water, he returned to the safety of his bunker and went back behind the wall.
Richard Kirkland was not a preacher as far as I know, nor an elder... but he gave a concrete lesson in the Law of Love that day... and he showed the world that there really is NO black or white, or grey coat or blue coat... in God's eyes... just men and women, girls and boys... who are one day winning and the next day losing, one day running and the next day fallen... and that each one of us... poor man or rich man... ought to have a drink from the fountain of life. Kirkland could have been killed in an instance... and he may well have been killed the next day or the next week, maybe by one of the men whom he gave a drink of mercy to. I don't know, but I do know that practicing the law of love is its own reward and that sometimes... the Law of Love demands every ounce of grace, courage, and blood that we have to give. Amen.
Monday, September 1, 2014
IN MEMORY OF MIKE AND IN PRAISE OF DONALD
Last Saturday, my wife received one of those phone calls no one wants to get. The call came in at 8:00am, and Sherry was told that her nephew, Mike, had passed away. Evidently, he was undergoing a biopsy when something went wrong and he died... leaving his older brother, a younger sister, his mother, and his wife behind... and his aunt Sherry, who has been deeply affected by the news. When I first married Sherry, Mike was a kid- a witty, engaging kid, playing a big role on a small stage in a rural Minnesota town. He was popular and he had a great deal of talent. He wrote for the school newspaper and he was President of his class. He was charming... and the others doted on him, including Sherry...who thought that Mike was certain to run the world, or at least the entertainment world. For a number of reasons, we saw Mike less and less with the passing of time, but love and loving memories never die... and Sherry's heart is filled with loving thoughts of Mike. She and all three of the kids in Mike's family grew up together...especially in their younger years. They vacationed together, and they stayed at one another's homes for weeks on end. Holidays were spent together for years, and even I got into some of that. In short, Mike and his family WERE Sherry's family of her youth, and she loves them as much as I love my uncle Bill and the two cousins with whom I shared my childhood. We hate to lose people we love, but it's more than that... because we are also losing part of ourselves. Part of us dies when a loved one dies... and time, which we once considered our forever friend, laughs in our face and mocks our mortality. We know about death conceptually from a very early age, but we never think it applies to us! We attend funerals, walk through graveyards, and read about tragedies in the news... without ever really connecting to death. And then one day, it becomes clear: what once was will never be again because we, too, are dying. O Mike, our heart cries, we'd give anything for one more smile, one more story, even one more tear...with you, but we will never splash in the lake together again, and what is more, people will soon be gathering for me.
However, life goes on, and on this Labor Day, our kids called in and told us that they love us... which is always a joy... but today, I also had the joy of listening to my great-grandson, Donald, sing "Jesus Love Me (because the Bible tells me so)." The last time I saw Donald in person, he was crawling around at our daughter's home in the Chicago area and I found him to be irresistible even then. I suspect that I won't see Donald as much as I would like to over the years...because he lives in North Carolina and because he already has wonderful and loving grandparents. Still, I love Donald with all of my heart and I write my blog (in large measure) to convey my love and my life to both Archer and him! I haven't seen him for some time now... but Donald certainly lifted my spirits today! I came home from church and there he was, singing "Jesus Loves Me," and my heart just melted. He was so darn cute, and his message is so very true. I know that he doesn't yet know what these words mean in depth (who does?), but I was absolutely delighted to see that Jesus IS part of his life. What a wonderful kid! Brittany, when time is right, tell Donald that he and poppy both tried to tell people that Jesus loves them over this holiday weekend. Tell him that we both proclaimed the faith. Tell him that poppy got paid more... but that he said it better! God bless.
The ebb and flow of life, with all of its unexpected joy and with all of the "little deaths" we experience, certainly makes a man think. However, there is one thing I know for sure: Jesus DOES LOVE LITTLE DONALD... AND HIS CHILD, MIKE, AS WELL! Amen.
However, life goes on, and on this Labor Day, our kids called in and told us that they love us... which is always a joy... but today, I also had the joy of listening to my great-grandson, Donald, sing "Jesus Love Me (because the Bible tells me so)." The last time I saw Donald in person, he was crawling around at our daughter's home in the Chicago area and I found him to be irresistible even then. I suspect that I won't see Donald as much as I would like to over the years...because he lives in North Carolina and because he already has wonderful and loving grandparents. Still, I love Donald with all of my heart and I write my blog (in large measure) to convey my love and my life to both Archer and him! I haven't seen him for some time now... but Donald certainly lifted my spirits today! I came home from church and there he was, singing "Jesus Loves Me," and my heart just melted. He was so darn cute, and his message is so very true. I know that he doesn't yet know what these words mean in depth (who does?), but I was absolutely delighted to see that Jesus IS part of his life. What a wonderful kid! Brittany, when time is right, tell Donald that he and poppy both tried to tell people that Jesus loves them over this holiday weekend. Tell him that we both proclaimed the faith. Tell him that poppy got paid more... but that he said it better! God bless.
The ebb and flow of life, with all of its unexpected joy and with all of the "little deaths" we experience, certainly makes a man think. However, there is one thing I know for sure: Jesus DOES LOVE LITTLE DONALD... AND HIS CHILD, MIKE, AS WELL! Amen.
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