In the physical realm, the location of our eyes on our faces allows us to see what is ahead of us but not behind us. That is in fact contrary to life’s daily reality which declares that, since we have no control or certain knowledge over the future, though we may claim to see what is ahead of us, we do not know for certain anything about it.
On the other hand, though we may not give much importance to what is behind us, we have more certainty about what has happened in the past than to what will happen in the future. We know where we come from, but we can’t truly say where we're going. Even in this technological age, we do not even know if the earth and all the political, biological, economic and digital elements that held us yesterday will hold us tomorrow. How should we then chart our way into the unknown darkness of our uncertain future? A wise King named Solomon one time shared a remarkable observation. He said,, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10) This could be considered “intelligence” to help us navigate the dark seas ahead. Since we can see what is behind us and there is nothing new that hasn't happened before, the best way to navigate this world is by walking forward in a backward motion. It would be physically insane and even dangerous to do so physically, but rather sane and safe to do so philosophically. As the famous quote says, “Those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it!” In actuality, most of us can testify that the charting of our daily lives is a reflection of the lessons we learned in our less educated days. As such, we do use the past, what is behind us, as a compass for the future. The lessons of the past have helped us to set boundaries to our lives which is good, but as a person or a society, problems arise when we get frustrated at the wise boundaries of the smarter people who walked this earth before us and revert to the ignorance of our past ways. The charting of our future by our past not only keeps us safe on our way but also helps us know where we're going, as well as realise when we get there so that we’re not like the man who was aimlessly travelling. When he stopped at a restaurant on the side of the road, the lady at the cash register asked him, “Where are you going? “ “Nowhere in particular!” he answered. She then asked, “How will you know when you get there?”
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A conversation is said to have taken place between a hen and a hog. Aa they passed the town hall, they saw the subject on which the mayor was speaking that night, "How Can We Help the Poor in Our City?" After a moment's reflection, the hen said, "I know what we can do. We can give them a ham-and-egg breakfast!" The hog protested, saying, "The breakfast would be only a contribution for you, but for me it would mean total commitment!"
As hoggish as he may be, the hog saw right through the hypocrisy of the hen who would so voluntarily give of her abundance, while suggesting her friend gives of his very livlihood.. We all benefit from what is given to us. We all owe our peace and quiet to the civil servants, soldiers, firefighters, policemen, EMTs and doctors, around us. We owe it even to our neighbors who, out of a simple sense of community, would warn us if something fishy was happening in our house while we were gone. That’s why we live in communities for support, strength, and security. We are in a sense indebted to the society around us so that when we give, we only repay what has been laid at our feet for free. When we give, we are really just give back of what has been extended to us. Real giving goes beyond that. I heard it said one time, “It doesn’t count till it hurts!” Indeed, it is when it hurts that we start really giving and investing in others. That’s when we go beyond and give more than has been given to us. I love JFK’s words, “Seek not what your country can do for you, but rather seek what you can do for your country!” and we do so through our giving to the community. The thing is, do we give like the hen or like the hog? The measure of our giving is not in the gift, but in what we’ve got left after we’re done giving! Hachi was a Japanese dog who used to accompany his master to the railroad station each morning and then wait at the station to greet him in the evening as he returned . One night in 1925, the man did not return, having died in another city. Although the little dog had met its master only a few months previously, for over 10 years from the day of his master’s death, the dog went to the station every night--sadly trotting home again after waiting an hour.
The faithfulness of Hachi impressed the nation so much that the government erected a statue of the dog on the spot where he had perseveringly waited--and then sent statuettes to all schools in the then Japanese empire. This is a true story. This story is a testament to the faithfulness and loyalty of a dog. This dog had one master to whom he was devoted. The story goes on to say that after his master died, the dog even stayed and slept in a corner of the station. The workers were so touched that they regularly gave him food and water. Hachi had one duty which he did no matter what. He served an audience of one: his master. Surely we can learn something from Hachi. Modern ideas teach us to give of ourselves conditionally. We play our part or fulfill our role only of things are pleasant and going our way. We learn to be not only fairweather friends but also fairweather workers, volunteers, and even fairweather parents and spouses as this sort of lack of commitment has infiltrated the realm of marriage and parenthood. When we do so, like Hachi we also serve an audience of one, but the “one” is ourselves. The noble idea of the “pursuit of happiness” has become a personal selfish end rather than something that we live to ensure for others. Modern society feels the deadly results of such self-centered philosophy. I for one believe that the greatness of a person lies in the power of his surrender, of his surrender to a cause greater than he is, to a cause that requires him to stretch even beyond the narrow confines of his personal comfort. Those kinds of people give themselves to the task at hand being concerned of neither audience or reward. Those are the greats of history that we honor. Like Hachi, they serve just “cause.” We make financial decisions, plan political campaigns, organise programs, advertise products, and calibrate tools using assessments by averages. From mechanics, to finances, and psychological evaluations we use statistical averages in everything. It is not 100% exact and it even sometimes fails us, but we make very important, sometime life and death decisions by it.
It is all true and helps us come to workable solutions of problems when it comes to mechanics, economics, and crowd behavior, but what about the common person, the individual? These days I have been thinking of people that I know, or rather knew because I haven’t seen them in a very long time. I am here now with them for a short period of time and I feel I can assess things about them but do I really know them enough to allow myself opinions? One may say that time and distance may cloud our judgment in knowing a person, but so does proximity. Looking at a person from afar we may see only a blur not only of their faults but also of their potential. Looking at them too closely concentrates our attention on details void of the perspective that gives them truth and purpose. We are therefore left with the old adage that truth is found in the medium of two extremes. Not too far, not too close; not too long, not too short; that is the perspective that can give us not the perfect but the best our imperfect dimension affords. Like with anything else, our best judgment comes from an average between two extremes. As I am writing this, I am reminded that I wrote something similar in the chaplain newsletter called: THE BALANCE OF THINGS, a good reminder before many of us gather together with family for the Holidays. I watched a documentary about hermit crabs recently. The hermit crab has a very sensitive skin. So sensitive that it cannot stay for very long without protection from sun rays. As a result, he squats in the empty shells discarded by other crustaceans.
As a small hermit crab, he seeks a shell that will fit snug, but as he grows, he needs larger quarters. The documentary showed how hermits crabs instinctively gather together to exchange shells, everyone according to their need, in a very civil and scientific fashion. Apart from solving our homeless situation, we humans could learn a thing or two from hermit crabs. I don't know if he felt any discomfort, but this tiny animal knew when he needed to change quarters. As people, it would be catastrophic if we donned a full adult body when we only have the maturity of a child. Our bodies grow in proportion with our capability to control it, or so it should be. Throughout my life, I have been involved in many organizations, associations, groups, fellowships, etc….One could think that I really didn't stick anywhere but in fact, I feel like the hermit crab who changed “shell” everytime I grew into a different place. It could be the same for an organization or association that changes umbrella policies as it grows. Of course we like the peace, quiet, and stability that sameness affords, but growth is an inevitable part of life and with growth, we must change shell. Kudos to the hermit crab! An read article I read one day.
A country doctor answered an emergency call late one evening. It was about a child who was choking. . The night doctor was making good time on the empty country roads when suddenly he came to a point where there was no more road. The recent floods had caused sink hole right in the middle of the way. He now would have to take a long detour. The night doctor frantically stepped out of his car trying to evaluate the situation when a burly road worker came out of a big Bulldozer offering to help. The doctor explained the desperate situation when the road worker said, “You need a road? I’ll make you a road!”, upon which he proceeded to move dirt and create a road where before there was no road. The doctor rushed to the house where he found a mother in tears frantically holding in her arms a child turning blue from lack of oxygen. The doctor quickly remedied the situation and, to the great relief of all, the child started breathing normally. The doctor returned home taking a different route. And what of the worker who created a road where before there was no road? After finishing his shift late that evening, he went back home and learned how his baby boy had almost suffocated to death until a kind concerned doctor arrived and treated him. Everybody responded to the need. It is the doctor’s duty and mandate to do so, but the road worker voluntarily drafted himself in the issue. Without question, he unselfishly responded to the need. He did not have to, but he did. He did not know the child was his, but this is what happens when we unselfishly answer the need around us: as we save others, we often save ourselves. I heard it said one time, “He who saves one life, saves a whole universe!” I read an interesting story last week. It was about a wicked monarch who would not conceded his position to the rightful heir of a throne. Eventually the rightful king gathered his family and fled to exile.
A while later, a band of men gathered around him to support him. These were courageous soldiers and men who sought for purpose in their lives. They were ready for anything. The story gives an account of these courageous fighters. It tells us of valiant exploits they accomplished in the pursuit of their righteous cause and in the defense of their king. As I read about them, I discovered a hallmark, a trend in the attitude of some of these men which I think is what made them special. Every time it related to one of their exploits, the story says something like, “When everyone else fled, they alone continued and won the battle!” They were called great, mighty and courageous not because they knew how to fight well. Anyone with training can do that. Their valor was not in the perfection of their skills, but in their character and the strength of their devotion to the cause. To continue in the rightness of a cause when everyone leaves shows a special strength of character. It is easy to go with the flow of things, to respond to feelings, to general trends, and to the prevailing attitudes around us. But to get in there when everybody stays home; to run forward holding the banner when everyone goes backward; indeed, to go against the despondent flow of the people, against the general attitude of indifference and selfishness that prevails in the innate nature of man, might represent the true true nature of what is coined as courage; the definition of a hero. By the way, do you want to know who that King was who earned the devotion of these brave men? King David of the Bible (1 Samuel 22:2; 2 Samuel 23: 8-39) Looking at the world around us, it is easy to become cynical. It is easy to let rational logic declare that man is a hopeless creature given to lust, greed, and lawlessness. I read an article this week that made me rethink some things. It is an article that pictures God counselling with the angels on the creation of man. After all, the Text does tell us that when it came the time to create man God did say, “Let US make man …” The story goes something like this.
When God decided to create man, Truth appeared, falling before God's throne, and in all humility begged God to refrain from calling into being a creature who is beset with the vice of lying and who will tread truth under his feet. Peace came forth to support this petition describing man as a “creature so full of strife and contention so as to disturb the peace and harmony of creation itself.” Then the soft voice of Charity exclaimed “Sovereign of the universe, create a being in Your likeness, for it will be a noble creature striving to imitate Your attributes by its actions…. I see him now in spirit seeking out those who are distressed and wretched to comfort them, drying the tears of the afflicted and despondent, raising up them that are bowed down in spirit, reaching his helping hand to those who are in need of help, speaking peace to the heart of the widow, and giving shelter to the fatherless. Such a creature cannot fail to be a glory to His Maker.' The Creator approved of the pleadings of Charity, called man into being, and cast Truth down to the earth to flourish there. This story teaches us that in the balance of things, the acts of unselfish courage, the selfless deeds, the automatic humane impulse to rescue, and the noble acts of goodness that man is capable of, tip the balance in his favor in spite of all the evil he is also guilty of. This gave God, He who knows the end from the beginning, the go-ahead concerning the creation of man. As we get together in families over the holiday season, may we look at our kin, especially those who rub us the wrong way, with the eyes of God who felt that the potential of goodness imbedded in that person makes him a worthy candidate to existence. After all, even a broken clock right twice a day! It is said that our brain is not fully formed until we reach the age of 21. As such, the reasoning of someone under that age might be somewhat skewed since he does not have all the parts necessary to make fully rational assessments. I am aware of that when I teach teenagers in school. The main subjects I teach are current events, politics, religion, civic and social studies. I personally feel a sense of mission teaching these subjects to these young souls. I suppose that I will still be alive when they vote in less than 4 years, so I want them to vote intelligently.
I want my teaching to be relevant to them so my classes involve a lot of discussions about what is going on in the world today. Hearing what they have to say teaches me a lot. And mostly, it teaches me to recognise an unseasoned immature mind. Teenagers often (notice I didn’t say always) find peace and stability in black and white extremes. Extremes are clear. Black and white reasoning keeps us safe from these complicated shades of grey. It is easy; it is simple; … but it is incomplete. It is easy to simplify issues by polarising them we are faced with a situation that is too big for us or that we don’t understand. But human relationships are not always like Algebra. They don’t become simpler just because we simplified the equation. They just become unrealistic or untrue. They sometimes require all their elements to be properly assessed. The easiest thing is to create 2 imaginary positions, “for’ and “against”, and polarise them out of any possible compromise. Isn’t compromise a sign of weakness? It is within the cocoon of these sad immature human-created imaginary situations that enmity, divorce, suicide, and even later on war between nations, emerge. There is little saying I often repeat to my students. It has become a joke and they even finish the sentence for me when i start it. It is, “When 2 people vehemently argue opposite positions, it is usually because they are both … right!” I explain to them that since there is rectitude in both argument, they hold on to it, and that peace and understanding can only come when both sides try to find the rectitude in the other’s point of view. May we, who have grown to be adults teach our children the most important path they may travel in their lives: the one that meets someone halfway! Sometime we look up to people that have much knowledge; that are knowledgeable. But is possessing knowledge always a sign of virtue? Some knowledge is good, while some is bad. How do we make the difference? It has been said that a tree is known by its fruits. It is a great statement but one that assesses a situation after the fact, like “Oooops, maybe I shouldn't have learned that!” I can right now think of a girl my wife and I helped to go to college. We housed her and gave her free childcare so she could get an education. Looking back now, we realise that whereas she learned some good things, a particular class that appealed to her wrecked her life and she is now in prison. How do we get ahead of the curve then? How do make sure to chose good knowledge?
It's like fishing. We do not prepare a fishing line with a bait if we desire to catch a whale, neither do use a harpoon to catch sardines. We first think of our targeted catch, then we prepare the equipment necessary to catch it. The same goes with safari hunting. We wouldn’t catch an elephant with lasso, nor a rhinoceros with a net. It is important therefore, before launching into a study, that we first define what it is that we want to learn and why. What are the desired results?Do we want to learn economics so we can be sure to be one step ahead of everybody, or so we can create economic systems that promote parity? Do we learn science and chemistry in order to build bombs or create médecine? As the type of food we want for dinner will define the tool we will use for fishing or hunting, the role we seek to fulfil in society should define the direction of our training and learning. God has put in front of us the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. While giving us the freedom to chose, He forbade us to eat from that tree; I guess He could see the results ahead of time. Today, as science and knowledge increases, this choice is still set before us as we wake up every morning. May we keep positive goals before us so our hearts will be drawn to the knowledge that makes us into individuals that positively benefit society. Happy fishing, hunting, and learning! Both my wife and I were born in temperate regions close to the 45th parallel. Christina was born in Portland,OR, I was born in Paris, France. As such we have been used to notice the changes of the seasons. When we were in Asia, we very much appreciated the charm of the tropics but somehow missed the metamorphosing of the landscapes that comes with the passing of time. In SE. Asia, there seems to be only two seasons: hot and humid, and rainy and humid.
Since coming back to the Western part of the northern hemisphere, we take great joy at observing the changing coat of the earth. In the Spring, it wears a vibrant, almost fluorescent vivid green dress, only to leave in a flashy scarlet fiery coat in the Fall. Whereas the green of Spring reinvigorates us into a sense of rebirth after a long winter, the profound fiery colors of Fall tell us of the beauty of old age. In the Northwestern hemisphere of the world, a place where humankind are evaluated by the efficiency of their productivity, old people are often set aside, seen as inefficient and backward. This results in discouragement, depression, and a fear of old age. They say that in SE Asia, the effects of menopause are lessened because in these regions of the world old folks are appreciated, almost venerated for the wisdom that comes from having lived so many years. People there sometimes even follow the biblical injunction of rising from their sitting position at the arrival of an older person in the room. Nature teaches us this beautiful concept of how God sees the ending of our days. A fiery flame giving the beauty, the heat, and the warmth of its wisdom to all that come near it. Though some may say, “Oh, come on, I know many old people, and they are not like that. They are cranky, obnoxious, mean …!” But who knows if they are just responding to the way they are treated; trying with everything they’ve got left to keep a dignified head above the condescending waters of human prideful mockery that would otherwise swallow them. It is easy to hold a grudge against our parents. As adults, we easily sit in judgment of their words and deeds. With disdain we point the finger and say, “ How could they…” We do not realise that in turn one day our children will point that same accusatory finger at us.
What is worse is that, since our parents are not often present in the realm of our imaginary kangaroo court and even sometime within the realm of humanity itself, we judge and condemn them in absentia. Not only does the Bible forbid such an illegal court, but it also forbids taking a reproach against people. A young adult I know just told us of a story. He was on a nature hike with his young when suddenly a menacing stone rolled down the cliff. The father quickly adjusted his backpack and grabbed the child. To the amazement of both, the stone fell near the place where the child stood. Shaken but thankful, father and son continued their trek. Later that evening when telling of his day to his mother, the child said in a disconcerted voice, “... and Daddy let go of my hand….!” Yes Daddy let go of his hand but it was only to readjust his backpack so he could take the child into his arms. But to this day, even after the child has grown up, all he remembers is that at that traumatic moment, Daddy let go of his hand. This presented the Daddy in question with a crucial lesson. He remembers things from his youth for which he holds a grudge against his parents. Many details are vague now, and even distorted, but he still holds a grudge. The trekking episode with his own son made him wonder if perhaps his judgment was not a little clouded by the immaturity of childhood. The Dad in question started rethinking at the things he held against his parents and realized that maybe things were not necessarily the way he thought them to be; that maybe his accusation against his own parents were as ill-founded as his son's accusation of desertion at a time of danger. This was a landmark for this young father and a good lesson. We are coming near the holiday times when families get together for family dinners and reunions. Let us try to withhold this accusatory finger against our parents. It may be that Dad was just ‘re-adjusting his backpack!’ I am not ashamed to admit that I am an avid Star Trek fan. The famous Vulcan blessing rings well in my ears and here is why.
Life is full of complicated choices. As we hopefully make better decisions the older we get, there is often a very little of anything that we can do about these messy choices of our immature youth. Sometimes they follow us for a lifetime. I have made bad decisions in my youth which led to lessons learned, to wishing that I had the opportunity to take the test again. I have noticed that very often, life presents us with the opportunity to take the test again and hopefully make the right choice this time. It doesn't do much for the people we may have hurt but it helps clean the slate of our soul. This is where longevity helps: As long as we are alive, we have the opportunity to a second chance; to sort of clean up our mess. I do believe that God allows second chances. So when we wish someone a long life, we extend to them the hope of a second chance. When we try to stay alive as long as possible we allow for these second chances to happen. In his role as a Vulcan, Léonard Nimoy used a hand gesture as he gave the Vulcan blessing. Being openly Jewish, he used the hand gesture from the ancient Jewish Temple ritual of the Aaronic blessing issued by the priests over the nation of Israel. The gesture copies the Hebrew letter 'shin’ which represents the Name 'El Shaddai’. That blessing says, “The LORD bless you, and keep you: The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Deuteronomy 6:24-26). May the blessings of His contenance turned towards us allow us all second chances. 🖖 One day, while sitting by a brook, a shepherd noticed a steady trickle of water hitting a rock. It was only a drip, but it was constant – drop after drop after drop. The man observed something incredible: A hole had been carved out by that steady drip of water. He wondered how that could be. He concluded: If something as soft as water can carve a hole in solid rock, how much more so can the Word of God – which is hard as iron – make an indelible impression on my heart.
That marked a turning point in this indentured shepherd’s life who did not even have his own flock. Though at the age of 40 he was still illiterate, he committed himself to studying the Word of God, and went on to become one of the greatest scholars of his generation. He worked hard at what he wanted to learn. He was consistent at it and as a result people from all over came to him for answers. Sometimes we look at people who are good and know a lot about their field. They are good at what they do; they seem to naturally flow with it and we wish we could be and do the same. It is easy at these time to forget that knowledge is not transferred to our brains with a flash drive, it is learned unit by unit; that efficiency is not passed on by downloading an upgrade, it is drilled exercise by exercise. At drill last Wednesday Mark kept saying, “We learn for knowledge and drill for efficiency!” There is really no other way to develop a well of knowledge than by going through facts unit by unit. Sometime it may feel like drops of waters working away at a stone, but our shepherd rightly acquiesced with the Word of God that “Water wears away stones” (Job 14:19). As it is with skills, it is with virtue. We cannot expect to be the people that we need to be just because of one repentant prayer. It takes the daily practice and drill of making the sometimes hard but right decision with every situation we meet. Then it becomes second nature to do and think what is right. So when we see people who seem to have a good handle on either skill of virtue,we must remember that it is mostly though the daily dripping of learning for knowledge and drilling for efficiency. The great pianist Paderewski was once asked how come he could play so fluidly. He said, “Like anyone else, I practice seven hours a day! If I miss one day, I know it. If I miss two days, my friends know it. If I miss three days, the world knows it.” Two weeks ago I went to the drill at the Clackamas training center by 130th and 112th. It was a cool breezy evening. Night fell as firefighters practiced their skills.
The exercise was to ventilate a burning building by cutting openings on the roof. Trying to keep their balance on the sloped surface, one by one the firefighters took turn at the chain saw. The biggest problem was the sawdust which kept causing them to slip. The solution was to have one, two, even sometimes three other firefighters behind for safety. I found this exercise quite interesting. The main job was to cut an opening with a chainsaw on a sloped surface. It looked dangerous. Slipping and falling while operating a chainsaw could have devastating results. I saw firefighters losing balance several times. Each time they were rescued by the crewmates behind them. In order to do this cutting, the “cutter” had to completely trust his crewmates. It is this trust that allowed him to let go of trying to keep balance and do his job. It made me think about many things in life. Sometimes we try to do things on our own and we find ourselves slipping on a dangerous slope resulting in life changing errors of judgement causing injuries, hurt, and pain which could have been avoided had we engaged the help and support of others. Working with, though, or even under the covering of others, be it technical, legal, spiritual, or emotional, has its benefits. It helps us not have to carry the whole load by ourselves. With the cover, vetting, and support of those around us, we have the assurance that someone ‘has our back’, and we can do our job more effectively. “HELP! I’M UNDER ATTACK!”
I saw an article this week on Facebook where someone was complaining of being under attack. It did not specifically say so, but the idea seemed to be that the person in question was under spiritual attack from demonic forces. In that person’s mind, her projects were so important that the cosmic forces of evil were out to get her and that’s why she had all the trouble she had. I do not doubt the reality of forces of evil being at work in our world, but what I have noticed is that we do not need them in order to make a mess of our lives. I have, in fact, made the great cosmic discovery that we are often our own worst enemy; and that with friends like ourselves, who needs enemies? At the end of the day, most of the time (and I did not say 'all the time’), a house burns down because of unattended fire; illnesses are often the results of unhealthy lifestyles, and financial problems are due to unrealistic handling of money. Our problems with relatives, neighbours, and collègues are also often due to our lack of wisdom or even worst, to our vindictive, vengeful, and selfish attitudes. Everything could change or be different were it for a little more carefulness, healthy habits, austerity, kindness and being less self-centered. As long as we blame external circumstances, we will never find solutions. I think this principle works from the individual up to every institution of life, even government doesn’t go anywhere as long as they blame the other side. Not only that, but to think that the forces of evil are out to get us attributes an undue sense of importance which ot only feeds our natural pride, but keeps us from looking the problem in the face and finding solutions .After all, “It's not my fault”; “The devil made me do it!” In both cases we absolve ourselves of responsibility thus continuing the vicious cycle of denial through blame. Maybe realising mistakes are never free but that their fixing always involve some sort of fee somewhere either by us or someone else would help us to live more consciously. Another thing I found out is that many mistakes can be avoided if we stop being so proud and enroll the help of others. Like they say, “Two are better than one!” This was the question a friend of mine was asked this week. For lack of better terms, social media is “flooded” with “fiery” observations and comments concerning the non-stop onslaught of disasters about whether this is some like of ‘judgement”. Whether they are human caused or as Insurance companies call them, “Acts of God” is clearer for some than for others. I have always wondered about Insurance companies suddenly acknowledging God at such times. Is this a way to tell us, “Look, we don’t have to pay; it’s not our fault; it’s God’s fault; ask Him for restitution of property!”
Going over the unbridled comments on FB, one things seems to be sure, that it is at such a time people do stop looking down at their digital devices and start wanting to take a look inside themselves as well as up! While the social media rhetorical venum is already toxic when observations are mixed with the already acrimonious politics of the day, it is fatal when it is mixed with religion. A sad state of affair where instead of joining the ranks of the brave dedicated people who fight the waters and the flames, they sit home placing blame at the other denomination, or political party, and/or God. While my wife and I were on the road this summer, we dodged a very bad hail event that could have destroyed our car, much of our equipment and put an end to our tour. With one less vehicle, it would have also rearranged our lives and finances for the worst. We decided to leave the freeway at the last minute just because my wife was hungry. Then while at the restaurant, we get a weather alert of hail as big as softballs right in the direction we were going, at the time we would have been there. As we passed by later, we saw about 25 cars with shattered windshields, and two overturned semis. In the middle of summer, they were cleaning the roads with snow-plows. We felt very honored to have been spared and thank God for it. But my wife kept asking the question, “Why? These people also have lives to get to. They have families; children; jobs; financial issues. There are also in the mix people who do well by God. So why were we spared?” These are valid questions. Some try to simplify the answers by saying that God spares people because their job for Him is important; that He loves them; or they are part of the right political party and/or religious affiliation. They feel that God favors them because of a certain sense of righteousness that they have. These are very dangerous conclusions because it implies personal goodness while deducing that others are villains. As we do that, we lose the sense of compassion to help others feeling that they get their just dessert, but we indulge ourselves in the delusion that we are sort of righteous chosen ones while the others are bad. These are erroneous conclusions that are against many biblical injunctions.Why God does things, we are not able to always tell, but it is not our job to tell anyways. We’re We say don’t get a say in it. Our job is to come to the rescue of those around us who need help. "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Mat 7:1-2) I have travelled all around the word and lived with people of many different colors, religion, and political views. I do not think that we have within us the ability to rightly discern who is just and who is unjust; who is punished for sin or who like righteous Job is being tested. We certainly can’t define it by people’s religions or politics. I have witnessed with my own eyes the words of Jesus, the only wise judge who knows the depth of the heart of man, He who judges true righteous judgments, not by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, (Is 11:3); discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12); and who says that His Father makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mat 5:45). I guess this could be a part 2 from the previous article, “Curse not the deaf!”
All week we have been following the devastations of Hurricane Harvey. It is all the more strange for us because it will be hitting near some of the areas of the Southeast where my wife and I were last month. Thursday night the news related of someone known as Jim McIngvale, or, Mattress Mack who opened the doors of his 160.000 square foot Gallery Furniture showroom as a shelter for the Houston flood victims. “These are my people; black, white, brown, white it doesn’t matter; these are my people and I’ve got to help my people!” he says.The call of the people having lost everything made him do this, he declared. It was not the first time for Jim. Hurricane Katrina was also a time when the call to help overwhelmed him. “That’s who I am!” he says, “That’s what me and my wife try to teach our children: service above self!” This is what he teaches his children, but what I found the most amazing is that when the journalist interviewing him commented, “I get the feeling that you don’t say ‘no’ very often!”, Jim answered, “My father never could say, “no! I don’t either!”’” Apart from pointing out the beautiful fathers-to-sons heritage of compassion brought out in the story, it came to me that there is One in Heaven that many of us call “Father”, and He doesn’t say “No” to anyone. Should we? http://www.npr.org/2017/08/29/546953258/houston-s-matress-mack-opens-his-doors-to-house-flood-victims https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/mattress-mack-opens-his-showroom-to-harvey-victims/ We meet all sorts of people during our travels. Recently we spent four days at the hobby-farm of family of home-schoolers. They are raising 9 children; seven of them still in the house and I must say that it was one of the most peaceful happy households we have ever stayed in.
These people had a notion of limiting their activities to a pace where the family had the time to appreciate each other, spend time in spiritual activities, and overall enjoy living. One of the children was in a wheelchair due to a spinal birth defect. When my wife told the mother, “It must have been so difficult to find that your newborn was handicapped!!”, the mother replied, “Oh no; we knew at 12 weeks during the pregnancy. They gave me the option to “terminate” the pregnancy! But I would not and I am so glad I didn’t. My wife and I spent several days with the children of that family. Christine taught some jewlery skills as well as how to cook a Thai dish. I gave a Hebrew class. All the children of that family had a something special, but the one on a wheelchair (a 12 year-old) was particularly gifted in History, Geography, languages, and Bible so he and I had some good conversations. From the wonders of the Hebrew alphabet we went on to Bible stories in the chinese letters. He was such a positive, happy, and bright child. He was not given any special ‘pity’ treatment. He was like one one of the others pulling his own weight with his own share of chores which was to mow the lawn using riding mower.To think that in many countries and many cases in the States these children are aborted! All in all, we were still amazed by the attitude of the mother, until we met her father. Her father was deaf. Since we know sign language we could easily communicate with him. One of the first thing he told Christina in sign was, “You know God talks about the deaf in the Bible!”. I knew about Isaiah’s messianic prophecy “On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book…”, (Is 29;18) but he had a different one in mind. He quoted, “You shall not curse the deaf …”(Lev 19:14). Then he said, “You see, the deaf have a purpose: to test people’s hearts!” I can’t help but trace the powerful attitude of the mother to the attitude of the father who, instead of seeing his handicap as a curse from God, saw it as a tool in the hand of a caring God who also provided a protective legislation for the deaf in His Word. This coming Monday we will witness a rare celestial event: a full eclipse of the sun. While in ancient times skilled astronomers paid much attention to such events, modern technology allows us today to know its exact path minute per minute. As such, people from around the world are coming to the United States to get front row seats for the formidable celestial play.
Locals also have seen the signs of the skies. Hoping to gather earthly wealth from these heavenly events, many have converted their properties into temporary campgrounds. City officials do not miss their clue either. Expecting an unprecedented influx of people creating monster traffic jams, in some places, the National Guard has been deployed and fire engines scattered in key places. It is good that people prepare for such things. It reminds me of something Jesus said to farmers of his days. In an attempt to awaken them to their contemporary social and political situation He said to them,, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. (Mat 16:2-3) Farmers and herders in the days of Jesus knew how to read the sky and take appropriate decisions concerning their fields and flocks. But at the same time, Jesus hoped that the people would read the events of their days and see the proverbial “handwriting on the wall.” Genesis 1 tells us that the heavenly bodies have been given to us for signs (Gen 1:14). A sign usually carries a message that may invoke a particular action. Such an eclipse was visible in Jerusalem at the moment of the death of Jesus There is a particularity to this eclipse: it will be only visible from the United States, and it will cross it from West to East. So if sign it is, it is a logical to assume that it is a sign for the United States, not for anyone else. The hard part now is to define what is its message. From times unmemorable solar eclipses have been seen as omens of warning. Many feel very free to share their conclusions generated by their own political preferences or religious opinion, and there seem to be no-one to arbitrate the flow of assumptions. Very often, we only understand these things long after the fact, but one thing is certain, Someone is telling us something! A friend called me this week asking me about a discipleship program at their church. The program was based on the reading of a particular book.about discipleship. I went over the book and it seemed to be a very good book explaining the particulars of discipleship in biblical times.
I told my friend though, that while the book may be very good, the idea of discipleship in the Bible is different than indoctrination, such as one might learn from a book. Indoctrination, by the way, used to be a positive term referring to the full intense learning of a subject or doctrine. Discipleship is not about a transfer of knowledge from master to pupil. It is rather about the pupil learning to live by closely following the example of his Master. It was about doing, not just learning about how to do. It was clinical, not mental. When the Galileans wanted to become the disciples of Jesus, they asked, “Master, where are you staying?” (Jn 1:38) That is because in Israel in those days, a would-be disciple left home to live and even become part of the family of his master/teacher. To their surprise, Jesus answered the disciples that he didn’t have a home, thus exemplifying the idea that the true believer's home is not of this age but of the World to Come. As it happened, the disciples then spent the rest of their time with Jesus travelling the dusty roads of Israel as the itinerant preacher their Master was. This made me think of a documentary I saw long time ago, The Woman who Willed a Miracle.This woman became the foster parent of Lemke, a blind, cognitively impaired boy with cerebral palsy. When the child became older, she brought him to the fence in front of her yard so he could stand there. It is then that this frail woman decided to strap this boy who couldn’t stand by himself and much less walk on her back, body to body, arm to arm, leg to leg. Little by little, his muscles strengthened and, to the surprise of everyone, he learned to walk. More happened to him but I will not spoil the story for you. Maybe you can get the film, I will put a link to a short video of the story at the end of this posting. In the eyes of God, our attempts to live in His righteousness are make us similar to that boy who couldn’t walk. We learn to walk, and our spiritual muscles are strengthened by strapping ourselves onto Him, body to body, arm to arm, leg to leg,following in His every step and move. That‘s what discipleship is: imitating the Master; walking in His footsteps. Come to think of it, the best teachers teach using the clinical method: they teach by example. https://youtu.be/ZWtZA-ZmOAM?list=PLEB61FC59EB5889CA I had several talks with a young man raised in conservative missionary group this week. As he became a young adult, the founder of the group died. As a result, the group started unravelling. Many of this young man’s peers left and even abandoned their relationship with God. He himself hangs on to his relationship with God but sometimes wonders why. This is a problem that often occurs with the second and third generation of a Church or fellowship group. Parents join those because of an already established relationship with the Almighty. The Church or the group becomes for them a vehicle or a tool to practice their already established faith so to speak. For their children it is different. Being born in it, the Church or the group becomes to them the actual matrix from which their faith is generated. This dependency on a leader, Church, group, or denomination is a fragile spiritual position to be in. Leaders can fail; and Church, group, fellowship, and even denominations grow and change, sometimes for good and sometime for bad. That’s what the Children of Israel learned when they went into captivity in Babylon. Having lost the Temple which was their vehicle of worship, they had to get closer to God by studying the only thing they had left: The Torah, the Word. I explained to this young man that relationship with God must rather be based on a personal tangible experience, not appartenance to a doctrinal group. He said then that he couldn’t pinpoint such a time in his life. This made me rethink my answer. There are many ways that a relationship with God begins and some are not always pinpointable. Some establish it through the vehicle of a sincere prayer; some remember the happenstance of a miracle; a convincing argument; an emotional rush. There are even times when people realized that they had it but didn’t know it. It just grew on them. But all of those probably started with a conscious or subconscious search. Even fighting against God is a sign of having a relationship with Him. It may resemble a very bad marriage, but unless you are crazy, you can’t fight against an entity that doesn’t exist. But back to my friend. I’d like to compare relationship with God to marriage. When we marry we make a conscious rational decision that will change our lives for better or for worse. It is a financial, logistical, and sometimes even a religious decision. In any case it will drastically change the way we live in every way. Whereas we can pinpoint the day we marry, we may not be able to pinpoint the day we fall in love. Yet falling in love leads to very tangible rational (sometimes irrational) and drastic decisions. Like getting married, dedicating our lives to God is our tangible answer to a relationship that started in a time and way we can’t really pinpoint and explain. That’s the decision that we make and no one does it for us. That time of decision then becomes becomes our reference point. I want to take the analogy a little further. The most important part of a wedding ceremony is the sharing of the vows. Everything revolves around that. The vows are the promise that two people make to each other. In the Bible the breaking of vows is so unthinkable that Jesus said that it was better not to make vows than to make one and break it. Many things can go awry in a marriage; but at the end of the day, when the emotions, the violins, the pink clouds, and the butterflies are gone, if it it is based on the reference point and notion of an unbreakable and unshakable promise and not on external conditions, it will never break. It is the same with our relationship with God. Here is a clip from the movie, A Beautiful mind. |
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