karate and Service

Two years ago my freshman year I took a month long course on the theory of Just War combined with the Christian ethic. In it we read many different articles, watched a handful of movies (Saving Private Ryan, and the Mission to name a few), and had an open forum like portion in class where we interacted and argued, and learned from one another as peers. It was while I took this class that I learned I am personally a pacifist by conviction. Since then I have wrestled with the ideas associated with pacifism, and that can make for some interesting journal entries. Recently one of those ideas come up and I thought I would share this one with you.

Yesterday in my Classical Mythology class I turned in a paper which analyzed a part of Homer's Odyssey in a Christian perspective. Having read the Odyssey there is a significant side plot involving Odysseus' son Telemachus coming of age during the story (no this does not involve sex as some may interpret). Telemachus gradually asserts himself as a grown man in two ways. One way is through his speech specifically his ability to respect his elders while still being convincing and assertive (near the end of book four he interacts with Menelaus in this way). He is bold in his speech in many ways all of which are commendable by the Greek standard. The second way Telemachus asserts his role as a man is through his action. This takes Telemachus longer to display, because he lacks initiative for a significant portion of the epic. By the Greek standard action for a man was best measured through competition of which war was the climax (all those track and field events were really training practices for ancient warriors). The Greeks were not warmongers always looking for a fight, they were quick to defend their honor though. Telemachus attains his honor through his defending of his father's (if you have not read the epic I am sorry I can only go into so much detail). In summation Telemachus is the archetype for future Greek youths who are coming of age. The ideal was to become a man of words and deeds.

The rest of this is my personal ramblings.

Personally I do not see much wrong with being a man of words and deeds. I really like that hermeneutic and I wish more people made their word their deed and vice versa. The problem for me was what these deeds and words are. Let me illustrate this with a story from my own life.

This semester I am enrolled in a karate class and it has been pretty cool. I thought the idea of body control and movement along with intensity and focus would be good for my head, and a good stress reliever (I have 17 credits this semester). For the most part my non-violent stance has not found a problem with this practice. However, we have begun preparing for sparring.... Now I know this is a simulation and that sort of thing, but I'm not wired correctly for this. I am beginning to believe that war is not a part of human nature, but something we teach orselves over time. Yesterday we "sparred" with a partner. One of us through random punches while the other blocked and countered. It was already awkward because my partner was a girl. So here is what you are seeing; a pacifist male in a karate class sparring against a girl (if you are not laughing at this you should reread it until you do). In my defense though I took karate because I'm a horrible dancer and wanted to do something that involved focused movement but did not take away from my supposed "man points" (yes I can be vain at time just like anyone else). I am no good at this and that's alright with me, because unlike Telemachus my deed is not competition in the form of war or sport.

My deed is testifying to the Lord in my words and deeds as a servant. If my honor is dragged through the mud it is not my job to go save it. I am to boast in the Lord alone not in self (I fail at this too). I follow the example given to Timothy by Paul in I & II Timothy. Timothy is called to be a man of word and deed which both testify to the Lord. The Christian struggle is one against powers and trends not flesh and bone. I am to love people on the micro real world level not the philosophical macro level.

To go back to my story in karate class. I did my best not to fumble around in my sparring, but I think I still have some focus issues. I am really good at imagining enemies when we do our kata which is a planned scenario where we fight off invisible enemies (its like a dance with punching). There may be another illustration there, but I will leave it at that for now. I wanted to leave you with two pictures I found and maybe you will see the discrepancy between the traditional western ideal and what I argue is the epitome of the Christian attitude.

Top : Chas. A. Buchel's "Telemachus" circa 1902

Bottom: Guido Rocha's "The Tortured Christ" circa 1975

Power and Hope

It decided to rain today.

It has been a while since I have seen a storm. It didn't rain much at all in Israel, and Grand Rapids is good for another type of precipitation which will go unnamed for the time being. I really like watching storms roll in and if I were given the choice I'd want to have some sky lights at my place of residence so I could look up into the storm clouds without the hassle of getting wet. There is something about watching a storm cloud roll over the horizon and blot out the sun that is hypnotic. There is a sense of power within the storm that I can nearly grasp but cannot articulate effectively.

This week kicked my butt some days and picked me up at other times. It's been a while since I have had this immediate sort of up and down feeling. One day I am ready to throw all my notes into a furnace and the next I cannot stop studying. People say our emotions can be tied to the weather and this may be true. I wonder what a cold rainy day in March means for me? I mean it is not snowing which is a change and it is March which means Spring may actually come on time this year? Then again the clouds lack the thundering presence of storm clouds and instead the clouds only block the sun which is what I really would like to see. Ambivalent much?

I set a goal this week that I met and in part that goal led me to this passage in the Psalms;

^{Psalms 130}

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
² Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel

from all their sins. (Courtesy of BibleGateway.com)

I really have enjoyed reading and thinking about this passage. The progression of the Psalmist is parallel to what I would attempt to pray, but could not do so in such an articulate and precise manner. Whether we are at the top of our game or against the ropes God hears our prayer. He himself has, does, and will redeem our sins. More powerful than the storm clouds or the change of season is our God. For He is whom we trust.

Community becomes Body which needs a Head.

Faith is not limited to just the individual and we all can thank God for that. How many times have you been convinced that the situation you are currently going through is meant solely for you? In other words how many times have believed you are entirely alone in a struggle? I mean yes if you have faith you may dare to believe that God is with you (He is He promises), but you try and keep this between yourself and God. Are we really this self-centered? I admit I have kept struggles to myself, and I will selfishly hold them to my relationship with God unless you force my hand most of the time. There is a deep sense of peace though when struggles, joys, and indifference is shared in community.

Story time! Last year I lived on a living learning community. On this floor we shared a concern for the environment and stewardship (I learned a lot). The community grew so close from the begininng that our RA decided that we would not be a community but a family. Now I was not family close to most of my floor, but I could live in community with them(There is a difference between the two even when the "family" is at best a community of unrelated people). The words we use describe groups matters, and family can be alienating to people who may feel like they are simply adopted into the family, because no one really knew who they were before they showed up. I like the word community, because it serves its purpose. Community draws people in together without alienating or leaving a person without purpose. I am a part of a community which does not even make it a point to call itself that, it is simply a community in its existence. All members of this community share similar goals, struggles, and especially questions. I don't always get it right during the week, but as a community we raise our prayers, petitions, and most especially our praise to the Lord.

A community that prays does not pray for just the community. Have you ever been praying with a group and felt alienated? Maybe what they are praying for is not something you yourself could say at the time. Example, let's say your day has been pretty bad and the prayer is of thanksgiving and you are not feeling thankful at this point, you almost feel hypocritical having joined in this prayer. Don't leave the prayer! Listen to the words of those praying. Those words are for you too! When we cannot pray, worship, or even stand at any given moment the community of Christ can and will do this for you!

I am a human and have my ups and downs just like you. The beauty of our coming together in Christ is knowing that He is present in all areas of our community! Whether you are at the peak of Everest in your journey or along the shores of your own personal Dead Sea you can be sure that God is walking with or even for you.

Here is the deal though. This community I have been talking about has another name to describe itself. It is also known as the body of Christ. Every single member has a purpose in the body and they are all directed by the head which is Christ himself. The body has and will be born, baptized, beaten, criticized, crucified, and resurrected. The body gives purpose and honor to all of its parts. All parts give their utility to the head which uses the parts to accomplish a goal.

The community comes together and becomes the body when all the members of that community are held accountable to surrendering to Christ who is the head. The body whose head is Christ, can most effectively love God and neighbor. We are the body and Jesus Christ our Lord is the HEAD!

That is why I sign off always with;

In HIM.