The courage to be a person of integrity is a beautiful struggle in which we are molded constantly.
It would be a disservice to you and myself if I simply gave you the "definition"of integrity and said now go do this. Instead I'll attempt to illustrate truth and integrity in relationships. Before going further it is fair to admit that this post is a response to my reflections on Gordon Smith's book Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential. If this post inspires you to dive into more personal reflection on integrity and the courage to live with it I refer you to this work now.
Integrity is made known in relationships; be they business, sexual, familial, spiritual, friendly, or hateful. In relationships we reveal what we make time for, what we pretend to be, and what we really are to ourselves and others. The past two months I have had a great opportunity to reevaluate my relationships and the integrity reflected in them. I am in a new dating relationship. I am also in a new seminary environment where I seem to be meeting new people everyday. Lastly I have the glorious task of maintaining relationships from so many different places. Integrity is revealed in relationship we make time for.
Integrity is evident to ourselves when we live out our convictions with generosity, honesty, and joy.
Currently I am in what most people call a long distance dating relationship. I get to make time in my day to talk to, be it over skype, phone, or email, a sister in Christ who has chosen to invest her life with me while I do likewise (my integrity let's me freely confess my disdain for the titles "girlfriend" and "boyfriend"though maybe one day I will write a post reclaiming the depth and importance of committing to a relationship that most call "dating"). I act honestly in this relationship which allows me not to force a conversation but simply enjoy a lingering silence over the phone as we contemplate together what we have just said to one another. In honesty I can say I was wrong to have broken a promise, and stand vulnerable waiting for forgiveness from her. In honesty I can communicate my other commitments be they personal or academic and fulfill them which typically means for the time being "apart" from her. Yeah and then I get to honestly say I love her and know that this is communicated as we talk, and sit in mutual silence with one another as we grow closer together. I can vent, confess, rest, and joyfully be in relationship with her, because I can be me in my weakness and strength with her. I admit that we are growing in relationship and therefore are learning what it means to love more and more as we grow. Yes we are ignorant, but not stagnant or flippant about what we and God are doing in and through us.
We've all met new people before. Whether we move to a new town, find a new job, or simply interact with a complete stranger; there is some kind of excitement about introducing ourselves. Now some like introducing themselves in large groups while others you meet in a large group but won't really see their integrity until you make it a point to knock on their door. I generally fall in the latter of the two groups which means in general it takes about a month for me to really settle somewhere and make connections with people. Its good to understand this about myself because it calms what could be a very anxious time in my life whenever I move. I can be myself in a new place and unapologetically so. I will admit my faults and in doing so admit that I am not perfect and should not be expected to be so. Similarly I won't expect perfection from you. The beauty is in doing so we both maintain our integrity and are free to be ourselves; faults and strengths equally. In maintaining my quite, retrospective, joyful, integrity I pray that I am making space for other to maintain their own integrity. It was common for me to feel inadequate in new environments especially academic ones. In this state I would act defensively and remain aloof and concentrate almost solely on my studies. I was a student to a fault. I still struggle with this even in seminary but it is getting better. I cannot be myself without relationship. You cannot be yourself without relationship try it and you will see or better yet learn from my experience. Understand that loneliness will present itself in your life if it has not already, but never believe the lie that you are forever alone. Integrity, honesty, genuine love bring relationship. New relationships bring us opportunity to refresh our determination to be honest and loving. Current relationships keep us accountable to being honest and loving.
One of my greatest joys is calling home. My family has proved to be the most constant and consistent conversation and accountability in my life. My family knows me better than I know myself most of the time. Whether explicit or implicit in our conversations my family reminds me of where I have been and what I am presently doing. Our relationship has transformed as we all get older. I still obey my parents in situations but those situations have drastically reduced as my responsibilities increase. Rather than being a dependent I am interdependent on the experience my parents bring with them. Whether I ask my dad for advice in a possible car purchase or my mom about a recipe they have become more and more a brother and sister in Christ. My younger brother has become a thoughtful and strong young man who is learning to wrestle with the interdependence relationships in Christ create. It is great to talk to and hear from and be convicted by his faith. I do not thank God enough for them.
With this in mind I want to pose questions to you that I am beginning to ask myself.
Do you give space for people to act according to their integrity?
Do you engage in business (ie purchasing choices) with integrity and purchase with your convictions or strictly with the dollar in mind?
Are you acting in fear or are you genuine?
These questions won't make you perfect. They are not supposed to. These questions are posed with the hope that you will begin to understand a bit of what it means to live presently with yourself and others who are imperfect. In living this way you and others can begin to become more interdependent on one another's strengths not in the name of advancement but in the cause of community.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg. Brothers and Sisters when we have integrity together so does our community: the Church. Our integrity comes in relationship with one another and with the Father and Son through the Spirit. Pray, meditate, read, walk, eat, labor, drink, commune with one another and God. Be people of integrity not for your sake alone, but for the sake of those around you and your Creator who knows you more than you could imagine.
Blessings and Peace from God as are presently.
November 3, 2012
October 29, 2012
Great Aunt Loraine
I am writing in the days following a funeral that I did not attend, but felt the impact of 900 miles away.
My Great Aunt Loraine passed away last week. The last time I had seen and heard from her was Christmas last year. I did not know her well, but I always appreciated her stories and her consistency in the midst of an inconsistent extended family. She was my grandma's sister. I called my grandma this weekend after the funeral and though the call was short she said she was happy that her sister had a full life. This is a profound statement. You see you probably never knew my Great Aunt Loraine and oddly enough some of you reading this entry do not know me either. Most will read this and say this is nice and then go on to the next blog, because we are addicted to this kind of reading experience. But again I heard my grandma say about her sister; she had a full life. There is profound truth in this.
You ought not think that a full life is the heroic life. Most of you did not know my Great Aunt Loraine, but her life was full. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great aunt. All of who I know Great Aunt Loraine as has something to do with relationships. Of course my being a great nephew I really only knew her through family ties. It's my conviction that one should not casually forget their family though. This is because it is with our family that we practice most clearly who we are in relationship. If we are manipulative or selfish in relation to our family how could anyone expect us to act differently outside of our family? Likewise if we are loving and encouraging in our family it would follow that we would be loving and encouraging beyond our family.
Her life was full. I believe that the most fundamentally real thing is relationship. I say this because I believe in and know the Triune God. As part of this reality I believe that the Triune God created all that there is through and by itself (please forgive some of the strange wording if you have questions please email me or leave a comment I'll be happy to explain further by whatever means is most helpful for you). So the highest reality that I live in is one in which God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- displays the perfection of relationship and by working in human events has in fact invited all of us to live in and be a part of that perfect unity. In short because the Triune God is such because of the perfection of relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and invites us all to join in that I can say that the ultimate reality we can live in is in relationship with God and one another.
Her life was full. I know this not by any virtue or merit she may have achieved. Those are blessings she received and forwarded on to the next generation. No her life was full because she was and still is in relationship with God and those that live on now. Great Aunt Loraine.
Friends, Sisters, and Brothers, we make choices in our relationships each and everyday. We choose to begrudge, slander, encourage, praise, love, hate, be apathetic or empathetic to one another. We make judgements. My hope is that you begin to see your life as growing in fullness as you relate to those around you. That you would not only see those around you as holy, but also yourself and God. Sister and Brothers be holy, because that is in reality what you are not by any virtue you have within yourself but by virtue of God's gracious relationship.
Her life was full and continues to be.
I pray that yours is too.
Blessings in Christ Jesus the Son of the Father who by the Spirit makes life full.
My Great Aunt Loraine passed away last week. The last time I had seen and heard from her was Christmas last year. I did not know her well, but I always appreciated her stories and her consistency in the midst of an inconsistent extended family. She was my grandma's sister. I called my grandma this weekend after the funeral and though the call was short she said she was happy that her sister had a full life. This is a profound statement. You see you probably never knew my Great Aunt Loraine and oddly enough some of you reading this entry do not know me either. Most will read this and say this is nice and then go on to the next blog, because we are addicted to this kind of reading experience. But again I heard my grandma say about her sister; she had a full life. There is profound truth in this.
You ought not think that a full life is the heroic life. Most of you did not know my Great Aunt Loraine, but her life was full. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great aunt. All of who I know Great Aunt Loraine as has something to do with relationships. Of course my being a great nephew I really only knew her through family ties. It's my conviction that one should not casually forget their family though. This is because it is with our family that we practice most clearly who we are in relationship. If we are manipulative or selfish in relation to our family how could anyone expect us to act differently outside of our family? Likewise if we are loving and encouraging in our family it would follow that we would be loving and encouraging beyond our family.
Her life was full. I believe that the most fundamentally real thing is relationship. I say this because I believe in and know the Triune God. As part of this reality I believe that the Triune God created all that there is through and by itself (please forgive some of the strange wording if you have questions please email me or leave a comment I'll be happy to explain further by whatever means is most helpful for you). So the highest reality that I live in is one in which God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- displays the perfection of relationship and by working in human events has in fact invited all of us to live in and be a part of that perfect unity. In short because the Triune God is such because of the perfection of relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and invites us all to join in that I can say that the ultimate reality we can live in is in relationship with God and one another.
Her life was full. I know this not by any virtue or merit she may have achieved. Those are blessings she received and forwarded on to the next generation. No her life was full because she was and still is in relationship with God and those that live on now. Great Aunt Loraine.
Friends, Sisters, and Brothers, we make choices in our relationships each and everyday. We choose to begrudge, slander, encourage, praise, love, hate, be apathetic or empathetic to one another. We make judgements. My hope is that you begin to see your life as growing in fullness as you relate to those around you. That you would not only see those around you as holy, but also yourself and God. Sister and Brothers be holy, because that is in reality what you are not by any virtue you have within yourself but by virtue of God's gracious relationship.
Her life was full and continues to be.
I pray that yours is too.
Blessings in Christ Jesus the Son of the Father who by the Spirit makes life full.
September 15, 2012
A cone for a hat?
The great thing about going to a new place is to be reminded of all the life you've lived before you came to this new place.
Maybe I am overly materialistic in my memory, but I associate past stories with certain things I own. For example I have this "old-man" style grey hat that I like to wear in the rain. I purchased this hat in Dublin, Ireland with 8 friends from my study abroad semester in Israel. There is a story behind that hat. I have this beat up field watch and at least once a week this summer a co-worker of mine would bring up my watch and it was a conversation starter. I have a mug I bought on a whim with a friend on a day trip to Chicago. Another mug was given as a wedding party gift. A friend gave me a bowl he made that I had eaten out of during my senior year at Calvin. I have a braid of leather that constantly reminds me of one of my closest relationships. Why you might ask do I bother to list off all of these things if the stories seem to be distant or over?
I do not believe these stories are over. I can still be the best-man my friend asked me to be almost two years ago now. I can always declare my love for all the people involved in these stories. You see I do not collect things for the sake of the static thing. No I have trouble letting go of certain things because of the stories associated with them. I want to remember the people and relationships. That's what really matters. Sure it is great to keep my hat warm and dry with my old hat, but I really like sharing the story of the hat. I can start by sharing my frustration of having a defective radio on a plane that was supposed to take me home after 3.5 months of study and then move on to the joy of being cold on a double-decker bus with 8 great friends in the middle of Dublin where it was too dark to get good pictures of anything but them. Yeah I like that story.
Every good story has opposition for the protagonist to overcome. When we move to new places or if we go to an old place in a new state the opposition isan assumed identity. The question here in school typically goes like this, "What's your name? Where are you from? What are you studying?" In a subtle way the opposition has already begun. These may not be the questions you need to be asked to properly introduce yourself. I say I am from Indiana, but the last time I lived there for more than a week was nearly two years ago. And instead of asking me what am I studying wouldn't it be more interesting to hear of the passions that brought both of us here? The opposition faced is to sell your story short and forget the opposition already overcome. Wouldn't be sad if you simply forgot all of your past? Sure there are parts we may not mind forgetting, but even those moments have shaped us into who we are now. Our whole story reveals both the breadth and limits of our identity. By knowing the breadth of our identity we know what we are capable of and in knowing our present limits we are challenged to stretch our hands out. We cannot know our challenging limits without remembering the past oppositions already overcome. Story can only be such when it has continuity.
It is my firm belief that life is growing in love centered and exemplified by Christ Jesus. As we grow in love for Him we grow in love for those around us. We start small, maybe with our family or local church. We stay close to a place where Christ is clearly at the center and continually come back to him. We may even be fearful of going beyond this small space. It was hard to comprehend living apart from my family in the weeks leading up to my move to college. When we take that step beyond our limits to a new place we realize Christ is still with and loves us. That epiphany may come slowly at first, but it will. Then we seem that the breadth of our identity grows. We continue to be loved by Christ and can therefore love him and other rightly in this new place. In loving Christ and others in this new place we grow in our capacity to love. The opposition calls us to retreat back to what is comfortable and to stay there. Christ calls us back to him who is the center and then sends us out again to defy the opposition of our stories with his love. If you could please bear with my attempt at illustration.
Maybe I am overly materialistic in my memory, but I associate past stories with certain things I own. For example I have this "old-man" style grey hat that I like to wear in the rain. I purchased this hat in Dublin, Ireland with 8 friends from my study abroad semester in Israel. There is a story behind that hat. I have this beat up field watch and at least once a week this summer a co-worker of mine would bring up my watch and it was a conversation starter. I have a mug I bought on a whim with a friend on a day trip to Chicago. Another mug was given as a wedding party gift. A friend gave me a bowl he made that I had eaten out of during my senior year at Calvin. I have a braid of leather that constantly reminds me of one of my closest relationships. Why you might ask do I bother to list off all of these things if the stories seem to be distant or over?
I do not believe these stories are over. I can still be the best-man my friend asked me to be almost two years ago now. I can always declare my love for all the people involved in these stories. You see I do not collect things for the sake of the static thing. No I have trouble letting go of certain things because of the stories associated with them. I want to remember the people and relationships. That's what really matters. Sure it is great to keep my hat warm and dry with my old hat, but I really like sharing the story of the hat. I can start by sharing my frustration of having a defective radio on a plane that was supposed to take me home after 3.5 months of study and then move on to the joy of being cold on a double-decker bus with 8 great friends in the middle of Dublin where it was too dark to get good pictures of anything but them. Yeah I like that story.
Every good story has opposition for the protagonist to overcome. When we move to new places or if we go to an old place in a new state the opposition isan assumed identity. The question here in school typically goes like this, "What's your name? Where are you from? What are you studying?" In a subtle way the opposition has already begun. These may not be the questions you need to be asked to properly introduce yourself. I say I am from Indiana, but the last time I lived there for more than a week was nearly two years ago. And instead of asking me what am I studying wouldn't it be more interesting to hear of the passions that brought both of us here? The opposition faced is to sell your story short and forget the opposition already overcome. Wouldn't be sad if you simply forgot all of your past? Sure there are parts we may not mind forgetting, but even those moments have shaped us into who we are now. Our whole story reveals both the breadth and limits of our identity. By knowing the breadth of our identity we know what we are capable of and in knowing our present limits we are challenged to stretch our hands out. We cannot know our challenging limits without remembering the past oppositions already overcome. Story can only be such when it has continuity.
It is my firm belief that life is growing in love centered and exemplified by Christ Jesus. As we grow in love for Him we grow in love for those around us. We start small, maybe with our family or local church. We stay close to a place where Christ is clearly at the center and continually come back to him. We may even be fearful of going beyond this small space. It was hard to comprehend living apart from my family in the weeks leading up to my move to college. When we take that step beyond our limits to a new place we realize Christ is still with and loves us. That epiphany may come slowly at first, but it will. Then we seem that the breadth of our identity grows. We continue to be loved by Christ and can therefore love him and other rightly in this new place. In loving Christ and others in this new place we grow in our capacity to love. The opposition calls us to retreat back to what is comfortable and to stay there. Christ calls us back to him who is the center and then sends us out again to defy the opposition of our stories with his love. If you could please bear with my attempt at illustration.
Note the two solid lines of the cone. (Ever present limits)
There is also a dotted center line. The core of our identity. (Christ's Love)
The rotating line is an outline of our living presently.
As you may notice it is moving up and will continue to do so.
What I want to communicate to you is this. A life defined by Christ is one that is growing in its capacity to love and be loved. Do not forget your past brothers and sisters lest you bottom out. Likewise take up your present challenge to love the Lord and others. In this you will grow. You may even get a nice hat out of all of this.
Cheers!
September 6, 2012
My Soul Sings
It has been much too long. No seriously I have missed writing for all of you. Much has happened and there is no way I could ever write about all of it for you, but I want you to understand that I have not been idle nor has God.
I started this summer committed to working in the Grand Canyon for 3 months. I went through "A Christian Ministry in the National Parks" henceforth known as ACMNP, it's goofy when people pronounce this acronym. I was blessed to work with 15 students/grads who are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We had our victories and set-backs for sure, and God was at the center. We did sooooo much together. Some of us were charged by Mountain Sheep threatened by the Diamondback snake or faced another fear head on. There was a lot of growing within the team and we definitely learned how to love one another and those around us. Personally I was brought to a new level of surrender to God this summer.
I experienced in part what it means to be a teacher. I was privileged to see younger brothers and sisters grow in ministry through new experiences and responsibilities. I would be a liar if I did not say this was difficult at times. God was growing my capacity for patience. Someone else gave me the same opportunities my brothers and sisters got at the Grand Canyon and it was part of my mission at the canyon to make those opportunities were available for them. I talked a few of my co-laborers into sticking with their speaking engagements. Each team member was asked to preach in at least one service for about 8 to 12 minutes. Some were more than hesitant in undertaking this task. I in my own way came off as stubborn to a few and even though I never specifically said to them "You have to do this." I may as well had in my posture and tone... I do not regret this though, because they did great! One in particular did a few more messages after realizing it's really not that hard to let God speak through you. I loved being the stubborn one, because if that's what it took to get people out of their shell of self I was more than happy to do so in love knowing that it was good for the kingdom. So many good words were said by those who believed they had nothing to say or were incapable of saying what they wanted to say. By those words the Lord was praised and pleased I know this. Yeah I was a stubborn teacher and at times probably too serious for my own good, but I don't regret any of it.
So brothers and sisters you must ask me about the summer if you have questions, because I have more to share!
I'm at seminary! I've reached the place I have aimed at for over 3 years now! And I am so excited.
The first question asked at a small group orientation was, "What is the state of your soul?" I knew I was at the right place. I will be stretched academically and spiritually. Let me share my answer.
My soul is excited and plays air guitar for the Lord as I walk these new halls. My soul sings praise and seeks relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ. My soul loves where, what and why God has done what he has done to it. My soul is content and yet fueled by desire for the kingdom to pursue more of his grace in relationships, scholarship, and other parts of creation no amount of money could ever buy. Sisters and brothers my soul is learning what commitment is. I said good-bye to loved ones once again. I think that is part of my story, but the other half is the joy of meeting another soul deeply committed to a similar vocation as my own. This week I read 1 Peter and my soul was affirmed many times in this book. One verse in particular has become key in my joy.
I started this summer committed to working in the Grand Canyon for 3 months. I went through "A Christian Ministry in the National Parks" henceforth known as ACMNP, it's goofy when people pronounce this acronym. I was blessed to work with 15 students/grads who are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We had our victories and set-backs for sure, and God was at the center. We did sooooo much together. Some of us were charged by Mountain Sheep threatened by the Diamondback snake or faced another fear head on. There was a lot of growing within the team and we definitely learned how to love one another and those around us. Personally I was brought to a new level of surrender to God this summer.
I experienced in part what it means to be a teacher. I was privileged to see younger brothers and sisters grow in ministry through new experiences and responsibilities. I would be a liar if I did not say this was difficult at times. God was growing my capacity for patience. Someone else gave me the same opportunities my brothers and sisters got at the Grand Canyon and it was part of my mission at the canyon to make those opportunities were available for them. I talked a few of my co-laborers into sticking with their speaking engagements. Each team member was asked to preach in at least one service for about 8 to 12 minutes. Some were more than hesitant in undertaking this task. I in my own way came off as stubborn to a few and even though I never specifically said to them "You have to do this." I may as well had in my posture and tone... I do not regret this though, because they did great! One in particular did a few more messages after realizing it's really not that hard to let God speak through you. I loved being the stubborn one, because if that's what it took to get people out of their shell of self I was more than happy to do so in love knowing that it was good for the kingdom. So many good words were said by those who believed they had nothing to say or were incapable of saying what they wanted to say. By those words the Lord was praised and pleased I know this. Yeah I was a stubborn teacher and at times probably too serious for my own good, but I don't regret any of it.
So brothers and sisters you must ask me about the summer if you have questions, because I have more to share!
I'm at seminary! I've reached the place I have aimed at for over 3 years now! And I am so excited.
The first question asked at a small group orientation was, "What is the state of your soul?" I knew I was at the right place. I will be stretched academically and spiritually. Let me share my answer.
My soul is excited and plays air guitar for the Lord as I walk these new halls. My soul sings praise and seeks relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ. My soul loves where, what and why God has done what he has done to it. My soul is content and yet fueled by desire for the kingdom to pursue more of his grace in relationships, scholarship, and other parts of creation no amount of money could ever buy. Sisters and brothers my soul is learning what commitment is. I said good-bye to loved ones once again. I think that is part of my story, but the other half is the joy of meeting another soul deeply committed to a similar vocation as my own. This week I read 1 Peter and my soul was affirmed many times in this book. One verse in particular has become key in my joy.
1 Peter 2:9
"But you are
a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
God’s special possession,
that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness
into
his wonderful light."
My soul finds a purpose ringing loud and true in this truth.
I pray yours does too.
You are God's special possession. He HAS YOU. That you might declare in your soul, by word and deed the praises of Him who has brought you into His marvelous light.
I pray you have a content joy to pursue the Lord wherever He has placed you. Fear not brothers and sisters He goes before, beside, behind, underneath, and above you before you even take a step. Sing as you carry His light and there is no darkness that could overtake you for you are in Him.
Blessings and Peace
May 18, 2012
Mercy
Had an insightful day yesterday which leads me to share with you today.
I do not like ideologies that claim precedence over human interaction. We all have certain ideals that we prefer. That comes with being a part of and contributor to human culture. My issue is when our ideals become our only mode of thinking. The concept used for when an ideal dictates in part how we act, talk, and engage the world around us is the concept of the ideology. It is our bias, our subjective nature, our reasoning. Most days we can get along with out our ideology having to really show itself fully to others. My issue is not that we as humans have these ideals. My aggravation stems from the moments our ideals allow us to elevate ourselves over and against those who do not share our same ideology. I abhor the reality that some conversations never take place because both parties believe that the other is a liar when in fact neither has met or engaged the other to discover if this is actually true. We kill the human relationship before we even realize there could have been a relationship at all!
Sisters and brothers we know better. I know we know better. To show you this fact I will refer to possibly the most cited parable given to us by Christ; the parable of the Good Samaritan. Found in Luke 10:25-37 Christ cuts to the heart of the issue I have with ideologies. We read in verse 25 that it is an expert in the law that poses the question to Christ. He asks first, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ responds in turn a question of his own, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" Our expert astutely responds, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself." Awesome he's got it time to move on right? Well yes, but our expert is still unsure about what this means. He asks, "who is my neighbor?" He is looking for a sub-clause to the greatest commandment. This is the wrong question and in the parable we get an idea of what the question really is and what the answer to that question is.
Before going further in my analysis I want you to actually read Luke 10:25-37. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010&version=NIV
There is a link for you. I made it fairly easy for you.
Okay now we can literally be on the same page.
So we see that there is a guy that was robbed beaten and left more or less to die out on one of the most dismal roads I have ever been on. He is as good as gone if no one comes by to help him. Surprisingly three people come down the road. The first two a priest and a Levite see the man go to the other side of the road and pass him by. Now we could explore different reasons as to why the priest and Levite passed by the beaten man, but that is not the point. The point is both the priest and the Levite passed by the man and did nothing for him or his condition.
Similarly we could analyze the historical context of being a Samaritan on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. Let's say its a little surprising the Samaritan that was not beaten and left to die. I digress. The point is the Samaritan not by virtue of being a Samaritan, but a neighbor, stopped and aided the man. The Samaritan went out of his way to help another person. It was not a question of race, class, status, ethnicity, religion, or connivence. It was a question of humanity. It mattered to the Good Samaritan that another human was left to die, and he did what he could to help.
Being a neighbor is not a matter of proximity. If it were then we could say for a short time the priest and the Levite were neighbors to the beaten man. We do not accept this though, because they did nothing. The man may as well have been the dirt under their sandals by the way they treated him. No the neighbor was the one who had mercy on the beaten man. Being a neighbor is not convenient at all times. No being a neighbor will make you interact with yours and others wounds. You'll be bled on emotionally, spiritually, and possibly physically. Being a neighbor is not about keeping a ledger of mercy in balance between you and your neighbor. No its about being aware of one another. People can receive and give mercy at the same time. Being a neighbor is about mercy on all of our wounds. Brothers and sisters we are all wounded. We all need mercy from one another. Stop and see your own wounds and those of others; you'll be surprised how you can extend and receive mercy. To God be the glory.
Blessings
I do not like ideologies that claim precedence over human interaction. We all have certain ideals that we prefer. That comes with being a part of and contributor to human culture. My issue is when our ideals become our only mode of thinking. The concept used for when an ideal dictates in part how we act, talk, and engage the world around us is the concept of the ideology. It is our bias, our subjective nature, our reasoning. Most days we can get along with out our ideology having to really show itself fully to others. My issue is not that we as humans have these ideals. My aggravation stems from the moments our ideals allow us to elevate ourselves over and against those who do not share our same ideology. I abhor the reality that some conversations never take place because both parties believe that the other is a liar when in fact neither has met or engaged the other to discover if this is actually true. We kill the human relationship before we even realize there could have been a relationship at all!
Sisters and brothers we know better. I know we know better. To show you this fact I will refer to possibly the most cited parable given to us by Christ; the parable of the Good Samaritan. Found in Luke 10:25-37 Christ cuts to the heart of the issue I have with ideologies. We read in verse 25 that it is an expert in the law that poses the question to Christ. He asks first, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ responds in turn a question of his own, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" Our expert astutely responds, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself." Awesome he's got it time to move on right? Well yes, but our expert is still unsure about what this means. He asks, "who is my neighbor?" He is looking for a sub-clause to the greatest commandment. This is the wrong question and in the parable we get an idea of what the question really is and what the answer to that question is.
Before going further in my analysis I want you to actually read Luke 10:25-37. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010&version=NIV
There is a link for you. I made it fairly easy for you.
Okay now we can literally be on the same page.
So we see that there is a guy that was robbed beaten and left more or less to die out on one of the most dismal roads I have ever been on. He is as good as gone if no one comes by to help him. Surprisingly three people come down the road. The first two a priest and a Levite see the man go to the other side of the road and pass him by. Now we could explore different reasons as to why the priest and Levite passed by the beaten man, but that is not the point. The point is both the priest and the Levite passed by the man and did nothing for him or his condition.
Similarly we could analyze the historical context of being a Samaritan on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. Let's say its a little surprising the Samaritan that was not beaten and left to die. I digress. The point is the Samaritan not by virtue of being a Samaritan, but a neighbor, stopped and aided the man. The Samaritan went out of his way to help another person. It was not a question of race, class, status, ethnicity, religion, or connivence. It was a question of humanity. It mattered to the Good Samaritan that another human was left to die, and he did what he could to help.
Being a neighbor is not a matter of proximity. If it were then we could say for a short time the priest and the Levite were neighbors to the beaten man. We do not accept this though, because they did nothing. The man may as well have been the dirt under their sandals by the way they treated him. No the neighbor was the one who had mercy on the beaten man. Being a neighbor is not convenient at all times. No being a neighbor will make you interact with yours and others wounds. You'll be bled on emotionally, spiritually, and possibly physically. Being a neighbor is not about keeping a ledger of mercy in balance between you and your neighbor. No its about being aware of one another. People can receive and give mercy at the same time. Being a neighbor is about mercy on all of our wounds. Brothers and sisters we are all wounded. We all need mercy from one another. Stop and see your own wounds and those of others; you'll be surprised how you can extend and receive mercy. To God be the glory.
Blessings
April 17, 2012
A Mistake Redeemed
I think by now my regular readers understand that when I speak about one thing I can imply a few other things as well. In this post I will be telling you a story that took place last night, but I have found it to be an outline of many things in my life and you may find it to do the same in your own.
Quotes are as remembered not verbatim.
"Vince, you have snack tomorrow for CMS class," Jack kindly reminded me of this news at 9:00pm as I was reading tomorrow's history reading.
"Oh yeah, dang," I had forgotten about this commitment.
After a few minutes of brainstorming as to what I should do about this new revelation, Jack mentioned cookies. Not just any cookies, but coffee cookies.
"They'll combine your two favorite things, it'll be great!" I agreed and began searching the internet for a recipe.
"All these ask for instant coffee or espresso...." I said slightly disheartened because I have a beef with instant coffee (but not those who drink it) "oh, here's one that substitutes instant espresso with one really strong cup of coffee." We could make this happen.
After going next door to procure chocolate chips we were eagerly following the recipe.
"I'll get the coffee going and mix up the flour, baking soda, and sugar."
"Vince we don't have a double boiler to melt the choclate, but I have an idea."
"We've been ad hocing this a little already with the coffee substitution. You're just following the spirit of the baking experience tonight."
We had the dry flour mixed with the sugar and baking soda, the chocalte chips were melting down and the coffee was brewed. The last step before baking was to combine all these along with plenty of butter in a big bowl. I took charge of measuring out what I calculated to be the portions of each ingredient. Cup of butter, 3 cups flour....2 cups coffee... Until we had our mixture.
"Jack does this look a little too runny for dough?"
"Yeah maybe it needs time to cool?"
So we put it in the freezer with the idea that we would have a workable dough after 15 minutes or so.
In that waiting our brother Dan comes back from school. Dan is the kitchen guru of the house and I decided to ask him if our dough looked right. His face said it all.
"You look skeptical Dan."
"Yeah..."
"How much flour did you put in?"
"I dubled what the recipe asked for."
"Hmmm"
Dan was at the computer reading the recipie to himself and then came to the bottom where the coffee substitution was.
"How much coffee did you put in?"
With confidence I replied, "Two cups as the substitution calls for."
"No i think the substitution calls for 2 tablespoons taken from one strong cup of coffee."
"Shoot!"
"Yeah it's worded and formatted poorly, but I think that explains your batter-like mixture."
Dan being the optimist did not give up on this baking experience though. I mentioned how it looked like brownie or muffin mix and with Dan and Jack's enthusiasm we began finessing our "dough" into batter.
"Add another egg, some more flour and a little baking powder."
Following Dan's recommendations we came to a decently tasting batter. We greased our muffin pans and put'em in the oven. The result was now out of our hands.
I watched that oven like a hawk. Thinking that maybe if I show my angst to these "muffins" they would grow to be muffins.
"They're rising!"
I was restless.
In the end the cookies turned muffins rose, cooked through, and tasted great. They were not what I had intended to make at all. I don't know if I could actually repeat the process. I nearly threw the goop out when Dan discovered my blunder. We would not have gotten muffins though had we not worked together. Were it just me in the story I would have forgotten to make anything at all. Were it just me and Jack we would not have had chocolate chips. Were it not for Dan we would have had strange probably sad excuses for cookies. Just as it took many ingredients (some measured poorly according the intended recipe) it took many people to bring this together. It's not about the muffins though. It's about the relationships that brought about the possibility of the muffins.
I cannot exegete this much more beyond saying I was insufficient on my own, but in relationships with those around me we accomplished more than any of us intended.
Blessings
and may your baking, cooking, and planning be ever more than you could ever imagine.
March 26, 2012
Faith must soak in.
1 John 5:21 "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."
John ends his letter with these words. After John outlines what Christ's love is and his brothers' and sisters' responses to that love. After warning them against loving the world. After articulating that Christ loved us first, and that it is only in knowing this that we can begin to love God and one another rightly. John ends, "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." Brothers and sisters we can believe right doctrine and still go astray. John's closing line implicitly points to the reality that right belief does not guarantee righteous living in the life of a Christian. Righteous practices are as much a part of a life of faith as right belief. Together these two pillars reorient our lives with God at the center.
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
John ends his letter with these words. After John outlines what Christ's love is and his brothers' and sisters' responses to that love. After warning them against loving the world. After articulating that Christ loved us first, and that it is only in knowing this that we can begin to love God and one another rightly. John ends, "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." Brothers and sisters we can believe right doctrine and still go astray. John's closing line implicitly points to the reality that right belief does not guarantee righteous living in the life of a Christian. Righteous practices are as much a part of a life of faith as right belief. Together these two pillars reorient our lives with God at the center.
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
February 29, 2012
Hiking in the Past
I want to challenge you to think. I want you to ruminate on the word truth.
Complete the sentence "Truth is...."
I have a hard time completing this sentence too. I want you to think.
This past weekend I got to write another paper for a history class. This paper addressed the formation of the American Holocaust Museum, and the challenges it brought to academic historians like yours truly. Part of me wants to just post the paper, but to be honest I don't think it would communicate effectively to you my internet audience. So I will attempt to distill the core of my insights, and if you have questions I give you permission to ask away!
In my mind the goal of the historian is to engage past events and people while being aware of this engagement's ability to change the historian and her audience. Fellow historians will argue for a different goals. Some might say that objectivity in recording events is the goal and criticize my goal for attempting to teach my audience anything more than the facts. I will respond to this criticism too.
Let's consider objectivity for a moment. To be objective is to operate without personal feelings or opinions. Objectivity is mode of operation by which the operators has no prejudice. Most agree in saying that it is impossible to be perfectly objective. If objectivity is the goal though the historian simply attempts to be as non-prejudicial as possible when he engages past events and people. The most objective historians might say that the purpose of history is to record events or people "as they were." If you read their work you will get very well researched accounts, and will come to many new facts. You may in the end ask yourself why they wrote the history, and more importantly why you read it. If the historian's goal is to simply present events and people "as they were" then the only benefit you as a reader gain is encyclopedic fact of that event or person. In my opinion this sort of history only accomplishes half of the task given to historians.
Imagine you and some friends are planning to go backpacking some woods for over a week. None of you have ever been to these woods. You had the forethought to buy a map though, and a couple of you are proficient with a compass. Your group has the skills to navigate the woods on its own. Your group is autonomous in the woods, but let's say there is a local guide who is on the trail. He and your group stop and trade trail stories. He knows these trails like a post man knows his route. This guide picks up on your group's interests and points out a few places in the trail he knows (not guesses but knows) you all would like. He adds some directions and details on your map to these places and you all have a few more great stories to tell thanks to the destinations he led you to.
I see historians as the trails guides in the woods that is the past. This is not to say they know all there is to know. It would be better to say that historians stay in the past more often than most folks. They are familiar with past events and people, and have a habit of telling other people about them. Everyone is able to engage the past. Historians are just the crazies that stay in the woods maybe a little too long for the average person.
Facts are accessible to anyone diligent enough to research for them. It is truth that is difficult to get at. Facts establish a context in which truth can take place. To borrow from Hans-Georg Gadamer we all approach the world with a cocktail of prejudices. This cocktail of prejudices according to Gadamer ought to be labeled our horizon. When two people interact with one another there is a fusion of horizons. In this fusion individuals can begin to see the world in different ways based off of what they pick up from other people. This process is implicitly reflective. Before, during, and after every human interaction each of us thinks and acts on the basis of our own horizons. These horizons are informed by many different sources faith, school, family, friends, research, culture, and the like. Truth is when two individuals work at fusing their horizons in a prudent fashion. In other words truth occurs when two people, who are willing to change, interact truth can take place.
The historian's task is to present the past and dead in a way by which non-historians can interact with those past horizons. There are many facts to the past, and there is even more truth.
Blessings!
Complete the sentence "Truth is...."
I have a hard time completing this sentence too. I want you to think.
This past weekend I got to write another paper for a history class. This paper addressed the formation of the American Holocaust Museum, and the challenges it brought to academic historians like yours truly. Part of me wants to just post the paper, but to be honest I don't think it would communicate effectively to you my internet audience. So I will attempt to distill the core of my insights, and if you have questions I give you permission to ask away!
In my mind the goal of the historian is to engage past events and people while being aware of this engagement's ability to change the historian and her audience. Fellow historians will argue for a different goals. Some might say that objectivity in recording events is the goal and criticize my goal for attempting to teach my audience anything more than the facts. I will respond to this criticism too.
Let's consider objectivity for a moment. To be objective is to operate without personal feelings or opinions. Objectivity is mode of operation by which the operators has no prejudice. Most agree in saying that it is impossible to be perfectly objective. If objectivity is the goal though the historian simply attempts to be as non-prejudicial as possible when he engages past events and people. The most objective historians might say that the purpose of history is to record events or people "as they were." If you read their work you will get very well researched accounts, and will come to many new facts. You may in the end ask yourself why they wrote the history, and more importantly why you read it. If the historian's goal is to simply present events and people "as they were" then the only benefit you as a reader gain is encyclopedic fact of that event or person. In my opinion this sort of history only accomplishes half of the task given to historians.
Imagine you and some friends are planning to go backpacking some woods for over a week. None of you have ever been to these woods. You had the forethought to buy a map though, and a couple of you are proficient with a compass. Your group has the skills to navigate the woods on its own. Your group is autonomous in the woods, but let's say there is a local guide who is on the trail. He and your group stop and trade trail stories. He knows these trails like a post man knows his route. This guide picks up on your group's interests and points out a few places in the trail he knows (not guesses but knows) you all would like. He adds some directions and details on your map to these places and you all have a few more great stories to tell thanks to the destinations he led you to.
I see historians as the trails guides in the woods that is the past. This is not to say they know all there is to know. It would be better to say that historians stay in the past more often than most folks. They are familiar with past events and people, and have a habit of telling other people about them. Everyone is able to engage the past. Historians are just the crazies that stay in the woods maybe a little too long for the average person.
Facts are accessible to anyone diligent enough to research for them. It is truth that is difficult to get at. Facts establish a context in which truth can take place. To borrow from Hans-Georg Gadamer we all approach the world with a cocktail of prejudices. This cocktail of prejudices according to Gadamer ought to be labeled our horizon. When two people interact with one another there is a fusion of horizons. In this fusion individuals can begin to see the world in different ways based off of what they pick up from other people. This process is implicitly reflective. Before, during, and after every human interaction each of us thinks and acts on the basis of our own horizons. These horizons are informed by many different sources faith, school, family, friends, research, culture, and the like. Truth is when two individuals work at fusing their horizons in a prudent fashion. In other words truth occurs when two people, who are willing to change, interact truth can take place.
The historian's task is to present the past and dead in a way by which non-historians can interact with those past horizons. There are many facts to the past, and there is even more truth.
Blessings!
February 16, 2012
Rolling Along
Have you ever felt like life was suddenly jolted into you with more volts than you thought you could handle? There are certain seasons in life where it comes at you like this and I am currently in one of these seasons.
I am nearing the end of my undergraduate life and can say it has been a great experience. I do not want to go into details or long lists of things accomplished. Instead, I want to explain how it is that this excellent time in my life will not be missed as if it were only a dream, but built upon. This is not my building by the way.
I came to college with the idea that I would major in buisiness or engineering and actually made my decision as to which school I would attend based off of these two programs. After enrolling I changed this aim and began to talk about seminary as a possibility. My whole Freshman year I was just a pre-seminary student which at this college is about as defined as undecided. I only tell you this short story so that you might understand that what I am about to tell you has been building up in my life and not an abrupt change in direction.
I have been accepted at a seminary. Actually not just a seminary, but my first choice. My housemates can tell you how I reacted to this news. This news is affirmation to a purpose I have learned to make central in my life. When I learn that this purpose I have made central is actually supposed to be central this affirmation sparks a level of joy I only hint at in my usual celebrations.
College has molded me in ways I did not anticipate. That is to say any plans I thought I had were altered, never happened, but always superseded. I did not bring myself to where I am today on my own accord. My ideas of the future will not be the last word in what is to be this life I live. I think this kind of uncertainty can leave a person fearfully paralyzed if God's mercy is forgotten.
I am coming to a point in life where I will reach another summit and get a chance to take my bearings and rest for a short while. I will stay on the path laid ahead of me though and follow my guide and protector into the vallies that lie ahead. He gave me a brief look at where we are heading together to encourage me. Joy is my one response.
Blessings!
I am nearing the end of my undergraduate life and can say it has been a great experience. I do not want to go into details or long lists of things accomplished. Instead, I want to explain how it is that this excellent time in my life will not be missed as if it were only a dream, but built upon. This is not my building by the way.
I came to college with the idea that I would major in buisiness or engineering and actually made my decision as to which school I would attend based off of these two programs. After enrolling I changed this aim and began to talk about seminary as a possibility. My whole Freshman year I was just a pre-seminary student which at this college is about as defined as undecided. I only tell you this short story so that you might understand that what I am about to tell you has been building up in my life and not an abrupt change in direction.
I have been accepted at a seminary. Actually not just a seminary, but my first choice. My housemates can tell you how I reacted to this news. This news is affirmation to a purpose I have learned to make central in my life. When I learn that this purpose I have made central is actually supposed to be central this affirmation sparks a level of joy I only hint at in my usual celebrations.
College has molded me in ways I did not anticipate. That is to say any plans I thought I had were altered, never happened, but always superseded. I did not bring myself to where I am today on my own accord. My ideas of the future will not be the last word in what is to be this life I live. I think this kind of uncertainty can leave a person fearfully paralyzed if God's mercy is forgotten.
I am coming to a point in life where I will reach another summit and get a chance to take my bearings and rest for a short while. I will stay on the path laid ahead of me though and follow my guide and protector into the vallies that lie ahead. He gave me a brief look at where we are heading together to encourage me. Joy is my one response.
Blessings!
February 4, 2012
Self-effacement or Humbleness
I want to confess something. I do not fully live out humbleness, but instead usually replace it with self-effacement. I do not think I am the only one to struggle with the difference here. I want to explore the difference of these two words by explaining how they operate and their impact on a life.
First, "efface" is only a verb. This means it can only be used as an action. The implication then being that for something to be self-effacement it must be an action. Actions can be both actively pursued and inadvertently done. What I want you to understand here is that efface is not abstract, but rather a tangible and observable action.
What is it to efface? Effacement is to make yourself seem insignificant. It is when your actions lead you and possibly others to believe that you do not matter to yourself. Effacement is the gradual erasure of who you are in yours and others' minds. Effacement is destructive in a gradual sense. As you tell yourself you do not matter here and there you begin to not only believe this lie, but then you live it. Effacement can and will, if given the chance, build a personal prison for its practitioners. You must not believe this lie. You matter. You have a purpose not to be erased, but to live. Maybe I am not being personal enough.
My physical stature, introverted disposition, and the like have led me to many different avenues as to how to cope. I stand at 5'4" and well that is not exactly success in this country (I am very aware of many short men who went on to do great things, I am a historian). I am easily overlooked, in the most literal way, unintentionally and have had to help people who meant no harm in it understand that there was no harm taken. It happens and I hold no grudges for it anymore. When I was young I remember praying for another 2-5 inches. I celebrated reaching 5 foot in my Freshman year of high school. It really mattered to me because it seemed to matter to everyone else. There were many off handed jokes and comments made at the expense of my stature. Oddly, I felt inadequate at times for something I had no control over. I did not wake up in the morning and choose my height for the day. I was and am just short. A similar story though less pronounced has revolved around my introverted disposition. Close friends have always known me as wanting conversation, but not large social functions. This is not say I do not do well addressing large groups of peers formally. Introversion does not prevent individuals from public speaking. Introversion makes social mingling among a large group tolling on an individual. I am very tired after two hours of what I might call "party socializing". Sometimes I will ridicule myself for my avoiding what I know is beneficial social function. There are huge benefits to being an introvert in this extroverted culture though. This blog is one consequence of my time alone. I guess it is up to you if it worth the oddity for me it is.
I have been challenged to cease self-effacement. As a result I have taken up the challenge and added to it. In replacement of self-effacement I want to live out humbleness. I won't erase myself with my actions. Instead I will better understand who I am and for what purpose I am here. Humbleness will open up avenues to understand other people in their respective places and purposes. It is not an erasure, but a promotion of others above self. In other words humbleness allows an individual to hold up another as a promotion of that person. If I erased myself I would never be able to do this.
We all have a purpose.
Blessings
First, "efface" is only a verb. This means it can only be used as an action. The implication then being that for something to be self-effacement it must be an action. Actions can be both actively pursued and inadvertently done. What I want you to understand here is that efface is not abstract, but rather a tangible and observable action.
What is it to efface? Effacement is to make yourself seem insignificant. It is when your actions lead you and possibly others to believe that you do not matter to yourself. Effacement is the gradual erasure of who you are in yours and others' minds. Effacement is destructive in a gradual sense. As you tell yourself you do not matter here and there you begin to not only believe this lie, but then you live it. Effacement can and will, if given the chance, build a personal prison for its practitioners. You must not believe this lie. You matter. You have a purpose not to be erased, but to live. Maybe I am not being personal enough.
My physical stature, introverted disposition, and the like have led me to many different avenues as to how to cope. I stand at 5'4" and well that is not exactly success in this country (I am very aware of many short men who went on to do great things, I am a historian). I am easily overlooked, in the most literal way, unintentionally and have had to help people who meant no harm in it understand that there was no harm taken. It happens and I hold no grudges for it anymore. When I was young I remember praying for another 2-5 inches. I celebrated reaching 5 foot in my Freshman year of high school. It really mattered to me because it seemed to matter to everyone else. There were many off handed jokes and comments made at the expense of my stature. Oddly, I felt inadequate at times for something I had no control over. I did not wake up in the morning and choose my height for the day. I was and am just short. A similar story though less pronounced has revolved around my introverted disposition. Close friends have always known me as wanting conversation, but not large social functions. This is not say I do not do well addressing large groups of peers formally. Introversion does not prevent individuals from public speaking. Introversion makes social mingling among a large group tolling on an individual. I am very tired after two hours of what I might call "party socializing". Sometimes I will ridicule myself for my avoiding what I know is beneficial social function. There are huge benefits to being an introvert in this extroverted culture though. This blog is one consequence of my time alone. I guess it is up to you if it worth the oddity for me it is.
I have been challenged to cease self-effacement. As a result I have taken up the challenge and added to it. In replacement of self-effacement I want to live out humbleness. I won't erase myself with my actions. Instead I will better understand who I am and for what purpose I am here. Humbleness will open up avenues to understand other people in their respective places and purposes. It is not an erasure, but a promotion of others above self. In other words humbleness allows an individual to hold up another as a promotion of that person. If I erased myself I would never be able to do this.
We all have a purpose.
Blessings
January 30, 2012
This shell
To Stanley/Stanaliess (The Turtle of Wealthy 1053)
With this shell on my back
You might know I still lack
Swimming for something to find
To fill a hunger inside
Food, rocks, and all manner of things
Until every sense stings
Float to the top
That I might rest on rot
I really do want you to see
Yet too timid I flee
Understand please that my shell
Is both heaven and hell
For you see I carry my home
Yet always will I live alone
Meander through the weeds
Hoping to sow relational seeds
I press on and on
Knowing I am no pawn
Free to be myself
Yet I am on your shelf
Free as far as you let me.
I doubt our turtle is this introspective, but she definitely inspired this one.
Blessings
With this shell on my back
You might know I still lack
Swimming for something to find
To fill a hunger inside
Food, rocks, and all manner of things
Until every sense stings
Float to the top
That I might rest on rot
I really do want you to see
Yet too timid I flee
Understand please that my shell
Is both heaven and hell
For you see I carry my home
Yet always will I live alone
Meander through the weeds
Hoping to sow relational seeds
I press on and on
Knowing I am no pawn
Free to be myself
Yet I am on your shelf
Free as far as you let me.
I doubt our turtle is this introspective, but she definitely inspired this one.
Blessings
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